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North by Northwest ()

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A New York City advertising executive goes on the run after being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies, and falls for a woman whose loyalties he begins to doubt.
Director:
Writer:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 9 wins & 4 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

232 photos | 8 videos

Cast verified as complete

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Roger Thornhill
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Eve Kendall
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Phillip Vandamm
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Clara Thornhill
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The Professor
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Mrs. Townsend
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Lester Townsend
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Leonard
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Valerian
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Victor Larrabee
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Licht
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Auctioneer
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Dr. Cross
Patrick McVey ...
Sergeant Flamm
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Captain Junket
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Charley
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Lieutenant Harding (uncredited)
John Alban ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Andy Albin ...
Farmer (uncredited)
John Albright ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Anne Anderson ...
Woman (uncredited)
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Worker (uncredited)
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Porter on Twentieth Century Ltd. (uncredited)
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Man at Prairie Crossing (uncredited)
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State Police Detective (uncredited)
Sam Bagley ...
Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
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Woman at United Nations Building (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Taxi Driver #2 (uncredited)
Brandon Beach ...
Man at Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Sergeant Emile Klinger (uncredited)
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Bit Part (uncredited)
Audrey Betz ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Stephen Bolster ...
Man with Camera (uncredited)
Boyd Cabeen ...
Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
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Tall Man in Crowd (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
Taggart Casey ...
Shaving Man (uncredited)
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Auction Attendant (uncredited)
Bob Coe ...
Cropduster Pilot (uncredited)
David A. Cox ...
Police Officer on Horse (uncredited)
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U.S. Intelligence Agency Official (uncredited)
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Taxi Driver #1 (uncredited)
Lucille Curtis ...
Woman (uncredited)
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Hospital Patient (uncredited)
Jack Daly ...
Train Steward (uncredited)
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Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
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U.S. Intelligence Agency Official (uncredited)
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Woman on Sidewalk (uncredited)
Dan Dowling ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Ken DuMain ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Daniel Elam ...
Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
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Eddie (uncredited)
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Woman on Train (uncredited)
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Bald Bidder (uncredited)
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Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)
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Friendly Passenger (uncredited)
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Second United Nations Receptionist (uncredited)
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Lieutenant Hagerman (uncredited)
Kenneth Gibson ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Ticket Seller (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Silent State Police Detective (uncredited)
Robert Haines ...
Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
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Train Passenger (uncredited)
Len Hendry ...
Police Lieutenant (uncredited)
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Man Who Misses Bus (uncredited)
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Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)
Hideo Inamura ...
Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
Eugene Jackson ...
Security Guard at Auction (uncredited)
Bobby Johnson ...
Waiter (uncredited)
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Courtroom Spectator (uncredited)
Sid Kane ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Man Leaving Office Building (uncredited)
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Mrs. Finlay (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Maggie (uncredited)
Perk Lazelle ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Larry Leverett ...
Man in Phone Booth (uncredited)
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Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
Alexander Lockwood ...
Judge Anson Flynn (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Taxi Driver (uncredited)
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Anna (uncredited)
Tom Marshall ...
Police Officer in Chicago (uncredited)
Thomas Martin ...
Train Passenger (uncredited)
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Plaza Valet (uncredited)
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Attendant (uncredited)
Carl Milletaire ...
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
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Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
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Conductor on Twentieth Century, Ltd. (uncredited)
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Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
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Man in Plaza Bar (uncredited)
John Pedrini ...
Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
Murray Pollack ...
Worker (uncredited)
Charles Postal ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
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Elsie (uncredited)
Hugh Pryor ...
Minor Role (uncredited)
Anthony Redondo ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Bellhop (uncredited)
Greg Rhinelander ...
Hotel Lounge Patron (uncredited)
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Bystander (uncredited)
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Train Passenger (uncredited)
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Worker (uncredited)
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Hotel Lounge Patron / Man at Mt. Rushmore Cafeteria (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
Harry Seymour ...
Victor (uncredited)
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Larry Wade (uncredited)
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Cab Driver (uncredited)
Ami Silvestre ...
Woman (uncredited)
Doris Singh ...
First United Nations Receptionist (uncredited)
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Policeman at Grand Central Station (uncredited)
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Assistant Auctioneer (uncredited)
Bert Spencer ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Helen Spring ...
Bidder (uncredited)
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Stockbroker (uncredited)
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Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
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Assistant Conductor (uncredited)
Robert Strong ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Joe Szorentini ...
Man Opening Door for Thornhill (uncredited)
Paul Togawa ...
Man at United Nations Building (uncredited)
Arthur Tovey ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Ranger (uncredited)
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Policeman at Grand Central Station (uncredited)
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Attendant (uncredited)
Luree Wiese ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Herman Weitner (uncredited)
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Minor Role (uncredited)
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Patrolman Waggoner (uncredited)
Paula Winslowe ...
Woman at Auction (uncredited)
Wilson Wood ...
Photographer at United Nations (uncredited)
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Fanning Nelson (uncredited)
Ernesto Zambrano ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)

Directed by

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Alfred Hitchcock

Written by

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Ernest Lehman ... (written by)

Produced by

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Herbert Coleman ... associate producer
Alfred Hitchcock ... producer (uncredited)

Music by

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Bernard Herrmann

Cinematography by

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Robert Burks ... director of photography

Editing by

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George Tomasini ... film editor

Editorial Department

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Charles K. Hagedon ... color consultant
Edward K. Milkis ... assistant editor (uncredited)

Casting By

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Leonard Murphy ... (uncredited)

Production Design by

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Robert F. Boyle ... (as Robert Boyle)

Art Direction by

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William A. Horning
Merrill Pye

Set Decoration by

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Henry Grace ... (set decorations)
Emile Kuri ... assistant set decorator
Fred M. MacLean ... assistant set decorator (as Fred Maclean)
Frank R. McKelvy ... (set decorations) (as Frank McKelvey)

Makeup Department

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Sydney Guilaroff ... hair styles by
John Truwe ... makeup artist
William Tuttle ... make-up by
Peggy Shannon ... hair stylist (uncredited)
Stanley Smith ... makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management

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Ruby Rosenberg ... unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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Robert Saunders ... assistant director
Mickey McCardle ... assistant director (uncredited)
Tim Whelan Jr. ... assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Matty Azzarone ... leadman (uncredited)
Harry Edwards ... props (uncredited)
Henry Greutert ... sculptor (uncredited)
Mentor Huebner ... storyboard artist (uncredited)
John Ricardo ... second props (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Franklin Milton ... recording supervisor
Tom Hadley ... boom operator (uncredited)
Van Allen James ... supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Bert Mott ... boom operator (uncredited)
Tom Overton ... boom operator (uncredited)
Howard Voss ... sound mixer (uncredited)
Charles E. Wallace ... sound mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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A. Arnold Gillespie ... special effects
Lee LeBlanc ... special effects
Doug Hubbard ... special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Cliff Shirpser ... optical matte camera operator (uncredited)
Matthew Yuricich ... matte artist (uncredited)

Stunts

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Ray Austin ... stunts (uncredited)
Bill Catching ... stunts (uncredited)
Leonard P. Geer ... stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss ... stunt double: Cary Grant (uncredited)
Bob Hoy ... stunts (uncredited)
Hubie Kerns ... stunt double: Adam Williams (uncredited) / stunt double: James Mason (uncredited)
Paul Stader ... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Kenny Bell ... still photographer (uncredited)
Howard Bradner ... grip (uncredited)
Howard Cashion ... camera mechanic (uncredited)
Bobby Greene ... assistant camera (uncredited)
Michael P. Joyce ... camera loader (uncredited) / camera operator: crop-dusting sequence (uncredited)
James V. King ... camera operator: crop-dusting sequence (uncredited)
Bud McNeil ... best boy (uncredited)
Bill Shaw ... gaffer (uncredited)
Tom Smith ... grip (uncredited)
Leonard J. South ... camera operator (uncredited)
Felix Trimboli ... first assistant camera (uncredited)
Paul Weddell ... assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Larry Leverett ... extras casting coordinator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Harry Kress ... wardrobe (uncredited)

Location Management

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Robert Foss ... location auditor (uncredited)

Music Department

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Alex Alexander ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Victor Arno ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Victor Bay ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Haakon Bergh ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Gus Bivona ... musician: clarinet (uncredited)
Alexander Courage ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Lois Craft ... musician: harp (uncredited)
Don Cristlieb ... musician: bassoon (uncredited)
Vincent de Rubertis ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Henry Emerson ... musician: clarinet (uncredited)
Sam Freed Jr. ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Bert Gassman ... musician: oboe (uncredited)
Bernard Herrmann ... conductor (uncredited) / music arranger (uncredited) / orchestrator (uncredited)
Norman Herzburg ... musician: bassoon (uncredited)
Armand Kaproff ... musician: cello (uncredited)
Louis Kaufman ... musician: violin (uncredited)
William Kraft ... musician: drums, percussion (uncredited)
Arthur Maebe ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Virginia Majewski ... musician: viola (uncredited)
Lisa Minghetti ... musician: violin (uncredited)
Uan Rasey ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)
Sylvia Ruderman ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Jimmy Zito ... musician: trumpet (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Peggy Robertson ... script supervisor (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Saul Bass ... titles designed by
George A. Romero ... grip (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Madison Avenue advertising man Roger Thornhill finds himself thrust into the world of spies when he is mistaken for a man by the name of George Kaplan. Foreign spy Philip Vandamm and his henchman Leonard try to eliminate him but when Thornhill tries to make sense of the case, he is framed for murder. Now on the run from the police, he manages to board the 20th Century Limited bound for Chicago where he meets a beautiful blond, Eve Kendall, who helps him to evade the authorities. His world is turned upside down yet again when he learns that Eve isn't the innocent bystander he thought she was. Not all is as it seems however, leading to a dramatic rescue and escape at the top of Mt. Rushmore. Written by garykmcd

Plot Keywords
Taglines Alfred Hitchcock takes you.... North by Northwest! See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • Breathless (United States)
  • The CIA Story (United States)
  • Alfred Hitchcock's North by Northwest (United States)
  • In a North West Direction (United States)
  • In a Northwesterly Direction (United States)
  • See more »
Runtime
  • 136 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
  • 1.66 : 1 (intended & European theatrical ratio)
  • See more »
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $3,101,000 (estimated)
Cumulative Worldwide Gross $22,213,000

Did You Know?

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Trivia While filming Vertigo (1958), Sir Alfred Hitchcock described some of the plot of this project to frequent Hitchcock leading man and "Vertigo" star James Stewart, who naturally assumed that Hitchcock meant to cast him in the Roger Thornhill role, and was eager to play it. Actually, Hitchcock wanted Cary Grant to play the role. By the time Hitchcock realized the misunderstanding, Stewart was so anxious to play Thornhill that rejecting him would have caused a great deal of disappointment. So Hitchcock delayed production on this movie until Stewart was already safely committed to filming Otto Preminger's "Anatomy of a Murder (1959)" before "officially" offering him the role in this movie. Stewart had no choice but to turn down the offer, allowing Hitchcock to cast Grant, the actor he had wanted all along. See more »
Goofs During the scene in the diner at Mount Rushmore, a young extra boy in the background anticipates the surprise gun shot, fired by Eve. The diners are supposed to be unaware this is going to happen but the young extra boy covers his ears way before she draws the gun. The young extra boy must have known there would be a loud bang from the blank-filled pistol from previous takes and therefore covered his ears on the "printed" take. See more »
Movie Connections Edited into Le contrôle de l'univers (1999). See more »
Soundtracks It's a Most Unusual Day See more »
Crazy Credits Right after his credit as director during the opening credits, Alfred Hitchcock is running toward the door of the city bus just as it slams shut on him! See more »
Quotes [Thornhill is wearing sunglasses to hide his identity]
Ticket Seller: Something wrong with your eyes?
Roger Thornhill: Yes, they're sensitive to questions.
See more »
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