My Favourite Film of the 1950's...North By Northwest (1959)

Not only is North By Northwest, my favourite film of the 1950's, but it is my favourite Cary Grant film...ever!

It has everything!

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock, for the fourth and last time, Cary Grant set the tempo for stylish thrillers to follow, including James Bond.
(See:  "He's A Well Tailored One, Isn't He? Blog)

It took me numerous viewings to realise the point at which Roger Thornhill gets mistaken for George Kaplan.

The film is littered with classic scenes..the UN stabbing, Grand Central Station, drunk driving Lara's mercedes, climbing Mount Rushmore and one of the most memorable scenes..the crop duster chase.

With a great cast too....
James Mason, Eva Marie Saint, Martin Landau and Jessie Royce Landis.

"Calling Mr. Kaplan!"...so the drama begins! 

"You're a bit taller than I expected. A little more polished..."

"Something wrong with your eyes?"......"Yes, they're sensitive to questions!"

"Roger O. Thornhill. What does the O stand for?"......"Nothing!"

"That fella's dustin' crops, where there ain't no crops!"

The are a few interesting things that happened whilst filming.

In the scene where Cary Grant goes to find the real Mr. Townsend, at the United Nations, Hitchcock couldn't get permission to film on the Plaza. So he filmed Cary crossing the road from the back of a van parked opposite!

In the scene below, where Eva Marie Saint and Cary Grant's characters stage a shooting, notice the young boy, to the right of Eva Marie Saint, put his fingers in his ears, anticipating the noise of the gun.

Behind the Scenes:

Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint.

Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock.

James Mason, Eva Marie Saint, Cary Grant and the Presidents!