How do you elevate a case of mistaken identity from unremarkable plot device to an all-time great film? Put it in the hands of the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock. And make the leading man not someone who seems overwhelmed by the situation, nor someone who meets the challenge with stoic, masculine resolve, but a man who can keep his wits about him and maintain a sense of humor. Not James Bond; get Cary Grant!
Grant plays Roger O. Thornhill, am advertising executive with two ex-wives, a mother, and several bartenders that rely on him. Out to lunch with colleagues at the Plaza Hotel, Thornhill calls over a bellhop just as the man is announcing a telephone call for George Kaplan. Thornhill leaves his table to send a telegram when he is intercepted by two armed men and taken to a mansion on Long Island. There, he is interrogated by a mysterious man (James Mason) and his henchman Leonard (Martin Landau), both of whom assume he is Kaplan and that “Thornhill” is a cover. When Thornhill is unable to provide the information they seek, Leonard and the armed men force him to drink bourbon and attempt to kill him through a staged drunk driving accident. Thornhill escapes, but that’s only the beginning of his adventure.
It’s not just Grant that makes this film great. Hitchcock’s mastery as a director is on full display. The dramatic irony is presented in a way that creates great anxiety for the audience, but never so much that we’re not asking questions about what’s going to happen next. North By Northwest also contains some of the most famous scenes in film, making it a visually arresting picture. This is why it holds up against contemporary spy films and thrillers.
5/5
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