The Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures?

Rating: 10/10 (5 December 2003)

'North By Northwest' is not only one of Hitchcock's greatest films and greatest successes, its also one of his most influential, the influence felt on countless action flicks. Not least among them is the entire Bond franchise, at which has often been levelled accusations of 'ripping off' both Hitchcock in general and 'North By Northwest' in particular.
Hitchcock and his screenwriter, Ernest Lehman, seem to have regarded this film as the "Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures". As a sort of compendium of Hitchcock's American work, this comment is fitting. Hitchcock practically invented the chase thriller (with heavy lashings of humour, sex and suspense). (Note- Lehman would subsequently work on the similarly-toned and paced 'The Prize' (1963) which had one major difference ... Hitchcock's absence. The omission is quickly made patently and painfully obvious.)
Hitchcock, in his films, often examined the notion of 'the double' in his films ('Shadow of a Doubt', 'Strangers on a Train', 'Frenzy' among them). 'North By Northwest' is no exception. It seems to me that the character of Philip VanDamm can be seen as Thornhill's double, perhaps illuminating a darker, more profound side to the protagonist's personality. Comparisons are invited -- both men are English-accented, suave, sophisticated; both men mistake the other for someone else; both are in love with the same woman.
Roger's life is under threat from spies because of a false assumption those spies make and the secret agency whose obligation it should be to help him.. refuse to do so. In fact, the film's two 'parent figures' (Roger's mother, Clara and the 'Professor') are of absolutely no use to Roger, underlining the basic fact that only Roger can save Roger.
By 1959, Hitchcock was blessed with being able to use the same people on his films ... cinematographer Robert Burks, editor George Tomasini (who earned himself an Oscar nomination) and composer Bernard Herrmann. Its this that gives 'North By Northwest' its professional and satisfying sheen, never to be bettered.
Fergal #.