North by Northwest Details

The Master at Work

Hitchcock had already made most of his classic Paramount films (Vertigo, Rear Window) earlier in the 50s before creating North by Northwest. The result is one of the most pure Hitchcock films - concentrated storytelling with engaging characters. The film's final screen minute contains more plot than many directors manage to cram into ten.

Cary Grant is back after Jimmy Stewart was pensioned off as Hitch's leading man. He is completly at home as the smooth, charming advertising executive, caught up in events way beyond his control.

The Hitchcock obsession with stunning blonde actresses finds a home in Eva Marie Saint - introduced to us in one of cinema's most alluring seduction scenes. Confident, sexy and yet tantalisingly unavailable.

If you like film, and enjoy watching first class actors under the direction of a master story-teller, then this is for you.

One of those movies that everyone talks about and you always see scenes from on TV. The setting is very much of its time (cold war intrigue), but the action is relentless, the scenario surprisingly convincing (seeing as in the cold light of day it's pretty unbelievable) and the cinematography and score of real quality. It's not quite as tense as the 39 Steps, or as chilling as some of AH's other work but it's very definitely worth watching. Especially for set-pieces like the scene at the UN building and the great aerial shot which follows. Also for odd little quirks like the prominent role played by Grant's on-screen mother (played by Jessie Royce) - she's the first person his character turns to as the crisis unfolds - and Eve Kendall (Eva Maria Saint) claiming to be twenty six. In all, not quite a classic, but definitely a lot of fun. (If you enjoyed the recent Catch Me If You Can, you should definitely enjoy it.)