High Stakes on Mount Rushmore

Read Time:4 Minute, 40 Second

MOVIE REVIEW
North by Northwest
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Genre: Spy, Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller
Year Released: 1959, 2024 Warner Bros. 4K
Runtime: 2h 16m
Director(s): Alfred Hitchcock
Writer(s): Ernest Lehman, Gerald Devriès
Cast: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, Jessie Royce Landis, Leo G. Carroll, Josephine Hutchinson
Where To Watch: available now, order your copy here: www.amazon.com

RAVING REVIEW: Oddly enough, this was one of the first Hitchcock films I ever watched. Stepping right into the whirlwind, NORTH BY NORTHWEST spirals with an adrenaline-packed narrative that rockets from one iconic American landmark to another. Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, this 1959 thriller melds espionage and mistaken identity with a riveting romantic subplot, making it a blueprint for the genre and a timeless spectacle in cinematic narrative.

An anonymous thread post noted that NORTH BY NORTHWEST opens with Saul Bass’ visually striking title sequence, a precursor to the high-octane suspense that defines the film. I couldn’t agree more; it grounds the film and locks the audience in. Accompanied by Bernard Herrmann’s riveting score, these early moments set a dramatic tone that hints at the imminent danger and drama. The music and visuals raise the stakes and enrich the cinematic texture, preparing audiences for a coast-to-coast thrill ride.

The incomparable Cary Grant plays Roger Thornhill, the heart of this chase. His suave exterior conceals a man plunged into an identity crisis. Mistaken for a government agent, Thornhill's everyday life veers off into a breathless search that takes him from the urban jungle of Manhattan to the sculpted cliffs of Mount Rushmore. Grant's performance guides the transition from charm to desperation, capturing the essence of an everyman trapped in an extraordinary situation.

But it’s not just the suspense that keeps the reels turning; it’s the depth of the characters and their tangled relationships that add layers to the narrative. Thornhill's interactions with Eve Kendall, portrayed with allure by Eva Marie Saint, oscillate between alliance and opposition, their chemistry a volatile mix of suspicion and attraction. This relationship is central to the film’s dual exploration of romance and peril, painted against the broad strokes of Hitchcock’s canvas.

One of the film's most iconic sequences is the crop-duster scene, where Hitchcock’s mastery of his craft is fully displayed. Here, the director takes us out of the shadows and into a vast, open field, where Thornhill is shockingly vulnerable under the clear sky. The sequence deviates from the dark alleyways typical of thriller scenes, enhancing the suspense and playing on the exposed, almost stark setting to heighten the drama.

The film’s antagonists, Phillip Vandamm and his aide Leonard, played by James Mason and Martin Landau, respectively, are crafted with sophistication and an underlying menace. Their polished demeanors provide a chilling contrast to the overt dangers Thornhill faces, enriching the film’s exploration of disguise and deception.

Visually, NORTH BY NORTHWEST is a feast for the eyes, especially in this gorgeous restoration. Cinematographer Robert Burks captures expansive landscapes and tight, tense exchanges with equal skill, while editor George Tomasini’s sharp cuts ensure that the film’s pacing never misses a beat. This seamless narrative flow keeps the audience engaged, threading through complex plot twists with clarity and precision.

The plot’s driving force, a classic Hitchcockian MacGuffin, is elusive "government secrets." This clever narrative device moves the story forward and deepens the character dynamics without resolving into a tangible payoff, emphasizing personal stakes over plot mechanics.

The film also delves into the theme of identity, using Thornhill’s mistaken identity as a vehicle to explore broader questions about reality versus perception. This theme resonates throughout the film, pushing the protagonist and, by extension, the audience to question what is seen versus what is true.

The climax at Mount Rushmore not only caps the narrative with a breathtaking chase but also showcases Hitchcock’s flair for integrating spectacular settings into the storyline. This sequence is both a pinnacle of film technique and a thrilling narrative high point, solidifying the film’s status in the annals of cinema history.

Today, NORTH BY NORTHWEST continues to resonate, its themes of surveillance and identity more relevant than ever in our digital age. It is a testament to Hitchcock’s visionary direction—a film that entertains, challenges, and transcends its era.

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[photo courtesy of WARNER BROS. PICTURES]

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