North by Northwest – 65th Anniversary

Midwest Classic Movies Series takes movies from the 1910’s to the 1960’s and puts them where they belong – back on the big screen.

Alfred Hitchcock is the undisputed Master of Suspense, he was one of the best filmmakers of his or any generation. That’s why during his birthday month of August the M.C.M. shows one of his movies. This August brings you one of his most suspenseful and action packed films – North by Northwest.

Cary Grant is Roger Thornhill, an advertising man who has a job, a secretary, a mother, two ex-wives, and several bartenders dependent upon him. They might have to find another source of money after Roger is mistaken for a spy named George Kaplan by foreign agents. The next thing he knows, he’s framed for murder and is on the run. Jumping on a train heading from New York City to Chicago, he meets a beautiful blond, Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) who helps him evade police. In Chicago Roger finds himself in two potentially deadly meetings. One at an art gallery with the foreign agent’s leader Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) and his menacing sidekick, Leonard (Martin Landau). The other in a cornfield with a crop duster. The suspense comes to a head when Roger finally finds out who George Kaplan is and catches up to the villains at Mt. Rushmore. He’ll have to use all his wits if he doesn’t want to end up “slightly dead”.

Nominated for 3 Academy Awards and listed #4 in the AFI’s 100 Most Thrilling American Films. Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest is a timeless thriller that has been loved by generations.

Released – 1959 Run Time – 2 hours 16 minutes