If one were to make a list of the greatest film directors of all time, names like Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather), Stanley Kubrick (The Shining), Steven Spielberg (E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial), and Martin Scorsese (Gangs of New York) would certainly be on it. Another name to make that list would be Sir Alfred Hitchcock (The Birds), whose brilliance has influenced generations of filmmakers, including some of his best-directing comrades. With 68 movies under his belt, Hitchcock brought us some intense thrillers/horror films of the 1950s. One of his less horrific classics is North by Northwest, which was released 65 years ago. In honor of the movie's anniversary, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released it on 4K for the first time.
If you have never seen the classic, here is a brief synopsis:
This classic suspense film finds New York City ad executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant; Notorious) pursued by ruthless foreign spy Phillip Vandamm (James Mason; The Verdict) after Thornhill is mistaken for a government agent. Hunted relentlessly by Vandamm's associates, the harried Thornhill ends up on a cross-country journey, meeting the beautiful and mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint; On the Waterfront) along the way. Soon Vandamm's henchmen close in on Thornhill, resulting in a final, climactic fight atop Mount Rushmore.
One of the many positive things about North by Northwest is the terrific cast. The handsome and talented Grant leads the troupe with wit and humor, giving the film a touch of comedy mixed with action/adventure. Saint effortlessly portrays the complicated and emotionally torn Eve. Mason rounds out the trio nicely, and Martin Landau (Ed Wood) is well cast as Vandamm's henchman, Leonard.
The restoration and 4K transfer of this 1959 classic are incredible. The 2160p resolution is so sharp that it is easy to see the striped detail on Kaplan's suit that hangs in the hotel room closet. The picture quality is head and shoulders above the previously released Blu-ray. The details are clean, and the brightness of the movie is excellent. Warner Bros. did a great job with this release.
The Dolby Atmos audio is just as good as the video quality. The dialogue is crisp, and the balance between said dialogue, soundtrack, and special effects is excellent. The effects and music do not overpower the dialogue, making North by Northwest easy to watch and hear. Not all transfers are as solid as this one.
The combo pack comes with the 4K disc and the digital download. It also has over two hours of extras, most of which were previously released. The extras include: Audio Commentary by Ernest Lehman, North by Northwest: Cinematography, Score, and the Art of the Edit (New), Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest, The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style, North by Northwest: One for the Ages, and A Guided Tour with Alfred Hitchcock.
It is wonderful to see the movie studios breathing new life into classic films, and Warner Bros. seems to be doing a fabulous job with the restorations. Not only is the technical quality there, but their choice of films to release includes the best of the best. North by Northwest was a wonderful movie when it was originally released, and now, thanks to this latest offering, a whole new generation can watch the brilliance of Hitchcock's work in the quiet and comfort of their own homes.
There are so many reasons to buy this anniversary edition of a film classic. From the performances to the direction and from the infusion of brightness in the video to the multi-dimensional audio quality, this is one purchase that is worth making and would make a great stocking stuffer for any Hitchcock fan.
Grade: A
