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North by Northwest (1959)
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Overview
User Rating:
Your Rating:
Director:
Writer:
Ernest Lehman (written by)
Release Date:
17 September 1959 (Japan)
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Tagline:
Alfred Hitchcock takes you.... North by Northwest! more
Plot:
A hapless New York advertising executive is mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies, and is pursued across the country while he looks for a way to survive. full summary | full synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Spy
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Agent
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Advertising
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Government Agent
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Murder
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Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 4 wins
&
3 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(75 articles)
The 2009 RopeofSilicon Movie Awards and Full Recap
(From Rope Of Silicon. 4 January 2010, 11:29 AM, PST)
Robert's Best of Blu-ray 2009 Top Ten
(From TheHDRoom. 1 January 2010, 9:13 AM, PST)
(From Rope Of Silicon. 4 January 2010, 11:29 AM, PST)
Robert's Best of Blu-ray 2009 Top Ten
(From TheHDRoom. 1 January 2010, 9:13 AM, PST)
User Reviews:
Terrific Entertainment From the Master
more (370 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) more
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (USA) (complete title)
Breathless (USA) (working title)
In a Northwesterly Direction (USA) (working title)
The Man in Lincoln's Nose (USA) (working title)
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Breathless (USA) (working title)
In a Northwesterly Direction (USA) (working title)
The Man in Lincoln's Nose (USA) (working title)
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Parents Guide:
Runtime:
131 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (2000) |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
UK:A (1959) |
USA:Approved (PCA #19156) |
USA:TV-G (TV rating) |
Iceland:L |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:15 |
South Korea:12 |
Netherlands:AL (DVD rating) |
Netherlands:12 (re-rating) |
Netherlands:12 (2008 re-release) |
Brazil:14 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:G (1959-1998) |
Australia:PG |
Chile:14 |
Finland:K-16 |
France:U |
Germany:12 (re-rating) |
Peru:14 |
UK:PG |
West Germany:16 (original rating) |
Norway:16
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Roger O. Thornhill claims that the "O" stands for "nothing". This is a reference to David O. Selznick, whose "O" also signified nothing.
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Goofs:
Factual errors: When the Mercedes carrying Roger is balanced on the rocky cliff, the left rear wheel is spinning in the air. Moments later, the car drives back on to the road. In a rear wheel drive car from the 1950's, all of the torque would be delivered to the free wheel, making it impossible for the car to move without being pushed or pulled.
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Quotes:
Man at Prairie Crossing:
That's funny, that plane's dustin' crops where there ain't no crops.
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Movie Connections:
Referenced in Plotting 'Family Plot' (2001) (V)
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Soundtrack:
Singin' in the Rain
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FAQ
What route does Thornhill follow as he travels north by northwest?How does the movie end?
Where is Hitchcock's cameo in this movie?
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more (370 total)
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With everything you expect from Hitchcock and more, "North By Northwest" is terrific entertainment from the master. There are interesting characters, an exciting story with intrigue and suspense, lots of fine photography, and some of Hitchcock's best-known set pieces. It's capped off by a fine Bernard Herrmann score that is almost as good as the one he wrote later for "Psycho".
Cary Grant may be the ideal Hitchcock actor, and he is a big part of making this such great fun. As one of the man-on-the-run characters that Hitchcock loved to make movies about, Grant is entertaining and believable, maintaining good humor even as he tries to work his way out of a series of desperate situations. The other stars, James Mason and Eva Marie Saint, also are very good, and the supporting roles are all filled by good character actors.
The story is one of Hitchcock's most exciting. It's slightly longer than usual, and it occasionally stretches credibility, but it all goes by quickly because there is always something interesting going on, and there is also plenty to look at. Whether using the famous landmarks or using more everyday settings, there is always lots of good detail, and the settings complement the story nicely. At times the plot becomes somewhat fanciful, but probably deliberately so, for it only emphasizes Hitchcock's mastery of technique that he can have his characters do almost anything and make you believe it at the time.
With everything that characterizes Hitchcock at his very best, this fully deserves its reputation as one of the finest films by him or any other director. You can watch it several times and still find it just as entertaining.