It is apparent that even as early as this film, Hitchcock had a real talent for dry and clever humor. This succeeds in providing a method by which to release the tension at times when it was needed in the film. It should also be noted that the scenes where Hannay is hiding in the mountains of Scotland may in fact be one of the most open environments seen in a Hitchcock film.

One of the the other things evident upon viewing are a number of "Hitchcockian" elements that are missing from the film. One of the greatest joys when viewing a classic work of Alfred Hitchcock's is seeing how the music of the film elevates the suspense and aids the scene in unfathomable ways (the classic Bernard Herrmann score during the shower scene in Psycho comes to mind). However, the score is very minimal in this film, and there are a number of scenes that feel as if they would have been even more impressive with musical accompaniment. Not that Hitchcock can be blamed for its absence; the development of sound in film had still not reached its full potential in film at this point, and this is likely one of those facts that can only be recognized in hindsight. It should also be noted that some of the performances seem rushed and underdeveloped; Madeleine Carroll's Pamela character in particular seemed like a final-hour inclusion in the script, and therefore the budding romance between her and Hannay seemed rather forced.

This film is a joy to watch, whether you're a fan of Hitchcock, spy films, or the art of film in general. It is astonishing to watch a master of his craft in his earlier days with the medium, and to analyze how he progressed through his career. What is likely even more impressive is that his earlier works succeed in being just as entertaining and masterful as his later pictures.