North by Northwest

North by Northwest
Copyrighted by Loew's, Incorporated. Incorporates artwork by Saul Bass · Public domain · source
Name	North by Northwest
Caption	Theatrical release poster
Director	Alfred Hitchcock
Producer	Alfred Hitchcock
Writer	Ernest Lehman
Starring	Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason
Music	Bernard Herrmann
Cinematography	Robert Burks
Editing	George Tomasini
Studio	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributor	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Released	28 July 1959
Runtime	136 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$4.3 million
Gross	$9.8 million

North by Northwest. This 1959 American thriller is a quintessential work from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. The film follows a New York advertising executive who is mistaken for a government agent, thrusting him into a deadly cross-country chase. Acclaimed for its sophisticated blend of humor, romance, and iconic set-pieces, it is considered one of Hitchcock's greatest achievements and a landmark of the Hollywood studio era.

Plot

New York advertising man Roger Thornhill is kidnapped by henchmen of a foreign spy, Phillip Vandamm, after being mistaken for a fictional CIA agent named George Kaplan. After a failed attempt to frame him for a murder at the United Nations involving a diplomat from the United Nations Security Council, Thornhill flees, becoming a fugitive. Pursued by both Vandamm's organization and the police, he boards the 20th Century Limited to Chicago, where he meets the enigmatic Eve Kendall. Their journey leads to a perilous confrontation at Mount Rushmore, orchestrated by the real intelligence operative, The Professor, who reveals Eve is an undercover agent. The climax unfolds on the monumental faces of the National Park Service site, culminating in a rescue and a symbolic transition to a Pullman train berth.

Cast

Cary Grant delivers a defining performance as the charming yet perpetually bewildered protagonist, Roger Thornhill. The film marks the first collaboration between Hitchcock and Eva Marie Saint, who portrays the sophisticated and duplicitous Eve Kendall. James Mason brings urbane menace to the role of the antagonist, Phillip Vandamm, with Martin Landau as his quietly threatening associate, Leonard. Jessie Royce Landis plays Thornhill's mother, Clara Thornhill, and Leo G. Carroll appears as the unflappable intelligence official, The Professor. Supporting roles include Philip Ober as Lester Townsend, Adam Williams and Robert Ellenstein as Vandamm's henchmen, and Edward Platt as a Voice of America aide.

Production

The screenplay by Ernest Lehman was conceived as "the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures," weaving a narrative of mistaken identity across famous American landmarks. Principal photography, led by longtime Hitchcock collaborator and cinematographer Robert Burks, commenced in August 1958. Key sequences were shot on location, including the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Prairie landscapes of Illinois, and the faces of Mount Rushmore in South Dakota (though the climax was filmed on a meticulous studio replica at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer). The legendary crop-duster attack scene was filmed near Bakersfield. The film's sweeping score was composed by another frequent Hitchcock partner, Bernard Herrmann, and its stylish title sequence was designed by graphic artist Saul Bass.

Release and reception

Premiering in Chicago on July 28, 1959, and opening widely in the United States soon after, the film was a major commercial success for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Critics praised its pace, wit, and technical mastery, with Bosley Crowther of The New York Times highlighting its "superior" craftsmanship. It received three Academy Award nominations: Best Art Direction (William A. Horning, Robert F. Boyle, and Merrill Pye), Best Film Editing (George Tomasini), and Best Original Screenplay for Ernest Lehman. While it won no Oscars, its reputation has only grown, with many contemporary scholars placing it among the finest works in the Hitchcock filmography. The film's success solidified the status of its stars and reaffirmed Hitchcock's dominance at the box office.

Legacy

Frequently cited as a masterpiece, it is a cornerstone of both the thriller and adventure film genres. Its influence is vast, inspiring countless films and filmmakers with its template of an ordinary man caught in an extraordinary conspiracy. The crop-duster sequence and the Mount Rushmore chase are among the most studied and referenced in film history. The film is preserved in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." It consistently ranks highly on lists by the American Film Institute, such as its "100 Years...100 Thrills" poll. The film's blend of glamour, suspense, and iconic American iconography ensures its enduring popularity and critical stature as a pinnacle of classical Hollywood cinema.

Category:1959 films Category:American thriller films Category:Alfred Hitchcock films Category:Films scored by Bernard Herrmann