A True Classic

Rating: Null/10 (15 February 2004)

An advertising executive is unsuspectingly setup by intelligence to pose as a decoy to a spy who supposedly, but doesn't exist. The suspense and thrills are great. And I especially like that frightening sequence in the airport after Thornhill asks Townsend "Do you recognize this man?" And then Townsend's eyes suddently bulge... and - well, I won't spoil that scene just yet.
I just wished that the fact that Thornhill was divorced by his ex's because of his living a dull life was foreshadowed more extensively. but I guess they couldn't have because as they say: START WHEN YOUR STORY STARTS. And I dont think it can count as a plothole or a flaw.
You can see how Lehman crafts his story with care, precision and how he waits for that scene in the end where Eve reveals why she works for intelligence, and why she decided to cooperate. -- "Has life always been like that?"
Very interesting to see Thornhill's character arc. Watch how he pretends to have forgotten about Eve in the hospital. Watch what he does when CIA old man steps out to get him his drink. There's also a quick, funny scene where the woman in glasses goes "STOP...... I mean.... Stop."

I especially like Bernard Hermann's thrilling score. It has such an exhilirating, and sometimes hypnotic mood to it --- It's played in the beginning, in the scene where the intoxicated Roger tries to drive thru the hills, and in the movie's finale in Mt. Rushmore.
Nowadays, its often hard to find an action film that's can be very solid, plausible and maybe have a feel-good aspect at the end.

10/10 or GRADE A++
A classic indeed.