Cary Grant stars in this story of mistaken identity. Sure, it’s dated by the 1959 sets and wardrobe, but the intense story from Alfred Hitchcock is riveting and a classic in the world of filmmaking.
The Movie Itself
Grant plays New York adman Roger Thornhill who is mistaken for a government agent. It was a fluke, but nevertheless Thornhill is thought to be the elusive agent George Kaplan by a group of foreign spies led by Mr. Van Damm (James Mason). Although professing he is not a spy but an executive and a lush, the spies kidnap Thornhill and take him to a country estate. After not getting anything from him they attempt to kill him, but Thornhill escapes.
He sets his sights on finding the real George Kaplan to clear his name, otherwise Thornhill’s life will still be in danger. What he doesn’t know is that there is no George Kaplan. That is a fictitious person invented by the government to keep the identity of their real spy safe and secure.
This tale of intrigue follows Thornhill from New York to Chicago, where he encounters a low-flying crop dusting plane in a country field. This is one of the most recognizable scenes from film history.
Thornhill is befriended by a woman, Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), the quintessential Hitchcock cool blonde. They share a night on the train from New York to Chicago, but later Thornhill discovers she is working for Van Damm. It is only later in the story that her real reason for meeting him is revealed.
Intense with memorable scenes is the way in which to describe this thriller. Besides the scene in the field, another classic scene is when the characters are trying to climb down Mount Rushmore.
The 50th Anniversary Blu-ray Edition
This edition includes a book which reveals more about the stars, the story, the film, and the director. The restoration of the film is the best quality to date, so fans have a new enjoyment when watching this classic movie.
Another bonus of this edition is a documentary on Cary Grant called “Cary Grant: A Class Apart.” Born Archie Leach in Bristol, Grant later had his name changed by the studio system. He was both a dramatic and a comedic actor, having honed his comic and acrobatic skills on the stage. He was the only male star whose career was made by screwball comedies. Grant was not only talented, but his looks were what kept women coming back for more. Peter Bogdanovich comments in the documentary, “Everybody wanted to be Cary Grant. Cary Grant said, ‘Even I’d like to be Cary Grant.’” Grant was noted for his suave appeal and easy-going attitude, which, apparently, was something not shared by Archie Leach.
Another bonus 2009 feature is called “The Master’s Touch – Hitchcock’s Signature Style.” Alfred Hitchcock has a special look to his films. He brought his personality, interests, and fears into his movies. Hitchcock was known for filling the scenes with visuals which were more important to him than dialogue. This master director loved silent movies where imagery was paramount. He took a story and retold it “in cinematic form,” he comments.
Yet another additional feature is “The Making of North by Northwest” which is narrated by Eva Marie Saint. Hitchcock’s daughter Pat is interviewed about her father’s work.
And, “North by Northwest – One for the Ages” focuses on Hitchcock’s direction in the film and the classic scenes that are always shown in film retrospectives. This film was a landmark.
- Studio: Warner Home Video
- Running Time: 131 minutes
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