Dec 22 2008
North by Northwest
North by Northwest, the action chase thriller from the master of suspense, Alfred Hitchcock has it’s ups and it’s downs. Roger O. Thornhill, played by Cary Grant, is an unsuspecting advertising executive who is mistaken for someone he is not, and is being chased across country by men with a secret. Along the way he meets the seductive and straight-foward Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) who adds to the confusing and desperate theme of the film.
The characters are believable enough to keep your attention and make the story feel as realistic as it can. The seemingly aged Cary Grant appears to be past his prime yet still act as if he is in it, compared to his opposite Eva Marie Saint and his mother in the film who is at most the same age. Grants quick wit and fast comebacks make him less believable and make him feel more scripted.
The dialogue is quick and in most places very common. The classic “cookie-cutter” corny movie lines are rampant throughout with the occasion of the meaningful plot driving chatter.
The soundtrack is overpowering and obtrusive and hardly necessary until the climax. The jarring, one-theme loop is repetitive and explosive and most often misused, yet extremely fantastic and one of my favorites.
The camera work is stunning, with its new and creative angles. The “effects” where anything but realistic (compared to today) in use with automobiles and backgrounds. You can notice between the obvious sets and real locations. Given the year this film was made (1959), the effects are up to par with the standards and the climax scenes are done very well combining sets and backdrops with live action.
Many of the scenes felt stretched beyond their limits which caused the supposed fast moving plot to slow down and question what it is doing and where it is headed. The unnecessary repetition of movements and action started to drag half way through the film.
The main concept of this story is too short to be fit into at two hour and fifteen minute mold. The main bulk of the plot is watered down with repetitive extras and slow moving scenes. The on-the-go action, comparable to modern “Catch Me if You Can” and “The Fugitive”, and the intriguing plot line, is well worth the thinned out middle, leading to one of the most obscure and dramatic climax chase scenes ever.
North by Northwest is comparable to the other Hitchcock favorites following in style and genre, which are unfortunately under appreciated by todays audiences. Despite all the negative subtleties, I enjoy and appreciate this film very much for its classic mysterious and thrill-filled story line complete with confusion, betrayal and adventure.
