North by Northwest (1959)

	Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock	COUNTRY USA GENRE Drama/Mystery/Thriller NORWEGIAN TITLE Med hjertet i halsen RUNNING TIME 136 minutes
	Produced by: Alfred Hitchcock
	Written by: Ernest Lehman

Cast includes:
CHARACTER	ACTOR/ACTRESS	RATING
Roger Thornhill	Cary Grant
Eve Kendall	Eva Marie Saint
Phillip Vandamm	James Mason
Clara Thornhill	Jessie Royce Landis
Professor	Leo G. Carroll	½
Leonard	Martin Landau	½

Review

One of Hitchcock's most cram-packed films, North By Northwest is in many ways Hitch at his most ambitious, but at the same time one of the few films where he allows himself to loosen up completely and let what's fun come before maintaining his artistic integrity. North by Northwest doesn't mind being meticulously plotted, shamelessly packed with edge-of-your-seat action, or having a basically fearless protagonist who acts more to the audience than at the drama that unfolds in front of him. With Cary Grant, in his usual seductive form, being chased around the most audacious of settings, North by Northwest is at once both Hitchcock at his most kitsch and his most elegant.

The film looks fabulous with its abundance of now-iconic locations, sets, and set-pieces. And with the remarkably glossy, almost ethereal Technicolor cinematography by Robert Burks and chic costumes by the uncredited Harry Kress, North by Northwest remains a fashion statement to this day. It is perhaps also the most back-to-back suspenseful entry in Hitchcock's catalogue, as we're taken from one memorable, quintessential scene to another. Grant and Saint never become the hottest couple on-screen, but they clearly share the same idea of fun and conjure up a charismatic interplay. In other roles, James Mason gives a suitably aristocratic performance, whereas the most interesting character belongs to Martin Landau, whose layered Leonard improves with each viewing.

In addition to classic scenes such as the train sequence, the crop-dusting, and Grant's wonderful display at a Chicago auction, North by Northwest is above all a testament to a director who was able to make films that met the demands of both critics and the public. This is pure, classy entertainment. And Bernard Herrmann's dazzling score is the icing on the cake.