North by Northwest (50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Book) – Blu-ray Review

By Jeff Swindoll Nov 13, 2009, 11:45 GMT

Cary Grant teams with director Alfred Hitchcock for the fourth and final time in this superlative espionage caper judged one of the American Film Institute\'s Top-100 American Films and spruced up with a new digital transfer and remixed Dolby Digital Stereo. Grant plays a Manhattan advertising executive plunged into a realm of spy (James Mason) and counterspy (Eva Marie Saint) and variously abducted, framed for murder, chased and in another ...more

North by Northwest has come to be the definitive film by Alfred Hitchcock. 

It hits all the right notes and features a suave, debonair Cary Grant, a ravishing Eva Marie Saint, sinister doings from James Mason and Martin Landau, and a finale of presidential proportions. It’s perfection in both film and Blu-ray presentation.  

Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) is a Madison Avenue advertising agent who is mistaken for George Kaplan (Archibald Leach) and taken to the estate of Lester Townsend.  There he is interrogated by a man (James Mason) he believes to be Townsend. 

Thornhill insists that he’s not Kaplan, but the man doesn’t buy it and orders his servant Leonard (Martin Landau) to dispose of “Kaplan.”  The thugs force Thornhill to drink bourbon to make his accidental death look like a drunken driving incident, but Thornhill is instead arrested.  Thornhill tries to track down Kaplan, but instead goes to the general assembly of the United Nations where Townsend is scheduled to give a speech. 

When he meets Townsend (Philip Ober) he discovers that it is not the man at the estate.  Townsend is then murdered by the thugs of Phillip Vandamm, the man who interrogated Thornhill/Kaplan, and frames Thornhill for the crime.  Thornhill is now on the run and sneaks aboard a train. 

He meets the seductive Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) and she helps him in his run from the law and Vandamm.  However, Thornhill must track down Kaplan to clear his good name, but must avoid the murderous agents of Vandamm.  

North by Northwest is the perfect Hitchcock film.  It hits upon many of his favorite themes.  North by Northwest may also be the perfect Cary Grant film as he is every bit a movie star in this one, as well as may others.  I’ve got a man crush.  No, I want to be Cary Grant if it weren’t for this accursed ugliness, hunchback, and poor fashion sense.  It was either start reviewing online or shuffle to the local castle to assist the practitioner of mad science.  But I digress, as usual. 

NxNW still has the power to enthrall.  Both in its star and director as well as the thrilling plotline of the wrong man accused.  The plotline may be a bit goofy if you think about it too long (murder by crop-duster seems a bit farfetched) but you’re drawn up into the film and don’t have time to think about the movie touches. 

Even better is that the film is breathtaking on Blu-ray and features some excellent special features.  The long form film on Archibald Leach is well worth watching.  

North by Northwest is presented in a 1080p high definition transfer (1.85:1).  Special features are presented in standard definition.  The disc is housed in digibook packaging and has a 44-page booklet with essays, biographies, posters, and photos.  Special features include a commentary by screenwriter Ernest Lehman. 

The 57 minute “The Master’s Touch” is about Hitchcock’s directorial style.  The 39 minute “Destination Hitchcock” is a making of that features Lehman, Martin Landau, and Pat Hitchcock.  The 25 minute “North by Northwest: One for the Ages” is about the legacy of the film. 

The 87 minute “Cary Grant: A Class Apart” is a PBS documentary about the classy actor.  You also get a still gallery, a music only track that highlights Bernard Herrmann’s excellent score, and 6 minutes of trailers.  

North by Northwest is the first Hitchcock film to hit high definition in the United States.  It’s a classic in all senses and if I’m lying may Abe Lincoln’s nose drop on me.  The Blu-ray presentation is fantastic and well worth your dollar.

North by Northwest (50th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Book) is now available at Amazon. Visit the DVD database for more information.