Women occupy essential roles in films of virtually any genre

The Bourne Identity (2002)

This movie was based on the novel by Robert Ludlum. It is a story of a man who has his body wounded. His body is discovered by fishermen who take care of him and bring back his health. He remembers almost nothing and tries to rebuild his memory. He takes support from facts and clues such as Swiss bank account number which was written on his hip. He realizes that he is being watched and followed Surhone 2010, 41).

This movie stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne who is the lead character in the movie. He plays the role of a psychogenic amnesiac who tries to figure out his past and reveal his identity along with the conspiracy of Central Intelligence Agency. The main focus of the film is on the plot and character. Damon played many stunts himself, although he never played such physically demanding role before. He had to go on a training of three month period. He had to learn boxing, wrestling and use of weapons.

39 Steps (1935)

The storyline of this movie portrays a man who tries to help a counterespionage agent in London. The story takes a turn when the agent is killed and the man is accused of murder. He goes into hiding to save himself from being captured and put on trial. The second main cause for his hiding was that he had stopped a spy ring to steal top secret information. In the movie, the 39 steps are referred to the clandestine organization. On the other hand, in the book it refers to physical steps, which are located in different spaces with different significances to the plot.

It is the original thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It is based on the novel 'The Thirty-Nine Steps,' written by John Buchan. The cast of the film includes Robert Danot and Madeleine Carroll (Yanal 2000, 67).

The film's plot is slightly different from the novel by John Buchan. Many scenes were changed such as the music hall and on the Forth Bridge which are not in the book. Two major female characters were introduced in the movie as well. One was Annabella who was a spy. In the book it is a man who is a spy and enters Hannay's flat. Second female character introduced was Pamela. The movie takes a twist where Hannay with the whole country available to hide, chooses the place where the spy ringleader lives.

North by Northwest (1959)

It is a 1959 thriller movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The cast includes Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint and James Mason. It also features Leo G. Carroll and Martin Landau. It is a story of mistaken identity. The story focuses on an innocent man who is pursued across the United States of America by agents of mysterious organization. He wants to stop them and interfere in their plans which are to smuggle out a microfilm which contains government secrets. This film is first among itself to ...