"Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North by Northwest" is an interesting behind-the-scenes look at what went on during the production of this wonderful movie. Hosted by Eva Marie Saint, the documentary contains interviews with Ernest Lehman, the writer, Patricia Hitchcock, the director's daughter, and Martin Landau, as well as plenty of anecdotes of Saint's. Lehman goes into detail about how the movie was conceived, coming out of his failed attempts to write a script for "The Wreck of the Mary Deare" and his writing around two elements that Hitchcock wanted: a delegate dead at the UN and Mount Rushmore. The most amusing story is one told by Saint, of Hitchcock secretly filming Grant entering the UN from across the street.
The best part of the documentary for me were the on-the-set photos showing the cast clowning around and the director speaking with Grant, etc. Also Saint shows the faux pas of the little boy putting his hands over his ears before the gun goes off, adding, "Why of all the takes we did, that one was chosen, I'll never know." The way Hitchock worked, i.e., planning to the last detail, has been discussed ad infinitum, but this was the first time I ever actually saw his sketches of the various scenes - he literally drew the entire movie scene by scene before sitting down to actually film it.
Entertaining, though alas, there are not enough people alive anymore to talk further about a great movie, "North by Northwest." Well worth seeing, though.
The best part of the documentary for me were the on-the-set photos showing the cast clowning around and the director speaking with Grant, etc. Also Saint shows the faux pas of the little boy putting his hands over his ears before the gun goes off, adding, "Why of all the takes we did, that one was chosen, I'll never know." The way Hitchock worked, i.e., planning to the last detail, has been discussed ad infinitum, but this was the first time I ever actually saw his sketches of the various scenes - he literally drew the entire movie scene by scene before sitting down to actually film it.
Entertaining, though alas, there are not enough people alive anymore to talk further about a great movie, "North by Northwest." Well worth seeing, though.