Classic Film Friday: North by Northwest

This movie is thought of as "the first James Bond movie", but it really isn't, but it is. That is to say, it is that kind of movie... A man running from death or in a perilous situation, a beautiful woman, guns, and travel. It really does a good movie make.

This is a Hitchcock movie, which is to say, it is a masterpiece at least in the suspense category. Cary Grant plays Roger Thornhill, an ad executive who is mistaken for George Kaplan, a government agent (who doesn't really exist at all)... So these spies, from I don't know where, hold up Roger at gun point and we begin our roller coaster ride.

Roger goes from being kidnapped to a DUI violation, to a murderer in almost no time at all, and the thing is, he is none of those things, well he was kidnapped. And we haven't even talked about Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) the love interest. He goes through what seems like anything and everything to attempt to clear his name. He leaves New York, on a train, to Chicago where he runs into Eve. He is looking for the real George Kalap (which he will never find, because he doesn't exist).

He falls in love with Eve, as she helps him hide from the police. And why does she do that? Because she is a double agent of course. And another wrinkle is added to the mix. So will Roger ever clear his name, find true love, or make his mother happy? You'll have to watch and see...