North by Northwest (1959)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  Hitchcock's most exciting and epic adventure is definitely one of his best. Features my favorite performance from Cary Grant, there are so many qoutable lines and so many shots I will never forget. I can watch this one over and over.

• Eric A

  
  This has to be one of the most entertaining films ever made! Hitchcock is truly a genius. I can only imagine the impact this film had in 1959, because just now watching it in 2011 has really amazed me.

• Matheus C

  
  Working from one of the all-time great scripts by Ernest Lehman, Hitchcock is at the top of his game with the manipulation of his actors and the creation of the world they inhabit. This is class A Hollywood entertainment, with incredible star power, amazing set design and some of the… More
  Working from one of the all-time great scripts by Ernest Lehman, Hitchcock is at the top of his game with the manipulation of his actors and the creation of the world they inhabit. This is class A Hollywood entertainment, with incredible star power, amazing set design and some of the director's most iconic set pieces, using all film trickeries available at his disposal to make it possible. It does require a lot of suspension of disbelief, but Cary Grant outcharms even the most calculated script lines and Eva Marie Saint looks like she's going to start having sex with the camera at any time.

• Jay H

  
  Hitchcock's "North by Northwest," a classic of the mystery genre, is every bit as good as its reputation suggests. Bizarre, captivating, and unique, the film engages the viewer from the get-go and maintains that engagement for the majority of the movie. With celebrated… More
  Hitchcock's "North by Northwest," a classic of the mystery genre, is every bit as good as its reputation suggests. Bizarre, captivating, and unique, the film engages the viewer from the get-go and maintains that engagement for the majority of the movie. With celebrated actor Cary Grant in the lead role and Alfred Hitchcock in the director's chair, the film is as well-made as it is intriguing.

• Alexander D

  
  Great+

• Daniel P

  
  What a fantastic film! Suspenseful, dark, and sexy, as with all the best of Hitchcock. Not sure I've disliked any of his movies yet. What's particularly gripping about North by Northwest is its Kafka-esque premise: man being pursued and punished for something he didn't… More
  What a fantastic film! Suspenseful, dark, and sexy, as with all the best of Hitchcock. Not sure I've disliked any of his movies yet. What's particularly gripping about North by Northwest is its Kafka-esque premise: man being pursued and punished for something he didn't do, rendered powerless in his many attempts to extricate himself. And all along, the enemies are getting closer. I think when you look up femme fatale in the dictionary in the future, what you'll see is a picture of Eva Marie Saint. She's simply stunning here, holding all the cards right to the end. There is one, small knock on the film, though: it drags in the middle. Every scene does eventually reveal why it's there, and at the end of these scenes you do get a little frisson most of the time, but I found they were a little fatty, and could have gotten to the point faster. That said, there's a chase scene on Mount Rushmore... how much more can you ask!? Super film, a classic. One for the "can't miss" list.

• Jameson W

  
  Another classic film from director Alfred Hitchcock! The perfect mystery movie.

• Thomas B

  
  One of Hitchcock's best with the inimitable, irreplacable Cary Grant. Full review later.

• Dean M

  
  This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most suspenseful films, but also funniest and most enjoyable. This film contains some of Hitchcock's most famous scenes, including Cary Grant being pursued across the Indiana fields by a murderous crop-dusting plan and a cliff-hanging ending… More
  This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's most suspenseful films, but also funniest and most enjoyable. This film contains some of Hitchcock's most famous scenes, including Cary Grant being pursued across the Indiana fields by a murderous crop-dusting plan and a cliff-hanging ending (literally) on Mt Rushmore. The first hour is very funny, as the star squabbles with his mother and raises a ruckus in an auction room.

• Luke B

  
  A film that surprises me every time I see it. This will constantly be one of my favorite films as it is a constant barrage of hits. The film perfectly matches screwball comedy, raunchy romance (without ever getting too sexy), action, and mysterious suspense. A trick in recent films is… More
  A film that surprises me every time I see it. This will constantly be one of my favorite films as it is a constant barrage of hits. The film perfectly matches screwball comedy, raunchy romance (without ever getting too sexy), action, and mysterious suspense. A trick in recent films is to confuse the audience until the very end, where needless exposition happens. Hitchcock was a master of mysteries because he knew how many unanswered questions to have on the go at any one time, and when to answer them. As the film progresses, new plot twists arrive, making it an interesting and intriguing film. At the beginning, we are as clueless as Grant, but as the film goes on, we see more and more , gradually making us more informed than Grant. This clever respect for the audience means we are never talked down to. The action scenes are as fantastic today as they ever were. The slow build up to the plane scene is the kind of patience lacking in today's shaky cam world. North by Northwest is a perfect movie.

• AJ V

  
  This movie is really fantastic, Hitchcock's last film of the fifties, and with Grant. The story does remind you of some other Hitchcock films, but this movie has a new style and remains very modern, I think. I highly recommend this movie.

• Spencer S

  
  In my top ten best Hitchcock films, Cary Grant is the best debonair leading man. Eva Marie Saint is the perfect temptress and sidekick, adding drama to the scene on Mt. Rushmore. To die for.

• KJ P

  
  North By Northwest is extravagantly made for it's time, and may just be one of my favourite films of all time. Alfred Hitchcock is a brilliant filmmaker, and this film should stand in his name forever. A fantastic chase thriller with camerawork that will have Spielberg bowing… More
  North By Northwest is extravagantly made for it's time, and may just be one of my favourite films of all time. Alfred Hitchcock is a brilliant filmmaker, and this film should stand in his name forever. A fantastic chase thriller with camerawork that will have Spielberg bowing down to his feet. Hitchcock hit the mark with thrilling action scenes and a plot that would grabs anyones interest, I am so glad to have stumbled upon this film. Amazing just doesn't say enough!

• Chris W

  
  Often considered one of Hitchcock's Hollywood-era 'masterpieces', North by Northwest is a great achievement. Sure, it borrows here and there from a few earlier Hitchcock films, but is put together and made so well, that it becomes a film all its own. It's got quite… More
  Often considered one of Hitchcock's Hollywood-era 'masterpieces', North by Northwest is a great achievement. Sure, it borrows here and there from a few earlier Hitchcock films, but is put together and made so well, that it becomes a film all its own. It's got quite a good mix of both comedy and thriller elements, both handled very well. The acting is great, although Eva Marie Saint's character would have been more suited to someone like Grace Kelly. Overall, a fantastic joyride of a film.

• Lewis C

  
  North by Northwest reminds me of Vertigo more than any of the other Hitchcock movies that I've seen. Both of them are his versions of "blockbusters", with the pacing and action scenes of a good summer movie. I enjoyed both of them to about the same degree, as well.… More
  North by Northwest reminds me of Vertigo more than any of the other Hitchcock movies that I've seen. Both of them are his versions of "blockbusters", with the pacing and action scenes of a good summer movie. I enjoyed both of them to about the same degree, as well. It's a pretty thrilling ride, I must say. A case of mistaken identity leads Cary Grant into a web of narrow escapes, murders, espionage, chases, and general peril. He meets the requisite icy blonde along the way (who may be friend or foe), and most of the other Hitchcockian flourishes are present in some degree. North by Northwest is also pretty damn funny. I laughed more than a few times at Grant's pithy quips and his mutually aggressive banter with Eva Marie Saint as Eve Kendall. Who just happens also be another gorgeous woman in a leading Hitchcock role. Who could have guessed? This is a pretty good movie for anyone unfamiliar with Alfred Hitchcock to start with. It's entertaining enough in traditional ways that it will appeal to people who may have yet to become addicted to Hitchcock's style. I say "yet", because North by Northwest will probably speed you on your way to becoming hooked.

• Cindy I

  
  I made the stunning discovery today that I don't think I have ever seen this all the way through! I sat down to do just that, and found several scenes that I don't remember seeing before. Crazy. Anyway, the new scenes did little to take away from this quality flick. Cary… More
  I made the stunning discovery today that I don't think I have ever seen this all the way through! I sat down to do just that, and found several scenes that I don't remember seeing before. Crazy. Anyway, the new scenes did little to take away from this quality flick. Cary Grant is of course his gorgeous suave manly self, and James Mason was suitably sinister. I particularly enjoyed Eva Marie Saint though. I was wishing I could be as forward with men I desired as she is with Cary Grant in the train dining car -- one of my favorite flirtation/seduction scenes in cinema. The only thing that flaws this film for me is the idea that so many people could be manipulated into and/or trusted to participate in the various stings and conspiracies on which the plot is dependent. Everyone seems capable of keeping secrets and everybody carries out their role perfectly. That's giving humans far more credit than they deserve, and entirely discounts the moron factor prevalent in real life. Memorable line -- "...I have two ex-wives and several bartenders dependent on me...."

• Conner R

  
  To me, this will always be my favorite Hitchcock film of all time and my favorite movie of all time. Itâ??s got everything I love about movies, combining an endless amount of genreâ??s and techniques. You have a perfect romance story that is both original, truthful and also familiar… More
  To me, this will always be my favorite Hitchcock film of all time and my favorite movie of all time. Itâ??s got everything I love about movies, combining an endless amount of genreâ??s and techniques. You have a perfect romance story that is both original, truthful and also familiar in a lot of ways. There is also a perfect thriller tied in, with meticulously planned sequences that you just donâ??t see anymore in Hollywood. Itâ??s an action movie without all the negative stereotypes because itâ??s sortâ??ve the first of itâ??s kind. Everything looks new and fresh, even 50 years later. In addition to that, you have my favorite leading man of all time, Cary Grant. No actor can measure up to the screen presence and natural wit of Cary Grant. Every line and bit of inflection and emotion comes off so natural that you feel like youâ??re watching an actual living person, not a character. He has an incredible range that doesnâ??t come by in many actors. He could do anything from extremely funny roles to incredibly dark and complicated roles. When I think of the Hollywood leading man, itâ??s Cary Grant. He is absolutely flawless in North By Northwest, the good guy that everyone can root for and relate to in some way. Heâ??s flawed and imperfect, but thatâ??s why we love him and want him to succeed. I also canâ??t think of a movie that captures the Cold War era any better. Double Agentâ??s, secret organizations, the works. Itâ??s the American James Bond and quite frankly better. No matter how many times I watch it, I still get the feeling that thereâ??s something I missed in this perfect film.

• Jens S

  
  Hitchcock's masterpiece of mistaken identity and the hunt for an innocent man is undoubtedly one of his best films. Not only is it really exciting and created iconic cinema scenes like the crop duster attack or the showdown at Mount Rushmore, it's also really funny at times,… More
  Hitchcock's masterpiece of mistaken identity and the hunt for an innocent man is undoubtedly one of his best films. Not only is it really exciting and created iconic cinema scenes like the crop duster attack or the showdown at Mount Rushmore, it's also really funny at times, thanks to Cary Grant's performance. His Roger Thornhill first refuses to take the threat seriously for the longest time and takes it with some sense of humor, at least until the first corpses come his way. That's a wonderfully old-fashioned (the architecture!), thrilling story with quite a few twists and blueprint to many films that followed. Bernard Hermann wrote a wonderfully nerve-wrecking soundtrack with a great main theme.

• Nicki M

  
  Good thriller. Ending was extremely abrupt and if I didn't know any better, would have thought the dvd had skipped a chapter, but liked this. Eva Marie Saint is excellent, as was Cary Grant.

• Jeremy S

  
  One of Hitchcock's best second only to Psycho, Vertigo and Rear Window. Great mystery and cross-country chase. Cary Grant, my favourite actor is the Hitchcockian man caught up in a mystery. The best scenes include the thrilling crop-dusting airplane scene and the final mount… More
  One of Hitchcock's best second only to Psycho, Vertigo and Rear Window. Great mystery and cross-country chase. Cary Grant, my favourite actor is the Hitchcockian man caught up in a mystery. The best scenes include the thrilling crop-dusting airplane scene and the final mount Rushmore scene. Winner of my Top Road Films.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings