North by Northwest Movie Review
Movie Review by Anthony Leong © Copyright 1997
Finally had the chance to see this movie on video. I was expecting...
something better. Sure, it was neat to see a young Martin Landau
and there were some interesting sequences... but I bet that if
you re-made the film today, starring someone like... Brad Pitt
(or whoever), I think it would probably get shot down for its
implausibilities and cliches.
However, I did find it interesting to see how a different world
it was way back then:
- it was a very racially homogenous society (even the cab drivers)
- the concierge will give you someone's room number and even
the keys if you ask them nicely enough (try that today in the
Four Seasons!)
- alcohol intoxication was determined by blood test (no breathalyzers)
- the shadow government were the good guys (sort of)
- all the women are either housewives or secretaries
- everyone dresses the same (suit, tie, hat)