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    North by Northwest

    • 19591959
    • ApprovedApproved
    • 2h 16min
    IMDb RATING
    8.3/10
    305K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    1,896
    141
    • Cast & crew
    • User reviews
    • Trivia
    • IMDbPro
    Cary Grant, Alfred Hitchcock, Eva Marie Saint, and Philip Ober in North by Northwest (1959)
    Alfred Hitchcock gives a tour of the film in this trailer for the Special Edition DVD and Blu-Ray release.
    Trailer3:25
    3 Videos
    99+ Photos
    AdventureMysteryThriller

    A New York City advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies.A New York City advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies.A New York City advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies.A New York City advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies.A New York City advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies.

    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writer
      • Ernest Lehman
    • Stars
      • Cary Grant
      • Eva Marie Saint
      • James Mason
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writer
      • Ernest Lehman
    • Stars
      • Cary Grant
      • Eva Marie Saint
      • James Mason
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 657User reviews
    • 185Critic reviews
    • 98Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Top rated movie #99
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 8 wins & 10 nominations total

    Videos3

    North by Northwest
    Trailer 3:25
    North by Northwest
    'North by Northwest' | Anniversary Mashup
    Clip 1:19
    'North by Northwest' | Anniversary Mashup
    A Guide to the Films of Alfred Hitchcock
    Clip 2:27
    A Guide to the Films of Alfred Hitchcock

    Photos182

    Cary Grant in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant and Eva Marie in North by Northwest (1959)
    Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant, Ken Lynch, and Patrick McVey in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant in North by Northwest (1959)
    Cary Grant in North by Northwest (1959)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Cary Grant
    Cary Grant
    • Roger Thornhillas Roger Thornhill
    Eva Marie Saint
    Eva Marie Saint
    • Eve Kendallas Eve Kendall
    James Mason
    James Mason
    • Phillip Vandammas Phillip Vandamm
    Jessie Royce Landis
    Jessie Royce Landis
    • Clara Thornhillas Clara Thornhill
    Leo G. Carroll
    Leo G. Carroll
    • The Professoras The Professor
    Josephine Hutchinson
    Josephine Hutchinson
    • Mrs. Townsendas Mrs. Townsend
    Philip Ober
    Philip Ober
    • Lester Townsendas Lester Townsend
    Martin Landau
    Martin Landau
    • Leonardas Leonard
    Adam Williams
    Adam Williams
    • Valerianas Valerian
    Edward Platt
    Edward Platt
    • Victor Larrabeeas Victor Larrabee
    Robert Ellenstein
    Robert Ellenstein
    • Lichtas Licht
    Les Tremayne
    Les Tremayne
    • Auctioneeras Auctioneer
    Philip Coolidge
    Philip Coolidge
    • Dr. Crossas Dr. Cross
    Patrick McVey
    • Sergeant Flammas Sergeant Flamm
    Edward Binns
    Edward Binns
    • Captain Junketas Captain Junket
    Ken Lynch
    Ken Lynch
    • Charleyas Charley
    Stanley Adams
    Stanley Adams
    • Lieutenant Hardingas Lieutenant Harding
    • (uncredited)
    John Alban
    • Auction Guestas Auction Guest
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alfred Hitchcock
    • Writer
      • Ernest Lehman
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Madison Avenue advertising man Roger Thornhill finds himself thrust into the world of spies when he is mistaken for a man by the name of George Kaplan. Foreign spy Philip Vandamm and his henchman Leonard try to eliminate him but when Thornhill tries to make sense of the case, he is framed for murder. Now on the run from the police, he manages to board the 20th Century Limited bound for Chicago where he meets a beautiful blond, Eve Kendall, who helps him to evade the authorities. His world is turned upside down yet again when he learns that Eve isn't the innocent bystander he thought she was. Not all is as it seems however, leading to a dramatic rescue and escape at the top of Mt. Rushmore. —garykmcd
    spyfugitiveon the runmistaken identitymount rushmore285 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Alfred Hitchcock takes you.... North by Northwest!
    • Genres
      • Adventure
      • Mystery
      • Thriller
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While filming Vertigo (1958), Sir Alfred Hitchcock described some of the plot of this project to frequent Hitchcock leading man and "Vertigo" star James Stewart, who naturally assumed that Hitchcock meant to cast him in the Roger Thornhill role, and was eager to play it. Actually, Hitchcock wanted Cary Grant to play the role. By the time Hitchcock realized the misunderstanding, Stewart was so anxious to play Thornhill that rejecting him would have caused a great deal of disappointment. So Hitchcock delayed production on this movie until Stewart was already safely committed to filming Otto Preminger's "Anatomy of a Murder (1959)" before "officially" offering him the role in this movie. Stewart had no choice but to turn down the offer, allowing Hitchcock to cast Grant, the actor he had wanted all along.
    • Goofs
      During the scene in the diner at Mount Rushmore, a young extra boy in the background anticipates the surprise gun shot, fired by Eve. The diners are supposed to be unaware this is going to happen but the young extra boy covers his ears way before she draws the gun. The young extra boy must have known there would be a loud bang from the blank-filled pistol from previous takes and therefore covered his ears on the "printed" take.
    • Quotes

      [Thornhill is wearing sunglasses to hide his identity]

      Ticket Seller: Something wrong with your eyes?

      Roger Thornhill: Yes, they're sensitive to questions.

    • Crazy credits
      The Leo the Lion/MGM trademark preceding the credits is on a green field, to match the green field used in the credits proper.
    • Alternate versions
      The print originally had an acknowledgement for the cooperation of the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service. But they requested it be removed after MGM violated the agreement that no violence would take place near the Mt. Rushmore monument. Some prints, however, were released with the acknowledgement still in.
    • Connections
      Edited into Histoire(s) du cinéma: Le contrôle de l'univers (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      It's a Most Unusual Day
      (1948)

      (uncredited)

      Music by Jimmy McHugh

      Lyrics by Harold Adamson

      Played as background music at the Plaza Hotel

    User reviews657

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Enormously entertaining film from Alfred Hitchcock!
    My favourite director, Alfred Hitchcock has directed many classics like Psycho, Rear Window and Vertigo, and I will say that this deserves to be up there among his best. I absolutely loved it! The best aspect of this movie is the always charming Cary Grant in a brooding and entertaining performance as Roger Thornhill, a man wanted for the murder of a diplomat. Solidly supporting him all the way are the lovely Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendell and oily James Mason as the villainous Vandamme. They are further advantaged by some excellent camera-work and a wonderfully atmospheric music score. The script is focused and suspenseful, and Hitchcock's direction ensures the film rarely slips, even if some of the complicated plot does fly over people's heads. The climax though is simply the icing on the cake. Overall, a hugely enjoyable film, which I will give a 9.5/10. Bethany Cox
    helpful•13
    3
    • TheLittleSongbird
    • Jun 9, 2009

    FAQ14

    • What is 'North by Northwest' about?
    • Is 'North by Northwest' based on a book?
    • What is the title "North by Northwest" supposed to mean?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 18, 1959 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest
    • Filming locations
      • Garces Highway 1/10th mile East from Corcoran Road and Kern National Wildlife Preserve, Kern County, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,101,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $75,175
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 16min
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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