North by Northwest (1959)

A grey-suited ad man mistaken for a government agent gets framed for murder and is on the run from the law while simultaneously chasing danger and romance across country, (the title is literal as it simply indicates the trip including by Northwest train, though some assume it’s derived from Shakespeare: "I am but mad north-northwest: when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.")

Arguably not the greatest Hitchcock, but certainly the crowning jewel of his romantic thrillers: with a star cast including his beloved Cary Grant; sexy, snappy, humorous dialogue; a Bernard Herrmann soundtrack; varied and iconic locations and great color, widescreen photography to go with them; etc.

Certainly, one of my priority DVD purchases (in case you are wondering the other two were The Birds and Vertigo.) Later, I won the special edition in a contest, but when I attempted to play it two nights ago the disc had gone bad. After a minor interruption where I had to locate my earlier disc, we were good to go.

The film features many of the Hitchcock signatures including the supposed everyman (as if Cary Grant were an everyman!) who finds himself in unusual situations; and the complication of spy work with messy human feelings (also see Notorious.) In that sense Hitch was perfectly in line with the rest of the Surrealists: it is not as if Grant does not realize he is in danger, it is just that if not for passion nothing else is worthwhile, not even his own life.

It also includes masterful scenes not only iconic for the director but also representative of American cinema. The plane sequence is not only a joy to watch, but amazing for the way it takes its time to generate the maximum of suspense (and this is where my disc went bad!)

With Eva Marie Saint (as the icy blonde), and James Mason (as the villain), Leo G. Carroll, Martin Landau (more homosexual friction here), and Jessie Royce Landis (as a domineering mother, another Hitchcock signature detail.)

Lots of very nice matte paintings and a blooper with a kid in the background who after at least one rehearsal knew to cover his ears before the gun went off, (credit to Porfle from HK and Cult Film News for catching this one!)

An indispensable classic.