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Film Bulletin (06/Jul/1959) - North by Northwest

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"North by Northwest"

Business Rating: $ $ $

High-powered Hitchcock suspenser with sock marquee power: Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason.

Alfred Hitchcock is at his suspenseful, intriguing, exciting best in "North by Northwest". The incomparable master of suspense is back in business once more, and at his familiar stand, adroitly interweaving international espionage and spectacular scenic effects with enticing sex and sly comedy. Endowed with high-octane marquee power (Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason) and bearing the famous Hitchcock imprimateur, this Technicolor production for release by M-G-M has enough attractive factors for it is destined to become one of the top box-office entries of the summer. Cary Grant is a delight as he romps through the role of an advertising man who unwittingly becomes enmeshed in the machinations of an international smuggler and the counter-espionage forces. Eva Marie Saint gives a spirited performance as a temptress leading a double life—mistress to Mason and counterspy for the U. S. James Mason is both a suave and menacing villain. Screenplay by Ernest ("Sweet Smell of Success") Lehman is a trifle shopworn in plotline, but master Hitchcock doesn't allow the spectator too much time to ponder its basic weakness. The story opens in New York where Grant is mistaken for an American agent and spirited off to be killed by Mason and company. Their treacherous plan of murder fails when Grant recovers in time to avoid a plunge into the sea. His troubles start when he tries to convince the police. He discovers the real owner of the house in which he was held and goes to visit him at the United Nations building. While there, he sees the man killed by a Mason henchman. Again, Grant is suspected and attempts to unravel the mystery by finding the man he was mistaken for. Enroute he meets Miss Saint, who abets him in escaping detection. They spend the night in her compartment and Eva Marie tries to warn Grant off, since she knows that the man he seeks is a fictional F.B.I. agent invented to trick Mason. However, she must obey the orders of Mason to set Grant up for a killing. Grant escapes and almost destroys Miss Saint's value to the F.B.I. in the process. Ending winds up spectacularly with Grant and Miss Sant escaping from Mason's men down Mt. Rushmore's statues.

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