A 50s classic.

Rating: 8/10 (17 October 2005)

This was a film we were studying in English this year to do with film, film shots , what the music represents and angles. Film, it interests me so much. That is what I am going to get involved in once I have finished school.
It was about a man named Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) who got kidnapped and was taken to a residence called "Townsend" to meet Mr. Lester Townsend (Philip Ober). And from there, the people who he met thought he was "George Caplin". A person who did not exist. Roger noticed some other strange things : being asked questions that he cannot answer and doors being locked from behind him. And worse, he was forced to gulp down a full glass of a " Burman".
Later on in the evening, Roger was put into a Mercedes-Benz when he was totally out of it, the car was started up for him and he was about to go over a cliff. Ooh! That point of view shot freaked me out while Roger looked down the cliff. Jeepers! I sure am afraid of heights! And then, he woke up, took hold of the steering wheel and he did his best to drive. I am too afraid to drive when I am drunk because, I know I will CRASH! IT'S BLOODY Frightening!!! There was a scene that amused me when Roger crashed into the back of a car and followed by a cop's car crashing into the back of the stolen car he was driving! Everywhere where Roger goes, no one believes him that he was about to be killed by a bunch of madmen; not even the police. They just think he was a drunkard misbehaving.
The next day, Roger went to Townsend's with the cops and his mother Clara Thornhill (Jessie Royce Landis) to prove what happened at Townsend's place. Fortunately, the evidence had vanished. And soon, at Roger's hotel room, he received a call from the man who tried to kill him on the previous evening and he saw him and his gang where ever he went. Spooky. And everywhere he went, he was known as George Caplin.
After the strange call, Roger approached the General Assembly Building (United Nations) where he met the real Lester Townsend and Townsend told Roger that his wife had been dead for years and the house had been closed up leaving the gardener and the housekeeper to look after it. Then, Roger showed a photograph to Townsend, he gasped and Roger's killer vanished when he was observing the situation from far away. And now, it had gotten WORSE! Roger had been accused of theft, murder and violence.
There was another scene that crept me out, that was when the people who tried to kill Roger were cleverly disguised as cops. And Roger was seen on front covers of newspapers everywhere due to all the trouble he accidentally caused . For example, when the ticket officer saw him asking for a ticket, he called security. Then Roger suddenly disappeared and sneaked into a train and bumped into a woman named Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint). She did not believe that Roger was a criminal and then she fell in love with him. How sweet.
Soon, Roger disguised himself as a cop and he got onto a bus and he was dropped off in the middle of nowhere. Suddenly, a plane appeared out of nowhere and it tried to attack him. THAT WAS NASTY! And all the cars on the road ignored the event and then; Roger dived into a corn patch and the plane came flying down pouring out pesticides. As quick as a flash, Roger made a run for it,he stopped in the middle of the road, stopped a truck, the people who were inside the truck got out and the plane crashed into the truck. It was quite an explosion! And while no one was looking , Roger took off in a truck and drove to go see Eve. Ans suddenly, Roger noticed everywhere that every article was talking about the plane crash incident. Gosh! When will it end? Roger soon bumped into Profeesor (Leo. G. Carroll) and he was going to find out that it was the Professor who stared this Caplin business. Anyways, Roger and Eve took off to a house that was close to Mt. Rushmore and there , they got caught by a servant with a gun and were forced to come inside and sit down. And outside the house, [ full shot], a gun shot was heard, Roger and Eve ran out , got into the car and drove off into the woods with a strange statue.
Now here, was a moment filled with action, suspense and full and medium shots as Eve and Roger climbed down Mt. Rushmore with the crooks after them. And from a high angle full shot, Roger attacked one of the crooks and they fell down Mt. Rushmore. WOW! And suddenly, Eve was attacked by another crook and Roger came to her rescue with all the crooks and cops watching. And to end this review, Roger and Eve took off on a train, kissed and made up.
North by Northwest was a movie filled with suspense, scares, the unexpected and hectic music which explains insanity. This was a very entertaining 50s action thriller classic. I would like to thank the English department of my school St. Peter's College for sharing this film and movie techniques with us, the Grade 11s (standard 9s). I am sure they all appreciated it. Well, I did the most and thank you so0 much for the introduction to the film industry.