Don't Miss the Bus

Rating: 8/10 (18 May 2000)

North By Northwest is classic Hitchcock and is a moive not to be missed.

There are only a few minor mishaps--> I rank the movie a little lower than perhaps it deserves because the video version has some faded colors. This may be fixed if re-released in a remastered version. However, it may also be due to film deterioration (as color movies shot on one real of Kodak) rather than 3, fade over time).
The other minor goofs are caused my the time period of the 1959 and the recent jumps is special effects technology. The actors over blue screens are very obvious in parts.
This mistakes cause this not to be a perfect movie, but it is still a classic. There is great acting and a great story. You should be engaged and intrigued, and always surprised and what will occur next. It is also very non-predictable as nobody is safe at anytime, so basically anything can occur in the story.
At the same time, the story flows easilly and logically from place to place. (unlike Hitchcock's earlier "Secret Agent" were locations are not fully explained, North by Northwest fully utilizes the locations and uses them to add to the story).
Other little idosyncronsies further add to the story as art, airlines, the UN, Mt. Rushmore (plus the fact that 100 pines were planted on an MGM sound-lot to make it look like the surrounding "Rushmore" woods), and a reference to Shakespeare (the title) all add to the story.
Originally known as "The Man in Lincoln's Nose", North By Northwest will not disappoint.
However, don't miss the bus as Hitchcock makes his appearance before the appearance of Grant, whom the role was written for and whom shows valid reasons for why the James Bond producers wanting him for the James Bond role. (he did not get that role because he would only do 2 or 3 bond movies)
Rating: 8
Viewed: on tape