North by Northwest (1959)

Director:

Alfred Hitchcock

Writer:

Ernest Lehman (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 1959 (Japan)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Alfred Hitchcock takes you.... North by Northwest!

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.

Plot Keywords:

Spy | Advertising | Agent | Murder | Government Agent

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Cary Grant	...	Roger O. Thornhill
Eva Marie Saint	...	Eve Kendall
James Mason	...	Phillip Vandamm
Jessie Royce Landis	...	Clara Thornhill
Leo G. Carroll	...	The Professor
Josephine Hutchinson	...	Mrs. Townsend
Philip Ober	...	Lester Townsend
Martin Landau	...	Leonard
Adam Williams	...	Valerian
Edward Platt	...	Victor Larrabee
Robert Ellenstein	...	Licht
Les Tremayne	...	Auctioneer
Philip Coolidge	...	Dr. Cross
Patrick McVey	...	Sergeant Flamm - Chicago Policeman
Edward Binns	...	Captain Junket
Ken Lynch	...	Charley - Chicago Policeman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stanley Adams	...	Lieutenant Harding (uncredited)
Andy Albin	...	Farmer (uncredited)
Anne Anderson	...	Woman (uncredited)
Ernest Anderson	...	Porter on Twentieth Century Ltd. (uncredited)
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Man at Prairie Crossing (uncredited)
Tol Avery	...	State Police Detective (uncredited)
Baynes Barron	...	Taxi Driver #2 (uncredited)
John Beradino	...	Sergeant Emile Klinger (uncredited)
Stephen Bolster	...	Man with Camera (uncredited)
Taggart Casey	...	Shaving Man (uncredited)
Bill Catching	...	Auction Attendant (uncredited)
Bob Coe	...	Cropduster Pilot (uncredited)
Walter Coy	...	U.S. Intelligence Agency Official (uncredited)
Jimmy Cross	...	Taxi Driver #1 (uncredited)
Lucille Curtis	...	Woman (uncredited)
Patricia Cutts	...	Hospital Patient (uncredited)
Jack Daly	...	Train Steward (uncredited)
John Damler	...	Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
Lawrence Dobkin	...	U.S. Intelligence Agency Official (uncredited)
Tommy Farrell	...	Eddie - Elevator Starter (uncredited)
Jesslyn Fax	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Adolph Faylauer	...	Bald Bidder (uncredited)
Bess Flowers	...	Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)
Josephine Forsberg	...	Friendly Passenger (uncredited)
Sally Fraser	...	United Nations Receptionist (uncredited)
Paul Genge	...	Lieutenant Hagerman (uncredited)
Ned Glass	...	Ticket Seller (uncredited)
Tom Greenway	...	Silent State Police Detective (uncredited)
Len Hendry	...	Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
Alfred Hitchcock	...	Man Who Misses Bus (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)
Eugene Jackson	...	Security Guard at Auction (uncredited)
Bobby Johnson	...	Waiter (uncredited)
Sid Kane	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Kenner G. Kemp	...	Man Leaving Office Building (uncredited)
Madge Kennedy	...	Mrs. Finlay (uncredited)
Colin Kenny	...	Man at Auction (uncredited)
Doreen Lang	...	Maggie - Roger's Secretary (uncredited)
Larry Leverett	...	Man in Phone Booth (uncredited)
Alexander Lockwood	...	Judge Anson B. Flynn (uncredited)
Frank Marlowe	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Nora Marlowe	...	Anna - Housekeeper (uncredited)
Tom Marshall	...	Police Officer in Chicago (uncredited)
James McCallion	...	Plaza Valet (uncredited)
Maura McGiveney	...	Attendant (uncredited)
Carl Milletaire	...	Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Howard Negley	...	Conductor on Twentieth Century, Ltd. (uncredited)
Charles Postal	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Maudie Prickett	...	Elsie - Maid (uncredited)
Hugh Pryor	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Ralph Reed	...	Bellhop (uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Hotel Lounge Patron / Man at Mt. Rushmore Cafeteria (uncredited)
Harry Seymour	...	Victor - Captain of Waiters (uncredited)
Robert Shayne	...	Larry Wade (uncredited)
Doris Singh	...	Indian Girl (uncredited)
Jeremy Slate	...	Policeman at Grand Central Station (uncredited)
Olan Soule	...	Assistant Auctioneer (uncredited)
Helen Spring	...	Bidder (uncredited)
Harvey Stephens	...	Stockbroker (uncredited)
Bert Stevens	...	Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
Harry Strang	...	Assistant Conductor (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey	...	Man at Auction (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Ranger (uncredited)
Ray Weaver	...	Policeman at Grand Central Station (uncredited)
Susan Whitney	...	Attendant (uncredited)
Frank Wilcox	...	Herman Weitner (uncredited)
Lloyd Williams	...	Minor Role (uncredited)
Robert Williams	...	Patrolman Waggoner (uncredited)
Paula Winslowe	...	Woman at Auction (uncredited)
Wilson Wood	...	Photographer at United Nations (uncredited)
Carleton Young	...	Fanning Nelson (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfred Hitchcock

Writing credits
Ernest Lehman		(written by)

Produced by
Herbert Coleman	....	associate producer
Alfred Hitchcock	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by
Robert Burks		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
George Tomasini		(film editor)

Casting by
Leonard Murphy		(uncredited)

Production Design by
Robert F. Boyle		(as Robert Boyle)

Art Direction by
William A. Horning
Merrill Pye

Set Decoration by
Henry Grace		(set decorations)
Frank R. McKelvy		(set decorations) (as Frank McKelvey)

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
William Tuttle	....	makeup
Peggy Shannon	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
Stanley Smith	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Ruby Rosenberg	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert Saunders	....	assistant director
Tim Whelan Jr.	....	assistant director
Mickey McCardle	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Matty Azzarone	....	leadman (uncredited)
Harry Edwards	....	props (uncredited)
Henry Greutert	....	sculptor (uncredited)
Mentor Huebner	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)
John Ricardo	....	second props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Franklin Milton	....	recording supervisor
Tom Hadley	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Van Allen James	....	supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Bert Mott	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Tom Overton	....	boom operator (uncredited)
Howard Voss	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
Charles Wallace	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
A. Arnold Gillespie	....	special effects
Lee LeBlanc	....	special effects
Doug Hubbard	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Cliff Shirpser	....	optical matte camera operator (uncredited)
Matthew Yuricich	....	matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Ray Austin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leonard P. Geer	....	stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss	....	stunt double: Cary Grant (uncredited)
Robert F. Hoy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Paul Stader	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Kenny Bell	....	still photographer (uncredited)
Howard Bradner	....	grip (uncredited)
Howard Cashion	....	camera mechanic (uncredited)
Bobby Greene	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Michael P. Joyce	....	camera loader (uncredited)
James V. King	....	camera operator: crop-dusting sequence (uncredited)
Bud McNeil	....	best boy (uncredited)
Bill Shaw	....	gaffer (uncredited)
Tom Smith	....	grip (uncredited)
Leonard J. South	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Felix Trimboli	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Weddell	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Larry Leverett	....	extras casting coordinator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Harry Kress	....	wardrobe (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Charles K. Hagedon	....	color consultant
Edward K. Milkis	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Bernard Herrmann	....	conductor (uncredited)
Bernard Herrmann	....	music arranger (uncredited)
Bernard Herrmann	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Saul Bass	....	titles designer
Robert Foss	....	location auditor (uncredited)
Peggy Robertson	....	script supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated) (presents)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (USA) (theatrical) (controlled by Loew's Incorporated)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (UK) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (France) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1959) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1967) (USA) (TV)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2000) (Brazil) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (France) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Asociace Ceských Filmových Klubu (ACFK) (2007) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Asociácia slovenských filmových klubov (ASFK) (2007) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
• Seven Films (2007) (Greece) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (50th anniversary edition)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (50th anniversary edition)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Finland) (theatrical)
• CEL (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Criterion Collection, The (19??) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Esselte Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1987) (1998) (Finland) (TV)
• Nelonen (2000) (Finland) (TV)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Süddeutsche Zeitung (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment Finland Oy (2006) (Finland) (DVD) (6-disc Alfred Hitchcock Prestige Collection)
• Warner Home Video (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Germany) (DVD) (special edition)
• Warner Home Vidéo (19??) (France) (VHS)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (1970) (1978) (1993) (2008) (Finland) (TV)

Other Companies

• Solters & Digney  publicity (uncredited)
• Turner Entertainment  current copyright proprietor (uncredited)

Also Known As:

"Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest" - UK (complete title), USA (complete title)

Runtime:

136 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | Dolby SR | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:G (1959-1998) | Australia:PG | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Peru:14 | UK:PG (re-release) (re-rating) (1995) (2006) | West Germany:16 (original rating) | Norway:16 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (2000) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | UK:A (original rating) | 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 | Japan:G (2009) | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:12 (DVD rating) | West Germany:12 (re-rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) (1993) (2001) (2004) | UK:PG (tv rating) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Roger O. Thornhill claims that the "O" stands for "nothing". This is a reference to David O. Selznick, whose "O" also signified nothing.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Every indication is given throughout the film that the action takes place in the summer - the trees in NYC are in full flower, ditto the foliage at the Long Island estate, the Indiana cornfield landscape is scorched, etc. - yet the newspaper which the Professor and his colleagues read recounting the murder of Lester Townsend carries a late November date.

Quotes:

[Thornhill is wearing sunglasses to hide his identity]
Ticket Seller:Something wrong with your eyes?
Roger Thornhill:Yes, they're sensitive to questions.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Pandora Directive (1996) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Serenade for Strings

A perfect film for a rainy, cold October day

I saw this film for the first time when I was a freshman in college as part of an english class I took entitled "writing and the movies". Little did I realize that I would be seeing a film that would stay with me to this day and in essence become one of my all time favorites. Then, a few years ago, I caught it on the big screen at the Fine Arts theater in downtown Chicago. I remember that it was a rainy, cold October day. Perfect weather for a Hitchcock film I thought to myself.

For me, half of the fun of North by Northwest is its incredible story. This film has something for everyone within it: a little comedy, a little romance, great snappy dialogue and more action than any Bruce Willis Die Hard film combined. Hitchcock was a master at this and in North by Northwest he lets his genius shine through totally. It seems to me that whenever I watch it, everyone who made this film from Cary Grant on down had nothing but sheer fun making it. Perhaps my two favorite scenes are the infamous "crop-duster" sequence and the last twenty minutes or so at Mount Rushmore.

I must give special mention to Ernest Lehman who yet again managed to write a screenplay that totally knocks your socks off. How he came up with the idea, I've not a clue, but what an idea it is. The screenplay itself was nominated for an Academy Award that year, but lost to Pillow Talk. North by Northwest was also nominated for Best Set Decoration and Best Film Editing, but lost to Ben-Hur in both categories.

All in all, what a film. If you haven't seein it, do so ASAP. North by Northwest just reinforces my belief that Alfred Hitchcock was one of the greatest directors of all time. Period.

My rating: 4 stars