North By Northwest
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Movie Reviews of North By Northwest
Movie Review: Metamorpho Has a Hitch - For His 200th Review!
Summary: 5 Stars
People. This will be my 200th review. You would think it a cause for celebration, however, things are not always what they seem to be. And do remember this because it is a motif of this selection, which we will discuss later. Anyway, after a little over 4 years, I find myself struggling to be upwardly mobile in rank. I was just about to give up and work towards last place when I met this man who said he had a way to "fix" the system (as if this system hasn't been "fixed" enough). He said "Don't you worry Metamorpho, you will be in first place within a month". Well people, your Metamorpho wasn't born yesterday, but desperation makes you do strange things (like believe a total stranger). So, it was arranged to meet him in a field in the midwest whereby he will give me the total success (I deserve so much) amongst my peers.
Well I took a bus to meet him in some barren field. Nobody was around. He did say 2 o'clock, didn't he? Then, all of a sudden, I saw a crop duster appear out of the horizon. But, instead of stopping, it came right at me, diving at me, almost sawing off my Seers cap! It circled around and started to spray negative vote dust at your poor Metamorpho. I had to run, just like Cary Grant in....oh, what's that movie's name? Luckily, I threw a pebble into the engine motor, which crashed the plane. And, I was able to make my escape in a checkered cab I had arranged to meet me there. Very upsetting. So I made my way back to Chicago and stayed in George Kaplan's hotel room. Never met the man, but I pretended I was him since I had no money. So, I relaxed with a bubble bath and my trusty rubber duck. That guy in the crop duster must have been a quack! My rubber duck agreed.
I finally emerged to check the in-room bar, pour myself a brandy, and recline on the king sized bed with my laptop to bring you, yet, another fine review from the feathered pen of Metamorpho! I know my fan base will be elated. Others will still need to buy tickets to my lectures. Do not worry. Special discount rates will apply. But enough of this - you did tune in to hear about this movie- didn't you?
This is one of my all-time favorites. The genius of Hitchcock was never more in ample supply. Intiguing, engaging, the master gives you a ride you'll want to revisit time and time again. All the elements of suspense are present. The good guys, the bad guys, and the femme fatale who connects the dots, or possibly is the puzzle once removed from the puzzle. Knowing Hitchcock, it will all be perceived in his own good time.
Cary Grant plays Roger Thornhill, a Madison Avenue executive who is accustomed to a finer reality in life. Inavertently, he is mistaken for someone else. A spy whom certain other spys are after. From there, all sorts of devious things begin to happen. They attempt to murder him, frame him for murder, and the police, as well as the spys chase him from state to state. From that point on it is a roller coaster of events that get him into even deeper hot water. Within this scenario, Hitchcock tears down the curtain sheltering American complacency, or human complacency as it were. Like Alice, Roger Thornhill is exposed to the other side of the mirror, and this ain't no wonderland folks.
Hithcock keeps the action moving. And, that is one of the very things I like about this movie. There is always some new aspect and new reaction contributing to the journey. Cary (Roger Thornhill) is like a deer in headlights, having to adjust his position for every new nuance that comes up. Eva Marie Saint (who plays Eve Kendall) the elusive, but soon to be love interest of Roger Thornhill, is sheer perfection. Spy, double spy, or lover? The woven tapestry Hitchcock weaves is very dense indeed. It's akin to being an all-knowing Seer or poseur? You will figure out Eve, but never ME my babies!
The espionage in this movie reigns supreme. Nothing is given away. The audience is drawn into Roger's world and, as such, become just as puzzled by the events. The action moves from town to townsend, and we are caught in a web of confusion and are off balance time and time again. The bad guys are out to get Roger, the F.B.I. are out to use Roger, and Roger is out to get the girl. All these plots and subplots could make one very dizzy. Not for me though. Metamorpho carries with him a supply of Bonine. Very good for twists of plot.
Nothing seems to be what it is. And, even the ending, in movies terms, is not what it appears to be. However, Hitchcock is such a master that it might as well be. I am constantly enamoured of what this man has done with the art of cinema. And, remember people, he did not have the advantage of CGI technology and digital maneuvers. This makes the movie all the more remarkable. Also, I forgot the motif of chance and the balance thereof. This movie is filled with the motif that, regardless of how much we feel are lives are set and controlled, a chance happening could come along to change all we have known. Fortunately, Hitchcock balances it all out. The pain and craziness that Roger endured resulted in a true love of his life. A happy ending? Yes, maybe. But look at all it took to get there.
A true classic? Yes. And it still astounds me that Hitchcock never won an Oscar for Best Director. The man was a virtual genius in my eyes. So many movies. So many memorable scenes in many movies. His legacy lives and, Oscar or not, this movie is definitely one of his finest.
Now, somebody PLEASE give me a hankerchief! I am hanging on Mt. Rushmore and George Washington is about to sneeze!!!
Another fun and quirky review on the 200th milestone! - by Metamorpho (the wise people's choice!).
Movie Review: THE WRONG MAN THEME DIRECTED BY THE RIGHT MAN : STARRING THE RIGHT MAN
Summary: 5 Stars
CLASSIC CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY'S WORST CASE SCENARIO --- MAKES A BEST CASE CLASSIC FILM
JUST WHAT IS "NORTH BY NORTHWEST" - A COMEDY? THRILLER? DRAMA? LOVE STORY or FARCE?
Answer - It doesn't matter, because, North-By-Northwest is one of the most purely entertaining and compelling films ever produced, and it is readily available on a fully-featured, remastered, widescreen DVD.
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT - - THE $4,000,000 BARGAIN OF 1959!
Mistaken identity is taken about as far afield as it can go, with some wrinkles thrown in, like murder, attempted murder, love, betrayal, and plot twists on plot twists. Add to this, the pace of this film really books!
THE HITCHCOCK TRADEMARK TAKES CENTER-STAGE: GOOD GUY WITH A FLAW - ENTER R.O.T.
Just like Janet Leigh's character in "Psycho" and James Stewart's character in "Vertigo", the hero in "North-By-Northwest" has a character flaw that's going to cost him big. In Roger O. Thornhill's case he makes a living by capricious, harmless "exaggeration". He is in advertising and in this movie everything that happens to him seems like sensationalism, hyperbole, misrepresentation, stretching the truth, a whopper, overkill, and a lot of bull. All of which are synonyms for "exaggeration", how R.O.T. describes his occupation to put a fine point on it. The effect of this kind of literary justice is to put R.O.T. in a position where he must examine his soul and decide to take a position rather than a viewpoint. In doing this, he reaches a well-earned epiphany for both himself and his patient audience. In the end, his life is not only restored but is new and improved, as they say in advertising, with Eva Marie Saint becoming Mrs. Thornhill as his reward for sincere caring and many unselfish acts. In the end, goodness becomes more than its own reward as it can only be counted on in fiction: ah, but such good fiction was this.
THE SETS - -
North-By-Northwest was filmed on many locations in the United States and made to look like many more. There are memorable scenes in the United Nations in New York, Chicago, Mount Rushmore and even on Long Island, not to mention on the train with Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant from New York to Chicago. There are On-Location shots and matte backgrounds depicting outdoor sets filmed in Hollywood at MGM. Many of the interesting and unusual sets are explained in the featurette, all of which are well done and are very useful and important to the film's realism, which remains surprisingly intact throughout all the permutations in the plot and scenery.
NICE SOUNDTRACK - -
LET'S NOT FORGET THE MARVELOUSLY DARK SOUNDTRACK by Bernard Herrmann which made long scenes like Grant's drunk-driving fiasco seem tense rather than tedious.
THE ACTORS - -
Cary Grant is Roger O. Thornhill, or is that George Kaplan? You'll have to see the film to know for sure. His mother, Clara Thornhill, played by Jesse Royce Landis, isn't even sure, it seems, when Grant's life has been hijacked apparently without cause. James Mason as Phillip Vandamm is the unconventional leader of an international spy ring that has just marked Cary Grant for death. Unfortunately for Grant, but fortunately for us, he has little in common with most action heros so his solutions are also a little unconventional and more sophisticated than the usual Hollywood hero's.
The result is fast-paced action entertainment that keeps the large, experienced cast of Hollywood veterans quite busy and the audience guessing.
Cary Grant - Roger O. Thornhill
Eva Marie Saint - Eve Kendall
James Mason - Phillip Vandamm
Jesse Royce Landis - Clara Thornhill
Leo G. Carroll - The Professor
Martin Landau - Leonard
Philip Ober - Lester Townsend
Josephine Hutchinson - "Mrs. Townsend," housekeeper
Adam Williams - Valerian
Edward Platt - Victor Larrabee
Robert Ellenstein - Licht
Les Tremayne - Auctioneer
Philip Coolidge - Dr. Cross
Patrick McVey - Chicago Policeman
Edward Binns - Capt. Junket
Alfred Hitchcock - Man Who Misses Bus
ABOUT THE DVD - -
This excellent transfer comes with the following;
DVD Features:
Available Subtitles: English, French
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Commentary by: screenwriter Ernest Lehman -- Somewhat dry and not really coordinated with what is happening on screen but it is, after all, comments by the screenwriter so it is worth listening to at least once if you are interested.
Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest, with host Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau, screenwriter Ernest Lehman, Patricia Hitchcock and others. This is a somewhat interesting 40-minute featurette, the high point of which is Martin Landau doing an excellent impression of Hitchcock during minute 28 of the 40-minute featurette.
Music-only track: Music-only audio track showcasing Bernard Herrmann's score, Stills gallery, Hitchcock trailer gallery plus Widescreen anamorphic and full-screen formats! Not bad for $8.00!
IN THE END - -
Without a doubt, "North-By-Northwest" is my favorite Hitchcock film. For me, it is the Hitchcock film that stands up best to nearly a half century of repeated viewings. "NORTH BY NORTHWEST" is a case of the right men [Hitchcock & Grant] making a most entertaining 'Wrong Man' film.
Movie Review: CLASSIC CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY'S WORST CASE SCENARIO --- MAKES A BEST CASE CLASSIC FILM
Summary: 5 Stars
IN A NUTSHELL -- Is "NORTH BY NORTHWEST" - A COMEDY? THRILLER? DRAMA? LOVE STORY or FARCE?
Answer - It doesn't matter, because, North-By-Northwest is one of the most purely entertaining and compelling films ever produced, and it is readily available on a fully-featured, remastered, widescreen DVD.
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT: A lot of film for $4,000,000 in 1959!
Mistaken identity is taken about as far afield as it can go, with some wrinkles thrown in, like murder, attempted murder, love, betrayal, and plot twists on plot twists. Add to this, the pace of this film really books!
THE HITCHCOCK TRADEMARK TAKES CENTER-STAGE: GOOD GUY WITH A FLAW - ENTER R.O.T.
Just like Janet Leigh's character in "Psycho" and James Stewart's character in "Vertigo", the hero in "North-By-Northwest" has a character flaw that's going to cost him big. In Roger O. Thornhill's case he makes a living by capricious, harmless "exaggeration". He is in advertising and in this movie everything that happens to him seems like sensationalism, hyperbole, misrepresentation, stretching the truth, a whopper, overkill, and a lot of bull. All of which are synonyms for "exaggeration", how R.O.T. describes his occupation to put a fine point on it. The effect of this kind of literary justice is to put R.O.T. in a position where he must examine his soul and decide to take a position rather than a viewpoint. In doing this, he reaches a well-earned epiphany for both himself and his patient audience. In the end, his life is not only restored but is new and improved, as they say in advertising, with Eva Marie Saint becoming Mrs. Thornhill as his reward for sincere caring and many unselfish acts. In the end, goodness becomes more than its own reward as it can only be counted on in fiction: ah, but such good fiction was this.
THE SETS:
North-By-Northwest was filmed on many locations in the United States and made to look like many more. There are memorable scenes in the United Nations in New York, Chicago, Mount Rushmore and even on Long Island, not to mention on the train with Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant from New York to Chicago. There are On-Location shots and matte backgrounds depicting outdoor sets filmed in Hollywood at MGM. Many of the interesting and unusual sets are explained in the featurette, all of which are well done and are very useful and important to the film's realism, which remains surprisingly intact throughout all the permutations in the plot and scenery.
BRAVO FOR THE SOUNDTRACK:
LET'S NOT FORGET THE MARVELOUSLY DARK SOUNDTRACK by Bernard Herrmann which made long scenes like Grant's drunk-driving fiasco seem tense rather than tedious.
THE ACTORS:
Cary Grant is Roger O. Thornhill, or is that George Kaplan? You'll have to see the film to know for sure. His mother, Clara Thornhill, played by Jesse Royce Landis, isn't even sure, it seems, when Grant's life has been hijacked apparently without cause. James Mason as Phillip Vandamm is the unconventional leader of an international spy ring that has just marked Cary Grant for death. Unfortunately for Grant, but fortunately for us, he has little in common with most action heros so his solutions are also a little unconventional and more sophisticated than the usual Hollywood hero's.
The result is fast-paced action entertainment that keeps the large, experienced cast of Hollywood veterans quite busy and the audience guessing.
Cary Grant - Roger O. Thornhill
Eva Marie Saint - Eve Kendall
James Mason - Phillip Vandamm
Jesse Royce Landis - Clara Thornhill
Leo G. Carroll - The Professor
Martin Landau - Leonard
Philip Ober - Lester Townsend
Josephine Hutchinson - "Mrs. Townsend," housekeeper
Adam Williams - Valerian
Edward Platt - Victor Larrabee
Robert Ellenstein - Licht
Les Tremayne - Auctioneer
Philip Coolidge - Dr. Cross
Patrick McVey - Chicago Policeman
Edward Binns - Capt. Junket
Alfred Hitchcock - Man Who Misses Bus
ABOUT THE DVD:
This excellent transfer comes with the following;
DVD Features:
Available Subtitles: English, French
Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), French (Dolby Digital 1.0)
Commentary by: screenwriter Ernest Lehman -- Somewhat dry and not really coordinated with what is happening on screen but it is, after all, comments by the screenwriter so it is worth listening to at least once if you are interested.
Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest, with host Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau, screenwriter Ernest Lehman, Patricia Hitchcock and others. This is a somewhat interesting 40-minute featurette, the high point of which is Martin Landau doing an excellent impression of Hitchcock during minute 28 of the 40-minute featurette.
Music-only track: Music-only audio track showcasing Bernard Herrmann's score, Stills gallery, Hitchcock trailer gallery plus Widescreen anamorphic and full-screen formats! Not bad for $8.00!
BOTTOM LINE:
North-By-Northwest is my favorite Hitchcock film. For me, it is the Hitchcock film that stands up best to nearly a half century of repeated viewings.
Movie Review: Hitchcock's finest movie presented with a stunning DVD transfer!
Summary: 5 Stars
The review is for the Warner Brothers DVD released in 2004.
North by Northwest is a timeless classic involving action, adventure, drama, suspense and even some well-timed comedy, all rooted from a simple case of mistaken identity. Cary Grant stars as Roger Thornhill, a Madison Avenue executive, who is accidentally mistaken for a secret government agent named George Kaplan. Thornhill's main adversary is a spy for a foreign government named Phillip Vandamm (James Mason). Along the way, Thornhill meets a beautiful blond named Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) who adds a lot of sex appeal along with several surprises to this wild and wonderful plot.
The movie is masterpiece for numerous reasons. The first reason is because of the some of the unforgettable action shots including Grant being attacked by a crop dusting plane in a remote cornfield and then being chased across the face of Mount Rushmore. But beyond just the action, there many brilliant scenes where Grant either alludes the people tracking him or simply just outsmarts them and does some impressive detective work on his own. The script oozes with witty and clever lines with many visually memorable scenes as well. Another strength of the movie is a powerful music score that accentuates every crucial moment in the film. Furthermore, Grant and Mason give outstanding performances, perhaps their best. The movie also breaks out of the old Hollywood overly restrained romance situations with some very forward dialogue and some sexually suggestive scenes between Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint (but still extremely tame by today's standards). Finally, the widescreen color presentation is nothing short of spectacular. Not only is this Hitchcock's best, but from my personal viewpoint, it ranks #4 on my list of the greatest movies ever made behind Casablanca and The Godfather I & II. I have watched this movie at least six times over the past 25 years (now for the first time on DVD) and it still hasn't lost its edge.
As mentioned, the DVD quality is utterly fantastic for a film this old. The widescreen color transfer is completely immaculate, and rich in color and sharpness - rivaling movies made today. The sound is also outstanding for a film this old. There many bonuses, but the best is the making of the film with a cross the country diary of how and where the movie was shot. There is also a very good commentary by the Earnest Lehman who wrote the screenplay.
Movie: A+
DVD Quality: A+
Movie Review: Cary Grant goes to Mount Rushmore--not just for the sight-seeing!!
Summary: 5 Stars
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Movie`s hero: "My wives divorced me."
Movie's heroine: "Why?"
Hero: "They said I lived too dull a life."
The above dialogue is found near the end of this classic suspense movie that is even today unparalleled in producing an optimal combination of plot, humour, action, mystery, and intrigue without resorting to clichés. It was directed by "The Master of Suspense," the great Alfred Hitchcock.
Look for Hitchcock's characteristic brief cameo appearance after the opening credits. Some say that there is a second cameo.
Briefly, our hero in this movie, mid-mannered advertising executive Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant), is plunged into the bizarre world of spy (James Mason), counterspy (the heroine in this movie played by Eva Marie Saint), is kidnapped, framed for murder, chased, and even crop-dusted. I should also mention that he "visits" Mount Rushmore and gets up-close to the faces of former U.S. presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln) carved on the mountain.
The debonair Cary Grant effectively carries this movie. (This was Grants fourth and final teaming with Hitchcock.) Kudos must also go to the terrific supporting cast of Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Martin Landau (who plays the spy's main henchman), Jesse Royce Landis (who plays Thornhill's mother where in real-life Landis was only eight years older than Grant) and Leo G. Carroll (who plays the head of the C.I.A.).
Another key ingredient of this movie is its background music. This fantastic orchestral score was composed by Bernard Herrmann. It effectively adds to each scene.
Where does the movie's title come from? There are actually many theories for its origin. Personally, I think it comes from the fact that as the movie proceeds, Thornhill travels north on Northwest Airlines. (One of the original titles for this movie was "The Man in Lincoln's Nose.")
Finally, the DVD (the one released in 2004) is perfect in picture and sound quality. It has eight interesting extras.
In conclusion, this is one of those movie gems that, in my opinion, deserves to be called a "classic." Roger Thornhill's ex-wives were wrong. He definitely does not have a dull life!!
Recommendation: watch this movie on as large of a screen as possible.
(1959; 2 hr, 15 min; wide screen; 46 scenes; colour)
<<Stephen Pletko, London, Ontario, Canada>>
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