TV Week TV Week

By Jacqueline Cutler © Zap2it

Taking on a Hitchcock title borders on cinematic heresy for many. Yet the new version of “The Lady Vanishes” is not trying to remake the master’s 1938 version.

Airing Sunday on PBS (check local listings), “The Lady Vanishes: Masterpiece Mystery!” hews closer to the novel than the film, but the basic story is the same. It’s a film shot rich with ambers and shadows, perfect for a mystery.

The story unfolds in 1931 on a train traveling from the Balkans and revolves around an independent, wealthy young British woman, Iris (Tuppence Middleton, “Inspector Lewis”).

“When you first meet her, she is not a particularly likable person,” Middleton says. “Taking this character, who was actually quite spoiled and privileged, and making her into this likable character” was her aim.

It’s already been a rough day for Iris — and a somewhat confusing one for the audience. Iris bribes the ticket agent at the train depot into selling her a ticket, though she can’t secure a reserved seat.

About to board, Iris loses consciousness, and precisely what happens then is where it becomes muddled for viewers. But stick with it; once she is on the train, the story picks up.

As with any train, particularly when people are going to be aboard it for some time, they are aware of one another, which is an important plot point.

“You are rather young to be traveling alone,” notes one biddy trying to get in her business. “Your family will be worried.”

“I have none,” Iris retorts. “Aren’t I lucky?”

Iris encounters nothing but unfriendly and, in some cases, downright hostile passengers. An older woman, Miss Froy (Selina Cadell, “Doc Martin”), takes Iris under her