NOTE: This film will be shown in the high-definition Blu-ray format.
A New York advertising executive is accidentally mistaken for another man and pursued across the country by the authorities as well as a group of spies.
After releasing the surprisingly dark and personal masterpiece Vertigo, director Alfred Hitchcock created what is arguably his most entertaining work. When a collaboration adapting a novel with Ernest Lehman (The Sound Of Music, West Side Story) fizzled out, the two began brainstorming on an entirely new project, with the writer intending on making "The ultimate Hitchcock film".
Stemming from the director's desire to shoot in Mount Rushmore, scenes in other notable American locations were imagined, and eventually tied together by a unique espionage story Hitchcock purchased the rights to. Elements from previous Hitchcock classics are present: the innocent man on the run, the sophisticated, icy blonde woman, the use of the "MacGuffin", black humor, and sexual innuendo.
While portions of the film were shot on location in Manhattan (including the Plaza Hotel and the United Nations headquarters), Long Island, and Chicago, most of the sets were build on the MGM studio lot, with Bakersfield substituting for Indiana.
Hitchcock alumni returning to collaborate are composer Bernard Herrmann, main titles designer Saul Bass, and cinematographer Robert Burks (on his 10th film with the director).
North By Northwest received high marks across the board from critics, and became one of Hitchcock's highest-grossing releases. Academy Award nominations went to its script, editing, and production design. Several of its scenes have since become iconic and are often referenced and parodied. It has placed on various "best of" lists over the years.
Running time is 2 hrs, 15 min.
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