A great Hitchcock film

Rating: Null/10 (20 March 2002)

The daring Cary Grant dodging a crop duster, falling to the ground as bullets go zooming by is one of the most famous scenes in cinematic history. This, along with the heavily anticipated finale on the face of Mount Rushmore, is what makes Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest a valuable addition to his collection of great films. In a case of mistaken identity, Roger Thornhill, skillfully played by Grant, becomes entangled in a web created by the CIA and professional criminals. His determination to prove that he is not the man these crooks are searching for takes him on a cross-country journey. Several people attempt to help him, while others try to kill him. After several twists and turns, though, it is not clear exactly who is trying to do what. This uncertainty adds to the suspense that continually builds until the climax of the film. The extravagant settings, Thornhill's cunning detective work, and his creative moves for getting out of tight situations can be appreciated by any fan of James Bond films. The acting of Cary, Eva Marie Saint, who plays Eve, the typical Hitchcock female, and James Mason as Vandamm, the villain, is notably well done. Everything about North by Northwest is characteristic of a Hitchcock film. Of all his movies I have seen, this one is added toward the top of the list because of the mystery and suspense that he maintains throughout. Everything about it makes it a great film.