Hitchcock was the master of suspense, thriller, and horror back in the day. He used common themes to create cinematic masterpieces that redefined how movies were made. He also inserted himself in every single one of his films, which was a cool signature.
Anyway, one of Hitchcock’s best films about a case of mistaken identity was North by Northwest, and Warner Home Video has decided to honor it with a 4KUHD upgrade. This classic 1959 film features some amazing visuals, gorgeous effects, and a cast that is about as epic as you could have in a film. It certainly deserved an upgrade, and it exceeded all quality expectations for a film that is 65 years old.
So, prepare your classic dialogue with a tinge of English accent, run like crazy from all the planes you can, and let’s get started on this review of North by Northwest.
Official Synopsis
Cary Grant stars as an innocent man mistaken for a spy in one of director Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest thrillers. While leaving New York’s Plaza Hotel, advertising executive Roger Thornhill (Grant) has the misfortune of raising his hand just as the name “George Kaplan” is paged–starting a lethal case of mistaken identity and a nonstop game of cat and mouse as he is pursued across North America by espionage agents trying to kill him–and by police who suspect him of murder.
This film is amazing and something that I didn’t fully appreciate as a youth. The crafty build-up of a man caught in a web that he continually becomes more entangled in as he tries to free himself is patiently well-built. Writer Ernest Lehman gave his characters enough time to cook in the narrative oven, putting together subtle points that built up every character involved in his story. With Thornhill (Grant), he told us everything we needed to see about him in the first five minutes of the movie. He was a successful marketing genius who controlled his path and life, even extending as far as controlling his assistant and friends. He was a self-made man on a path that never allowed an obstacle to stop him. All of this is defined with dialogue and the candor of Grant’s delivery and acting.
Playing opposite Grant’s Thornhill was the determined villain Phillip Vandamm (Mason), who was ruthless as he was determined to see his nefarious plans through. Mason’s no-nonsense antagonist is defined as a heartless and uncaring scoundrel who wants money and power, and he doesn’t care whose life he ruins on the way to obtain both. He is a classic villain with a bit more viciousness that helped push the story even further with intensity and thrilling moments where you knew the villain meant business.
The simple driving plot point where Thornhill’s existence threatens Vandamm’s entire operation creates a beautiful cat-and-mouse chase between the protagonist and antagonist. It certainly wrote the structure for future movies of this type, such as Mission Impossible, where nothing felt okay or calm.
Hitchcock and Lehman could do anything they wanted with North by Northwest and their characters to shape a thrilling adventure. And they took Grant’s Thornhill through several fun scenarios. From a claustrophobic train trip where Thornhill is hunted from car to car, all the way to the infamous Midwest plane scene where there was little to no escape in an open field. All these scenes shape a continually uncomfortable set of scenarios that present tension, danger, and the right amount of thrill.
I never knew that movies this old could produce a modern construct that is still used today. It’s every bit of a non-stop thrill ride. I never felt like Grant’s Thornhill was in the clear, even as the end of the film approached. That constant uncomfortable tension helped to create an entertaining thrill ride from beginning to end. It was spectacular and certainly unique for the time period.
Now, the only issue I had with this movie was the sudden ending. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but the ending was a bit abrupt and far from matching the tone of prior moments in the movie. Now, having said that, it’s 1959. The note the film ended on was familiar to this time in cinema. I will leave it at that.
Overall, this is probably one of the best, if not the best, Hitchcock films. I know there are probably a lot of differing opinions, but I feel very strongly about this one. It contains defined characters, a consistent flow of theme, and all the right scenarios to keep the story engaging and thrilling. It is certainly a classic film that represents the aurora that Hitchcock carried with him from movie to movie.
WOW
The 4KUHD quality of this 1959 film is top-tier. If this was a bourbon, it would be Weller’s. There are no imperfections or artifacts in the picture. This is the cleanest that I’ve seen a film on a modern medium since the controversial Jazz Singer when it hit Blu-ray. North by Northwest’s 4KUHD transfer is gorgeous, and Warner Home Video did a spectacular job with the original film to make it worthy of any moviegoer’s collection.
The clean colorization process shows off what it was like to live in the 1950s, and you’ll see that firsthand with the opening scene set in New York. The picture and colors are so rich and accurate that you’ll swear someone replicated them for a modern film. It’s gorgeous and eye-popping.
In addition to the quality, you’ll also get some solid special features that include:
- Commentary from Ernest Lehman
- North by Northwest Cinematography Score, and the Art of the Edit
- The Making of North by Northwest
- The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style
- A Guided Tour with Alfred Hitchcock
- North by Northwest: One for the Ages
At this point in life, I doubt people are purchasing this for the special features, but what you get here is super solid, especially that commentary from Lehman. Any insight that adds to the legend of this film is good.
This is a nice set of features with some outstanding film quality that delivers beautiful 4KUHD.
On that sweet note, let’s wrap this review up.
Conclusion
One of Hitchcock’s best films has become even better with a 4KUHD upgrade that is worthy of any moviegoer’s shelf.
