The Movie North by Northwest was an unbelievably crucial contribution to its time. While stylistically mimicking that of a James Bond Film, this movie could definitely be classified as a thriller. Many details jumped out to me while watching this film. A common debate that came up while watching it was whether or not the movie was originally shot in Black and White, or whether it truly was shot in color. The colors were oddly vibrant, but only certain things like skin tone and cars. I personally found the effect to be intriguing visually, adding a more dynamic quality to the older filming techniques.
Another thing that jumped out to me was soundtrack, which for a large part of the movie made me think of the similarities of the West Side Story Soundtrack, a film shot in 1961, only three years after North by Northwest.
Hitchcock Pushed the Boundaries in several aspects while making this movie. He raised quite a few concerns, particularly in the development of the fight scene on top of Mt. Rushmore. While swearing he would only be practicing safe camera work on the landmark, Hitchcock opted for a far more dangerous and destructive pursuit, having the actors swiftly scale down the side of the monument and risk not only their lives, but the statue as well.This was not the only area in which Hitchcock disregarded the rules. Shortly after being told that filming the UN was not an option, He quickly threw together a Faux UN and simply filmed outside the building for establishing shots.
Hitchcok's story was that of a framed man who struggled to clear his name and survive. This story was told quite well, with the use of exemplary camera techniques and stellar special effects for its era. What I found to be outstanding, was the scene in which the main character is forced to stand in the middle of nowhere waiting for his Rendezvous. In a vast expanse of bleak country, a camera is utilized at a Bird's eye vantage point, capturing his exit from the bus, and the slow walk down the empty road. what I found impressive about this shot is the fact that it was clearly a deserted area, with nothing to capture such a high shot, meaning they had to build their own crane to get such an angle. The entirety of this scene is phenomenal, from the artistic camera work, to the outstanding capturing of the airplane scenes, one of the most well known scenes in the movie.
Hitchcock Directed this movie exceptionally, and demonstrated techniques that were far beyond his time. The critiques I have for this movie have only to do with the outdated quality of it, something that can not be changed. For the time that it was created, it is revolutionary.
Lehman, Ernest, Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Eva M. Saint, James Mason, Jessie R. Landis, Leo G. Carroll, Martin Landau, and Bernard Herrmann. Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest. Burbank, CA: Warner Home Video, 2000.
