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North by Northwest
1959 137 min United States of America G 12+
★8.8
Thriller, Adventure
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Trailers
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Description
Advertising man Roger Thornhill is mistaken for a spy, triggering a deadly cross-country chase.
Budget:
$4M
US Gross:
$66,728
Worldwide:
$13.28M
Starring
Cary Grant
Actor
Eva Marie Saint
Actor
James Mason
Actor
Awards
San Sebastián International Film Festival 1959
— Silver Shell
Academy Awards 1960
— Best Original Screenplay
Academy Awards 1960
— Best Film Editing
San Sebastián International Film Festival 1959
— Silver Shell
Key opinion
North by Northwest is widely regarded as a masterful, highly influential, and accessible adventure thriller that balances suspense with witty humor. While most consider it an iconic piece of cinematic history, some viewers feel the plot relies too heavily on contrivances and note a tonal dissonance between its comedic and thriller elements.
| Acting | Cary Grant anchors the film with a charismatic, witty, and standout performance that perfectly suits the tone. | |
| Production | The film features iconic, technically impressive set pieces like the crop-dusting chase and Mount Rushmore finale that remain benchmarks of cinematic spectacle. | |
| Score | Bernard Herrmann’s score effectively synthesizes the film’s blend of mystery, thriller tension, and humor. | |
| Screenplay | The script is praised by some for its tight, witty construction, while others criticize its reliance on implausible coincidences and unclear villainous motivations. | |
| Originality | The film's blend of thriller tension and lighthearted comedy is viewed by some as masterful irony, while others find the tonal shift jarring or inconsistent. | |
| Runtime | The two-hour-plus runtime is lauded by fans as a perfectly paced, suspenseful journey, while critics argue the film feels overlong or unnecessarily stretched. |