Wedged in between the making of two very serious, psychological suspense films, "Vertigo" and "Psycho", director Alfred Hitchcock created a very different kind of thriller, one consisting largely of comedy, both subtle and obvious, thanks in part to the talent of scriptwriter, Ernest Lehman. As a writer of fiction, I was very intrigued that Hitchcock and Lehman started with three seemingly unrelated ideas, (1) a mistaken identity, (2) a chase scene through the United Nations, and (3) a spectacular finale at Mount Rushmore. I'm not suggesting that I have the talent of Ernest Lehman, who wrote the screenplays for "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", "Sabrina", and a half dozen or more of the most successful Broadway musicals made for the cinema, but that's exactly how I write my fiction. I take isolated, real events from my own life, and I try to connect them into some form of coherence.As in the case of many of the best films, the success of "North By Northwest" is shaped by a combination of winning components, including one of the most gifted directors, a sharp, snappy screenplay by Lehman, superb cinematography by Robert Burks, an effectively moody musical score by Bernard Hermann, and first-rate casting.As to the acting, I have seen Cary Grant in many movies, including a number of mediocre items and even worse than that, but he provides the perfect Roger Thornhill with his dry, natural wit and suave, elegant appearance. Whenever I am faced with life's adversities, I only need to recall how Roger would approach the situation with his coolness and muted sense of humor. The fact that Grant did not understand Lehman's script only authenticates his genuine state of confusion as he is pursued from New York City to Rapid City, South Dakota by way of Chicago and some Illinois cornfields. As the mysterious Eve Kendall, lovely Eva Marie Saint is a very different woman from her Oscar winning performance as Edie Doyle in "On the Waterfront", and she never ceases to intrigue us here even after many viewings. And who could deliver those caustic, cynical lines as well as James Mason in the part of the deceptively "respectable" villain, Philip van Damm?Throughout the film, subtle undercurrents persistently flow beneath the surface, including Thornhill's strange relationship with his mother (Jesse Royce Landis), which may by itself explain his previous two divorces, and the peculiar jealousy of van Damm's assistant thug, Leonard (Martin Landau). Having the "guts" in 1959 to interpret the role as an effeminate homosexual with a crush on his boss, Landau casts his Hollywood career to the wind, and the gamble thankfully paid off for him. And how about that final scene of the train shooting through the dark tunnel? When I first viewed this film in 1959 at the age of ten, I didn't get he symbolism, but I was still very impressed by the unforgettable visuals. As talented as Alfred Hitchcock was as a director, much of his success is attributed to his extraordinary trust in the ability of others and to his persistence in finding the right people for the right job. The end result is a long list of extremely entertaining movies that continue to endure the test of time.

Cary Grant shines in his part as Roger Thornhill as he get mistaken for a government spy by the name of George Kaplan. Thornhill is a very interesting character as he tries to make sense of what the says do and are up too. The film is very exciting with thrills from beginning to end. Alfred Hitchcock knocked it out of the park with this film. The scenes when they were in the cars at times were quite funny though, because they were so clearly sitting in a non-moving car with green screens around them. Other then that the film is brilliantly made, and this film was one of my favorites I have seen all year

It isn't Hitchcock's best, but it might be his most purely entertaining. A mystery / adventure / comedy romp, it's just like Hermann's score for it: gigantic, tasteful, heart-pounding, and sexy. Grant proves once again that simply no one has ever been better at the hilarious balance of oafishness and grace. Standout scene: the auction; the way it slowly reveals Grant's plan for being arrested is side-splittingly wonderful.

This is a masterpiece in the way the narrative is handled, one of Hitchcock's best films. This film is home to some of the most memorable shots in cinematic history, for me. More specifically; the aerial establishing shots outside of the UN. The influence that Hitchcock has had, with his unique directing style, in many contemporary films. I've seen more than a few Cary Grant films, as well, and this is my favorite. That he has starred in.