When watching a behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of any movie, one must wonder just how much the people in them really knew about the movie project. Oh, sure, actors know their parts and some of the interplay with others of the cast. And, directors and producers sometimes give overviews to the whole cast. But how much really, did these people know about the big picture? Aside from the director and producer, it's not very likely that others of the cast and crew knew that much beyond their specific jobs and roles.
That's why I enjoy watching these featurettes, especially on the making of classics or great films. Because they pull together different people who knew some of the pieces of the puzzle. And, the makers of the documentary did the research to get the information that we then get to see and hear. In this case, it's about the movie, "North by Northwest," and how it came about. It's also about the director and producer of the film, Alfred Hitchcock, his relationships with others in the business, and how they came up with the project and put it together.
As with others of this genre, we get some kudos of staff and cast for others with whom they worked. But I always look for the gems that one otherwise might not be able to find or hear about elsewhere. One such in this 40-minute documentary is how Hitchcock shot the scene outside the United Nations, and the fact that filming wasn't allowed of the U.N. building. Then, the information about the crew moving to the Black Hills of South Dakota to shoot around Mount Rushmore and the problems that ensued there with the National Park Service. One can understand the need for security and precautions in these places, but most people in an audience likely never give a thought to locale difficulties in shooting a film.
Eva Marie Saint does a fine job hosting this look back and behind the scenes. She has some interesting vignettes as well as an occasional personal aside. I appreciated Ernest Lehman's discussion of his long- time affiliation with Alfred Hitchcock, and their working relationship. Patricia Hitchcock was 30 years old when "North by Northwest" was made, so she surely would have known quite a lot of the details of her dad's work on the film. Robert Boyle and Martin Landau add to the background, and the film includes snippets from the movie and some background scenes.
With this documentary, I have even greater admiration for Hitchcock and gang for the main movie, especially the tremendous work on such sets as a replica of Mount Rushmore. It's hard to imagine that "North by Northwest" was made in 1959 on a budget of $3.1 million. This feature film is a fine backgrounder on the making of one of the all- time favorite movies.
