According to Hitchcock himself, the Movie was created to house a few particular scenes he had always dreamed of filming. This can be seen as the plot and story logic, have a few holes - wouldn’t it be easier to kill “Kaplin” by shooting him from the ground rather than a crop duster - but these that can be forgiven – for some reason people feel fiction needs to make more sense than reality. Nonetheless the movie has some of the most memorable scenes in film history, the crop duster scene has been called the most exciting/scary scene in history.
The major theme of the movie is the question of identity i.e. mans search for his/her identity, whilst dealing with the personality’s other people inconsistently lump on us.
The story reveals this constantly. The major characters, Roger and Eve, both spend the movie dealing with mistaken, false and numerous identities. Roger starts off as the mundane, yet successful advertising agent from NY, only to be confused for a secret agent who doesn’t actually exist. It is interesting to observe how this theme is explored. Roger whilst defending his identity to his kidnappers up in the mansion, comments that he feels like a red herring. Then Roger notices himself almost inadvertently becoming Kaplin. In the hotel when the phone rings, he answers as Kaplin and the mild mannered NY executive soon begins to lead a life as though he were a highly trained Govt. agent. In a very pertinent scene in the U.N. buildings, the real Mr. Townsend asks Roger what his identity is, shortly before being killed – the search for identity can often be fatal? as Roger/Kaplin will nearly learn. Attempting to clear his name, more probably trying to survive the next few days, Roger finds himself on a train bound for Chicago. On board he meets the very sexy Eve, who is herself playing more than one role. At first he pretends to be something isn’t – in both his lives – so does she, introducing herself as a trade auditor or some such. This is an interesting commentary on the way we assume identities to get what we want. Eve takes the identity game even further. We soon learn that she is working for Van Damn but unbeknown to him she is also working for the Govt.
Roger finally gives in to his agent persona as her learns of Eves true identity, and her imminent departure with Van Damn. His love for Eve drives him to her daring rescue. After a tense scene at Van Damn’s HQ and on Mt. Rushmore, Roger and Eve get safely away. Roger or Kaplin, it doesn’t matter because X is able to start a new life with Eve, being whoever he wants to be, with a clean slate.
The theme and story of the movie lends itself to a number of possible tones. The movie could be a drama/thriller or action thriller, but rather, Hitchcock chose to make the movie predominantly comic. He has described it as “one big joke”. Certainly the movie is very witty. It has a number of very memorable one-liners that add a very sarcastic tone to much of the film. Roger is very suave and his dry dark sense of humour highlights this beautifully.
The movie also has a very surreal mood at times, almost like we’re in the twilight zone. We can only but feel for Roger who must feel like his life has become a very strange dream. First he is Kidnapped, then no-one believes him, then he is continually mistaken for someone he’s not, then he’s wanted for a murder he didn’t commit, then he’s desperately attracted to a girl who betrays him, then it turns out she didn’t, and so it continues. The plot has more twists and turns in it than a mountain path, and these lend themselves beautifully to the at times absurd tone of the movie.
The comic tone is expressed often by Roger’s casualness with the severity of his situation. Whilst held captive he comments that he has at least seven barmen dependant on him, so has no desire to die. Again, at the auction he tells Van damn in a very casual/ironic/sarcastic tone that it appears he wants him dead.
The traditional film elements all lend themselves to creating the various tones that the movie expresses. During the tense plane chase, it is the absence of music that heightens the tension and surrealism of the whole scenario. Hitchcock, ever before his time, uses many handheld camera shots, adding to the often frenzied and chaotic mood of many scenes. The editing is superb. The parallel editing, the cause and effect, the pacing are all so essential in a chase movie like this and N by NW achieves the right atmosphere at the right time, perfectly.
The changes in tone occur at just the right time. It is the roller coaster of emotions that the filmmakers take us on that make this movie so captivating. One moment we are smiling pleasantly at the chemistry and witticisms taking place between Roger and Eve, the next we are holding our breath as Roger dodges some cops or hangs from a cliff.
While exploring the theme it does, in the fairly successful way it does, the film in my opinion, lacks a certain amount of depth. Yet this depth is not required for this genre. For it’s time the movie must have been revolutionary, but there have just been too many James Bonds made to almost kill the genre. Having said that the film is still incredibly entertaining, and watching Cary Grant pull off the suave, cool persona he does, like only Cary Grant can do, not to mention watching Eva Maria Saint doing pretty much anything all combine to make a truly very great escapist yet sophisticated film. It is a film that has had a lot of thought go into it. What depth the story lacks the, the performances and cinematic techniques more than adequately make up. It is a comedy/action/adventure with a difference. It chooses to confront an interesting theme. Whilst this theme has been delt with subsequently, and possible superiorly, North-by-North West gives us just enough. In my opinion this films tone “colour” is superb. Its wit surpasses most other films in its genre and the suspense, tension and characterisation are all unmistakably Hitchcock. I cannot judge it fairly against other Hitchcock films, but I can see why it might be considered his best and indeed in general one of the best films ever made.