The film was made in Paramount Vistavision and it was one of the few widescreen film that was made at MGM. The technology was capable of being screened at an aspect ratio of up to 2:00:1 and was also flexible enough to be printed on standard 35mm film.
The production of NbyNW were shot over 5 month period.
The production shot in Culver City, LA; Chicago, IL; New York, NY; and Keystone, SD. At the time the United Nation had strict rules and regulations around filming in the area.
The house at the end of the film was not real. The set was built in MGM's studios.
The gray suit worn by Cary Grant throughout almost the entire film was considered the "best suit in film history, and most influential on men's style," according GQ magazine in 2006. As well as stating that it has since been copied for Tom Cruise in Collateral and Ben Affleck's in Paycheck.
Eva Marie Saint's wardrobe for the film was originally entirely chosen by MGM. Yet, Hitchcock disliked MGM's selections and the actress and director went to Bergdorf Goodman in New York to select what she would wear in the film.
During the post-production, one of Eva Marie Saint's lines in the dining car scene was redubbed. She originally said "I never make love on an empty stomach," were changed to "I never discuss love on an empty stomach."
MGM wanted North by Northwest cut by 15 minutes so the film's length would run under two hours. Hitchcock had his agent check his contract, learned that he had absolute control over the final cut, and refused because he felt that 15 minutes are valuable information that he does not want his audience to miss.
Hitchcock used innovative camera viewpoints and movements, elaborate editing techniques, and effective soundtrack music to build and maintain suspense. A master at relating the setting of his films to their themes and at presenting a totally "closed" world on the screen
He shot most of his films in the studio, where he could have complete control. His suspense films were generally set either in a single, interior place or multiple interior and exterior places. When we can't shoot in the actual setting, I'm for taking research photographs of everything.
For the scriptwriting, Ernest Lehman won an Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Motion Picture and the picture itself earned Golden Laurel Award
I was intrigued as to why Roger would not want to share what his middle initial was but it was evident toward the end when he was asked by Eve why his marriages weren't successful? Roger replied saying that his previous wives found him boring. In my opinion, Roger did have quite a boring life. Had he not been mistaken by this made up character not sure the outcome would have been the same. Two questions: 1. Did anyone think the scene at the airport had any significance? By this I mean, the inability to hear dialog. I feel as though pieces of information were lost. 2. Did anyone else feel that Roger was not self sufficient? It just seem to me that his mom is in the picture to rescue him when in trouble.
ReplyDeletewhat genre was this film? i know Hitchcock was famous by his thriller movies, but i think this movie is more of comedy than a thriller.
ReplyDeleteit was really interesting that some people called this movie a spy-fi movie, and some called it the first of "James Bond" film, do you agree?
To respond to the first comment, I think the dialogue was left out in the airport scene to raise suspense, so the audience felt left out of the loop. That way, when they went through with their plan (and Roger was shot with an empty gun) the audience was shocked. And yes, I do believe Roger was quite the mama's boy. He wasn't self-sufficient until the end of the film when he rescued Eve.
ReplyDeleteTo respond to the second comment, it isn't completely a thriller, but it is a spy film, with a lot of suspense and intrigue. The mystery of it makes it somewhat of a thriller. As you pointed out, it could also be considered a comedy, and it definitely could have influenced the formula used in some of the James Bond films.