DVD release: 50 years later, 'North By Northwest' still thrills

November 8, 10:33 AMSpokane DVD ExaminerMartha Hokenson

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For proof of why Alfred Hitchcock earned the nickname 'the Master of Suspense', you need look no further than his 1959 film North By Northwest. Easily one of Hitchcock's best films (and possibly among the best films ever made period), it's a two-hour thrill-ride that leaves you with precious little time to catch your breath between scenes.

Part of the fun of North By Northwest is watching the all-star leads (Cary Grant, James Mason, and Eva Marie Saint) breeze through a script that deftly blends action, romance, and comedy. If the plot sometimes seems to take liberties with reality, it certainly never leaves you with a dull moment during which to complain. The story centers around clueless New York ad man Roger O. Thornhill (Grant), who is mistakenly identified by foreign spies as the elusive U.S. government agent George Kaplan. Thus begins an elaborate cross-country adventure, through now-famous set pieces such as Mount Rushmore, as Thornhill tries to elude his captors (led by Mason) long enough to find the real Kaplan and piece together this puzzle of mistaken identity. Along the way, he meets a beautiful and mysterious woman (Saint) who may or may not be willing to help him survive this increasingly tangled mess.

Of course, any discussion of a Hitchcock film naturally leads to discussion of the greater body of Hitchcock's work, but honestly, what's left to be said? Modern movies, with their tales of mistaken identity, harrowing chases, and mysterious strangers with dubious motives, owe a good deal to this classic director. If you've never seen this movie, then now is the perfect time to rent, or preferrably buy, the DVD.

The 50th-anniversary DVD boasts multiple documentaries covering the film, lead actor Grant, and director Hitchcock; a commentary track from screenwriter Ernest Lehman; a stills gallery; a music-only audio track; and assorted trailers and TV spots. Learn more about North By Northwest at imdb.com, or check out some of these sites and webpages devoted to the Master of Suspense himself: http://hitchcock.tv/, http://labyrinth.net.au/~muffin/, http://www.mysterynet.com/hitchcock/, entries in Wikipedia and the IMDB. You can watch episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents... and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour for free on Hulu.

Browse more recent movie releases for the week of November 3, 2009. Enjoy thrillers? You might like State of Play (2009), starring Russell Crowe, Ben Affleck, and Rachel McAdams. And don't forget to check in Tuesday for a roundup of new DVD releases and news!

Other recently reviewed movies: The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3, Blood: The Last Vampire, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Proposal, and Year One.