North by Northwest (1959)'s comments

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The Doctor

One of Hitchcock's most wildly frenetic films, with a pace that is that is matched and complimented by Bernard Herrmann's great score. North By Northwest was the first modern chase film of it time, with a superb screenplay by Ernest Lehman, and very witty performance by Cary Grant, and great performance all around, it's everyone's finest hour here.

13 years ago

Olikus

Cary Grant. A boss like always.

8 years 10 months ago

DisneyStitch

I could be wrong but it strikes me that this is one of the original movies where everything wrong goes against the main character and then goes on the run. It's a movie formula that has been copied many times throughout the years but North by Northwest does it right. Cary Grant plays the role perfectly and Hitchcock wields his trademark suspense like a mighty sword which stabs repeatedly into the storyline. This might be Hitchcocks one and only "epic" film as he typically prefers to focus on individuals and the situations around them.

8 years 3 months ago

Siskoid

Taking a lot of its cues from Hitch's much earlier Saboteur (from the mistaken identity to danging off an American tourist attraction), this is just about the biggest mainstream entertainment the famous director ever made. It's got lots of action, a crackingly witty script, and a hot and heavy romance (for 1959, it's positively scandalous). It's not quite as suspenseful as you'd expect from the Master of Suspense, however, and to me, Cary Grant is such an affected actor, that I can't quite say I loved it. Or perhaps I was distracted by Martin Landau who was obviously perpetrating a sting on the villain on behalf of the IMF ;-). Probably one I'd like more and more on each viewing, but the first run-through left me wanting just a touch more.

8 years 8 months ago

Joker of Gotham

Better than Vertigo
4/5

11 years 1 month ago

ReVision

Really enjoyable movie, and it aged very nicely!

11 years 9 months ago

MarkE89

Exquisitely shot and awkwardly humorous, this remains one of HItchcock's finest comedies though repeatedly misread as a "classic thriller". Grant's performance takes a brilliant stab at his own slap-stick past, while portraying a cry-wolf character oozing of latent mysogony and alcoholism. He is your typical man-on-the-run for crimes he didn't commit and mistaken for someone who doesn't exist. To counter his charades while bumbling about, we find the slutty Eve and charismatic Mason, who are both just as wonderful. Mason, in particular, is a riveting force on the screen reminiscent of his role in the equally beautiful Bigger Than Life just a few years prior.

Though the film's formula has since become emblematic of Hollywood-popcorn, most copies are complete trash void of Hitch's vulgar melodrama and finely tuned satire. North by Northwest is one of the most gorgeous films ever made, but much of its humor will probably only appeal to film geeks used to seeing past Hollywood's recycled trash.

10 years 2 months ago