IMDb > North by Northwest (1959)
North by Northwest
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

North by Northwest (1959) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 59 | slideshow) Videos (see all 11 NEW)
North by Northwest (1959) -- Alfred Hitchcock gives a tour of the film in this trailer for the Special Edition DVD and Blu-Ray release.
North by Northwest (1959) -- Trailer two for this Hitchcock classic
North by Northwest (1959) -- ZuGuide.com - Trailer (Flash)
North by Northwest (1959) -- Trailerfan.com - Trailer (Flash)
North by Northwest (1959) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
MOVIEmeter: ?
No change in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Alfred Hitchcock
Writer:
Ernest Lehman (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for North by Northwest on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
17 September 1959 (Japan) more
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
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 3 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(45 articles)
North By Northwest Blu-ray Review
 (From Collider.com. 7 November 2009, 10:02 AM, PST)

[DVD Review] North by Northwest - 50th Anniversary Edition
 (From JustPressPlay. 7 November 2009, 5:00 AM, PST)

User Comments:
Worth it just to see the the crop duster chase more (364 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

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)
more
Runtime:
131 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System) | Dolby SR | Dolby Digital
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

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
In an interview, Alfred Hitchcock's daughter, Patricia Hitchcock, reveals that her husband worked at the time of the filming for Magnum Oil. "Magnum Oil" is the name on the fuel truck in the famous crop duster/oil truck scene. more
Goofs:
Continuity: The first exterior shot of the train depicts a pink sunset. Yet, it is broad daylight in the following dining-car scene. more
Quotes:
Leonard: You're not taking her on the plane with you?
Phillip Vandamm: Of course I am. Like our friends, I too believe in neatness, Leonard. This matter is best disposed of from a great height, over water.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "Moonlighting: North by North DiPesto (#2.12)" (1986) more
Soundtrack:
Singin' in the Rain more

FAQ

What is the title "North by Northwest" supposed to mean?
A Note Regarding Spoilers
Who is George Kaplan, and why do Valerian and Licht want him?
more
68 out of 100 people found the following comment useful.
Worth it just to see the the crop duster chase, 4 April 2004
Author: DarthBill from United States

I can't quite understand how anyone can dislike Alfred Hitchcock's films. Personally, he's one of the few old school talents I find interesting and watchable, even if his work is dated and set in its era (the era when most sets were hopelessly phony). I guess you have to appreciate his themes - dysfunctional relationships between a man and his mother, flawed by essentially innocent men caught up in a web of intrigue, beautiful blonds, comments of authority figures, black humor, etc - to really appreciate Hitchcock.

Interestingly, James Stewart was Hitchcock's original choice for the role of Roger Thornhill, the hapless ad man who is mistaken for a spy who doesn't even exist to begin with and is chased half way across the country by villains and authorities for a murder he didn't commit. For one reason or another, Stewart was unavailable and the part went to Cary Grant instead. Grant seems better suited to the character and the situation than Stewart would have been, but I can easily picture Stewart being chased in the cornfield by the crop duster.

Like all Hitchcock films, there are hundreds of things that aren't realistic though set in the real world and lots of highly improbable stuff going on everywhere, but if you give it a chance you'll enjoy it and won't care. Don't miss Eva Marie Saint having to dub over a then lewd line about love, a full stomach and sex. The use of a crop duster may not be the most practical way to kill a man, but it's a great visual representation of the great Hitchcockian examination of "nowhere to run, nowhere to hide". The music and clinging to Mount Rushmore is also memorable. Did I mention the innuendo?

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (364 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for North by Northwest (1959)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
homosexuality? bornwriter17
North by Northwest Quiz grammarbitch
The sexual insinuation KingTiramisu
Cary Grant's Mother Looks Same Age as Him Kanamit99
Criticism and Interpretation of NxNW ashley-arostegui
The Ending... webswingin_kwt
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Fugitive The Spider Returns Strangers on a Train Hollywoodland King of New York
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb top 250 movies IMDb Action section
IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.