North by Northwest - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

"I don't like the way Teddy Roosevelt is looking at me..."

Here we are again, another title I’m tasked with covering on a new format that our own David Krauss previously reviewed - and I’ve got nothing more to offer. A simple crossroads of timing and availability prevented him from taking on this iconic film fifteen years after his initial Blu-ray review, so the task falls to me. All I can add here is my own feelings about the film, and to no shock to anyone who loves the movies, I’m a massive fan of North by Northwest. 

It might be hard for some to believe but I was a fan of the film before I even saw it! Thanks to my parents owning some sort of compilation CD of Bernard Herrmann’s music (for the life of me I can’t find it again), I was enthralled by the score long before I ever got to experience it with the film proper. But when that day finally came, it was one incredible experience. All of the motifs and themes became something else entirely when paired with Hitchcock’s impeccable direction and the excellent performances from Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and a particularly chilling turn from Martin Landau. Since that first viewing, North by Northwest has been a staple of my movie collection from VHS to DVD to Blu-ray, and now we’re here with 4K UHD and I find I’m in love with the film all over again. I’ve seen the film countless times in my 42 turns on this planet, there aren’t any surprises left with each viewing, but I’m always glued to the screen. It never gets old. If for nothing else, repeated viewings give me an excuse to practice my impression of James Mason! 

And with that, I’ll return to David Krauss’ 2009 Blu-ray Review: 

At last! It took about three-and-a-half years, but finally the first American Blu-ray release of an Alfred Hitchcock film has arrived. And though it may not be the title many of us expected (sorry, Norman Bates fans), it's nevertheless one of the director's finest and most revered efforts. In fact, when screenwriter Ernest Lehman first began collaborating with the Master of Suspense, he aspired to create "the Hitchcock picture to end all Hitchcock pictures," and many would agree 'North by Northwest' is just that. The quintessential chase film, a blueprint for the modern action epic, and Hitchcock's personal homage to himself, this captivating transcontinental pursuit smoothly combines suspense, thrills, comedy, romance, and intrigue, and presents them with all the elegant artistry and brash innovation that has made Hitchcock one of cinema's most esteemed and admired directors.

Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) is a successful, somewhat smug Manhattan advertising executive whose ordered life takes an out-of-control turn when he's abducted by a couple of thugs while lunching with clients at the Plaza Hotel. The ruffians believe him to be someone named George Kaplan, and despite Roger's vehement protests to the contrary, cart him off to a Long Island estate bogusly inhabited by suave Soviet sympathizer Phillip Vandamm (James Mason) for interrogation. Completely flummoxed over why he's been kidnapped, Roger is unable to provide the information his captors crave. He narrowly escapes their clutches, but can't convince the police or even his own mother (Jesse Royce Landis) the episode is anything more than a wild drunken escapade. Determined to clear his name, he tracks a lead to the United Nations, but when the diplomat he's questioning is murdered, Roger is framed for the crime, and quickly becomes America's most wanted man. All this sets up a frantic cross-country chase, as Roger tries to track down the real Kaplan, elude the authorities, and thwart Vandamm and his henchmen, all with the help (or hindrance?) of the sleek, sexy Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), a mysterious woman he "coincidentally" meets on the train to Chicago.

Fifty years after its initial release, 'North by Northwest' remains one of Hollywood's most stylish, slick, entertaining, and expertly crafted thrillers, but it's perhaps best known for two brilliantly executed suspense scenes. The first involves Roger trying to evade a dogged attack by a sinister crop-dusting plane in a barren cornfield, and the second is the film's climactic chase across the sculpted stone faces of Mount Rushmore. Both illustrate Hitchcock's peerless command of high-voltage action and showcase his uncanny ability to not only build tension and provide a satisfying payoff, but also so fully enrapture his audience, they forget the preposterous nature of the situations they're watching. The crop-dusting sequence especially relies on carefully chosen camera angles that set mood and tone, meticulously choreographed action, purposeful editing, and the heightened use of subtle sounds. The result is an unforgettable stand-alone vignette that thrills the senses and fosters intense admiration for the talent on display.

The audacious Mount Rushmore chase is even more challenging to put over. Totally studio shot, the sequence relies heavily on suspension of disbelief, but Hitchcock masterfully blends gigantic backdrops and set pieces to fashion a seamless illusion only the most cynical viewer could reject. Aided by Bernard Herrmann's powerful score and a cast of committed actors, Hitchcock pushes the envelope as far as he can and fashions a thoroughly engrossing, edge-of-the-seat climax. Absurd? Absolutely. Riveting? You bet.

'North by Northwest' also combines a host of elements from previous Hitchcock films, yet never feels like a hodgepodge or rip-off. The wrong man/mistaken identity/man-on-the-run theme has long been a Hitchcock staple, and is employed to great effect in 1942's 'Saboteur,' which also culminates in a showdown atop an iconic American monument (the Statue of Liberty). The sequence on the 20th Century Limited hearkens back to such train-oriented Hitchcock films as 'The 39 Steps' and 'The Lady Vanishes'; Saint's icy blonde with a smoldering soul recalls a string of fair-haired, hot-blooded Hitchcock beauties from Grace Kelly to Kim Novak; and the playful yet potent love scene between Grant and Saint in her cramped train compartment is strikingly similar to the seductive dance Grant and Ingrid Bergman enjoy while talking on the telephone in 'Notorious.' (Ironically, Hitchcock's next picture would be 'Psycho,' which escalates the same type of codependent relationship Roger and his mother share in 'North by Northwest' to a much darker, more disturbing degree.) Such familiar components never detract from the picture's on-screen hijinks; on the contrary, they only add to the fun.

And there's a lot of fun sprinkled amid the chases, double-crosses, and derring-do in Ernest Lehman's virtuoso, Oscar-nominated screenplay. In many ways, the whole movie feels like one long inside joke, and all the while puppeteer Sir Alfred is having the biggest laugh of all. Witty nuances abound – my favorite throwaway is the Plaza Hotel orchestra playing 'It's a Most Unusual Day' as Roger strolls across the lobby minutes before he's abducted – and dry one-liners and comedic imagery, many laced with overt sexual overtones, almost outnumber tense skirmishes. (The final shot of a steel locomotive plunging into a dark tunnel is pure suggestive genius.) Though the tight, complex story may not always make sense, the predicaments in which the colorful characters become embroiled are so beguiling, we don't really care. 'North by Northwest' is a hop-aboard-the-rollercoaster, go-with-the-flow thriller, a precursor to films featuring James Bond, Indiana Jones, and John McClane, in which style, ingenuity, and charisma trump believability.

In his fourth, final, and finest Hitchcock appearance, Grant proves time and again why he was such an asset to the director. Few actors possess such impeccable timing, maximize the impact of every line, exude such allure, or so willingly play the fool, but Grant does it all and somehow remains relatable in the process. Grant may not be the a down-home everyman like James Stewart or Henry Fonda, but his approachable nature and lack of airs make him attractive to both women and men. Here, his sizzling rapport with Saint, who nails her duplicitous part, creates taut sexual tension that never slackens, and his rapier repartee with Mason, whose refined villainy surely influenced Alan Rickman's Hans Gruber in 'Die Hard,' crackles with thinly veiled mutual disdain. Martin Landau makes a perfect loyal henchman, and as Roger's mother, Landis (who was a mere six years older than Grant) adds a delightful sardonic tone to the early proceedings.

To some, 'North by Northwest' might seem tame, even a bit dull by today's ADD, adrenaline-rush standards. But if you stand Hitchcock up against some of the hacks making bigger, bolder, emptier movies today, there's no contest. Hitchcock wins hands down, and 'North by Northwest' is one of this legendary director's best, a droll, thrilling, romantic, altogether captivating work that's as much fun today as it was a half-century ago.

Vital Disc Stats: The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray 
North by Northwest is finally abducted onto 4K UHD thanks to Warner Bros with a single-disc 4K UHD + Digital release. Pressed on a BD100 disc, the disc is housed in a standard black case with identical slipcover art. The disc loads to a static image main menu with a standard navigation system.

Fifteen years and a new format later, fans of North By Northwest have a great reason to sideline their old (but still very good) Blu-ray of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller. From the first frame of Leo the Lion letting out his mighty roar, it’s clear this new 2160p HDR10 transfer is going to be a treat. I knew it was going to be good, there was no way WB was going to wizz this down their legs, but damn, this is rich. Going in, I was particularly interested to see how the optical effects of the big Mt. Rushmore climax or the numerous rear-projection shots would translate to such a high-resolution format. Impressively this disc handles the workload with ease. Obvious shots like when Cary Grant is drunkenly escaping his captors, that front/rear-projection footage still is notably different, but other scenes look remarkably clear. The iconic Crop Duster attack scene with its blend of live on-location and studio footage is nearly flawless. It’s always been an obvious trick, but because the scene works so well you don’t really care.

Throughout the viewing, I had a full appreciation of fine details that never really caught my eye before. I’d never quite noticed how many tweed suits there are, but the scruffy texture of the fabric, fine facial features, and impeccable production design are all on display for the scrutinizing eye to gaze over. When you can clearly see the leather accents on the Doctor's bag when Roger is three sheets to the wind, you've got something special! Color saturation is right on point with the HDR10 grade giving full due attention to key primaries. Various actors like Cary Grant or James Mason’s henchmen have always looked rather tan, but in general skin tones are human and healthy without appearing peached out or pinked. Elements are in pristine shape without any distracting artifacts and film grain has a refined fine quality without appearing noisy or static. Truly a beautiful offering.

On the audio side, fans have excellent options to choose from. For the big bold audiophiles out there with an expensive expansive setup, there is a rather impressive new Dolby Atmos track replacing the old Dolby TrueHD 5.1 option. Playing through this option I was really impressed with the soundscape spread. Imaging is quite good for the busy New York streets, the murmuring of the club where Roger is kidnapped, the clickity-clack of the train, but most importantly the crop duster sequence sounds fantastic. That airplane zipping and moving through the front/center, sides, and into the height channels is a real sonic treat. So much of the film is conversationally focused, the Atmos might not always draw a lot of sonic razz-pizazz into the surround elements, but it works rather well. It did feel like some sound effects like an explosion and a couple of other bits have been enhanced, but thankfully not distracting or anything that sounds too artificial.

With that, purists out there will welcome the Theatrical DTS-HD MA 2.0 mono track which is its own excellent viewing option. Listing back against the new Atmos and flipping over to the old Blu-ray disc, this didn’t sound like a downmix but instead like the real deal theatrical mix. It’s been too long since I saw this in theaters (20+ years) to conjure accurate memories and then for the life of me, I can’t find my Laserdisc copy to compare to that. But going back to that explosion after the crop duster sequence, that effect sounds a bit more “normal” to the film without the sort of spacial enhancements you’d get from a more modern spread. Other moments like tire screeches or how the music cues center themselves all feel like a true-blue mono track in 2.0.

On the bonus features front, we have a terrific collection of new and archival bonus features. Of the previous Blu-ray, the only missing extra is the Cary Grant documentary that was licensed from PBS for the Cary Grant DVD box set. Everything else from that 2009 disc carries over and we have one new featurette. The Cinematography, Score, and the Art of the Edit, is a terrific look at the people that Hitchcock would work with through numerous films and how they impacted North by Northwest. The very fun “Guided Tour” is something of a trailer with Hitchcock hosting the highlights of traveling north by northwest. 

• Audio Commentary featuring screenwriter Earnest Lehman 
• North By Northwest: Cinematography, Score, and the Art of the Edit (HD 23:06)
• Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North By Northwest (SD 39:26)
• The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style (SD 57:31)
• North By Northwest: One for the Ages (SD 25:30)
• A Guided Tour with Alfred Hitchcock (HD 3:16)

North by Northwest isn’t just one of the finest thrillers, it’s one of Hitchcock’s best films. Everything about it from the visual style to the scoring to the cast is a handprint of his talent captured at 24 frames per second. All of the hallmarks of his creativity came together for one perfect incredibly entertaining edge-of-your-seat thriller that everyone can enjoy. Now the master cinematic craftsman’s classic enjoys a gorgeous 4K UHD upgrade from Warner Bros. Sporting a beautiful HDR10 transfer, excellent Atmos and mono audio options, and a nice selection of bonus features, there’s nothing left to say about this release of North by Northwest but call it a Must Own addition to any 4K collection.

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