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!

"He's A Well-Tailored One, Isn't He" - Cary Grant Style No.1

"My father used to say, "Let them see you and not the suit. 

That should be secondary."    - Cary Grant.

North By NorthWest (1959) bought together not only Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock for one last outing but also a man and a suit. 

A suit that is regarded by many as the best movie suit ever.

"North By Northwest isn't a film about what happens to Cary Grant, it's about what happens to his suit." - Todd McEwen

It is fair to say that the suit, barely seen off Cary Grant's character, Roger Thornhill's back, for the entire length of the movie is now iconic. 

It set the tone for future spy movies including Sean Connery's James Bond in Goldfinger.

Arthur Lyons at Kilgour, French & Stanbury made the original suit for the film. Copies of the suit were made by Beverly Hills tailor Quintino, for some scenes where the suit requires to get dirty.

The two piece suit is a lightweight worsted woool, in a blue-grey fine glen pattern. Which looks like a solid colour from a distance.

The suit jacket has a three-button front, with slighly narrow lapels rolled to the middle button. The jacket has jetted pockets, three-button cuff and no vent in the back.

The trousers have a long rise, double forward pleats, turn-ups and side adjusters. One rear jetted pocket with slanted side pockets.

The look is finished off with a white poplin, double cuffed shirt with blue enamel cuff links.

The tie is grey with white pin-dots.

Shoes are cap-toe oxfords in burgandy with grey socks.

And not forgetting.....

...those iconic tortoiseshell sunglasses.