North by Northwest
In this 1959 classic directed by Alfred Hitchcock we follow the story of a middle-aged Madison Avenue advertising executive, Roger O. Thornhill, as he is dropped into a world of government agents and foreign spies after being mistaken for CIA agent George Kaplan who is wanted for murder.
Director Alfred Hitchcock captures the suspense perfectly, utilizing continuity editing techniques including establishing shots, reverse shots, and match editing, as well as discontinuity techniques. One part he is lacking in is the sound department, many of the scenes lacked foley sounds that could have been added easily. When there were foley sounds it was very over the top and blatantly obvious.
In this classic suspense film finds New York City ad executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) pursued by ruthless spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm's associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, meeting the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) along the way. Soon Vandamm's henchmen close in on Thornhill, resulting in a number of iconic action sequences.
Stylistically the film is done very well, but there are some aspects of the film I am not a big fan of. The plot to me feels too muddled and confusing to easily follow. Like always, Hithcock does suspense perfectly and does a great job of giving the movie the tone of a classic spy movie.
Overall I enjoyed the film, but I felt there were pieces of the film that I could have done better, but that is very easy to say about a movie that was made in 1959.
Director Alfred Hitchcock captures the suspense perfectly, utilizing continuity editing techniques including establishing shots, reverse shots, and match editing, as well as discontinuity techniques. One part he is lacking in is the sound department, many of the scenes lacked foley sounds that could have been added easily. When there were foley sounds it was very over the top and blatantly obvious.
In this classic suspense film finds New York City ad executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) pursued by ruthless spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm's associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, meeting the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) along the way. Soon Vandamm's henchmen close in on Thornhill, resulting in a number of iconic action sequences.
Stylistically the film is done very well, but there are some aspects of the film I am not a big fan of. The plot to me feels too muddled and confusing to easily follow. Like always, Hithcock does suspense perfectly and does a great job of giving the movie the tone of a classic spy movie.
Overall I enjoyed the film, but I felt there were pieces of the film that I could have done better, but that is very easy to say about a movie that was made in 1959.
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