North by Northwest: Classic Movie

"Funny, that plane's dustin' where there ain't no crops." Thus begins one of my personal favorite scequences from a film chock-full of oft-referenced scenes and situations. North by Northwest, the 1959 Alfred Hitchcock thriller falls easily into the category of "classic." Even those who haven't seen the film would recognize countless scenes from the numerous parodies and clips that populate entertainment even to this day.

The impossible-not-to-like Cary Grant stars as an advertising executive, accidentally caught in a deadly battle between two sides he can neither name nor decipher the motivations of. Eva Marie Saint appears as the femme fatale, as mysterious as everything else the bewildered executive is caught in. She's not entirely "girl power," but she is an intelligent lady in a role that doesn't seem terribly outdated or sexist by today's movie standards. Although, really, could there be a worse time for a girl to break a heel on her shoe? Invest in flats.

This is the ultimate mistaken-identity story, with twists and turns that leave you on the edge of your seat. Okay, admittedly, the car chase early in the film is clearly dated, and a little snicker-inducing. But come on! Real suspense never gets old, and this one will still have you glued to the screen. The acting is solid, the story is a masterpiece, and no amount of time passed can take that away.

If you pick up the DVD release of this movie, you'll find the picture in great condition, with some juicy special features if you really get hooked. I won't review them here, because surely just this film is enough motivation to pick this one up.

Bottom Line: You have to watch this exciting classic, at the very least so you'll get what all the cartoons are mimicking with the Mount Rushmore chase scenes.