North by Northwest Analysis

Th film North by Northwest is a suspenseful film directed by Alfred Hitchcock that is not only a classic, old-time movie but also includes important filming elements as well as elements that reflect the time period this film was made.

Creative camera work intensifies several different scenes within this movie. One particular example of this is when the main character, Roger, is driving drunk and a reverse-shot-reserve is seen between his expression and the road in front of him. This scene also includes a point of view shot that shows his perspective of the road while driving drunk. This is done by a camera swerving back and forth and a blurry lens. Some other shots that are done in this movie help establish the scene. This includes New York Train Station, Penn Station, by showing the crowd and the terminal. Establishing shots are also used when showing the U.S. Assembly Building and the Capitol Building. 

These shots of the U.S. Assembly and the Capitol Building also play to the time the movie was made. The film came out around the time of the cold war, so patriotism is evident throughout the film. There is a large American flag hanging in the train station as well as the court room Roger is brought into, emphasizing a strong American presence. Also when Roger is hiding in the train station he wears a red cap as he is being searched for. This use of the color red and the negativity that follows could be seen as an anti-cold war statement. Other elements that emphasized the time period was women being referred to as "sweetie" or "dear" without any backlash. Also in the beginning of the film when Roger is being accused of driving drunk he is told to "pay the two dollars". It is shocking to think a ticket for driving while intoxicated was once two dollars. This, along with the fact that they showed him driving drunk and from his perspective is a hint at era. Drunk driving today is a much more touchy subject and I do not believe that scene would be in a movie today.

There are also some elements that add to the suspense and drama of the film. One of these elements is the deep suspenseful music. This allows you to understand the tone of the movie right away. This is also seen with the use of colors. The colors in the movie are very bold, dark, and rich. Colors such as blacks, red, maroons, golds, and neutral colors all play into the meaning of the movie. It is agreed on page 108 of An Introduction to Film, that "colors are an important way of distinguishing two realms." These realms include the meaning behind the colors, along with working into the set, clothing, and presentation of the film. All of these elements play a key role in making this movie as suspenseful and captivating as it is.