ANALYSIS OF NORTH BY NORTHWEST

Analysis of North by Northwest

Analysis of North by Northwest

Analysis

North by northwest is a 1959 American thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, North by Northwest is a tale of mistaken identity, with an innocent man pursued across the United States by agents of a mysterious organization who want to stop his interference in their plans to smuggle out microfilm containing government secrets. The opening title sequence begins with a green background which has lines crisscrossing across this back ground, after the lines have formed, the credit begin to come in and appear in the middle of the green background but still crooked. The title sequence of north by north west is very unique and was designed by the respected title sequence designer Saul Bass.

Slowly, as the credits go by the green background begins to fade and turn in to a building which shows a reflection of cars going by. This could connote the constant flow of the story yet to come. The constant traffic adds to a sense of bustle and the repetitive percussive nature of the music keeps us on edge as the titles rise and fall like people getting on or off an elevator.

Alfred Hitchcock includes a variety of continuity editing techniques in North by Northwest to create both smoothness and suspense.  The first of these concepts is the establishing shot.  Whenever a new scene occurs, Hitchcock utilizes an establishing shot to provide overview to a scene.  After Mr. Vandamm's associates kidnap Roger Thornhill, there are numerous establishing shots providing an overview of the location Roger is being taken to, Townsend Mansion.  When the movie progresses and locations change, Hitchcock utilizes establishing shots at the United Nation's complex, the Chicago bus stop, and Mount Rushmore.  These establishing shots allow audience members to understand what is going on and where the succeeding scene is occurring.  In a film where the location of key characters change frequently, it is important to incorporate establishing shots to ensure audience members know what is going on.  The second continuity editing technique used in North by Northwest is the reverse shot pattern.  When Roger Thornhill first encounters Phillip Vandamm, Alfred Hitchcock uses the reverse shot pattern throughout the conversation.  The reverse shot pattern allows the viewer to see the reaction of the character's faces more closely, which adds suspense to the film.  If a master shot was used, the viewer would feel more distant from the story and the suspense would be lacking.  Lastly, the use of match editing creates a smoothness effect and can frequently be seen in North by Northwest.  This smoothness effect lets the scene cuts seem more natural which keeps the viewer engaged to the story.

Although numerous examples of continuity editing techniques are in North by Northwest, there are also a variety of discontinuity techniques.  Using discontinuity techniques can help depict a character as either the protagonist or the antagonist.  When Roger Thornhill first meets Eve Kendall, she is wearing a white dress with plenty ...