North by Northwest

1959

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Netflix says… What if everyone around you was suddenly convinced that you were a spy? This classic from master director Alfred Hitchcock stars Cary Grant as an advertising executive who looks a little too much like someone else and is forced to go on the lam (helped along by Eva Marie Saint). Hitchcock’s sure-handed comic drama pits Grant against a crop duster and lands him in a fight for his life on Mount Rushmore–a true cliffhanger if ever there was one.

I can’t say I’ve seen too many Hitchcock pictures. Surprising since I absolutely love Psycho and Rear Window. The latter of those, in particular, is an all time favorite of mine. But I’ve never seen this one, despite having so many classic scenes. Cary Grant being chased down by a crop duster? Check. Hanging on for dear life from the edge of Mount Rushmore? Check. Alfred Hitchcock missing a bus in the opening credits? Check-a-roony. It’s a pretty good movie displaying a case of mistaken identity. I’m inspired to give more of Hitchcock’s movies a look. I’d like to see Vertigo, is that any good?