For a film about international espionage that's credited for giving rise to the James Bond film franchise, North by Northwest is totally domestic. We mean that its settings are all within the continental U.S.; there's not a single scene set abroad. Hitchcock shows surprisingly little interest in the nature of the intrigue Vandamm and his men are involved with. We never find out what country they're working for or where they plan to head on that plane that they almost board with Eve.
What we do know, though, is that the film's very much about the nation whose cities, fruited plains, and purple mountain majesty Hitchcock showcases in scene after scene. In the trailer, Hitchcock promotes the film as if he's a travel agent helping people plan a cross-country vacation, but with "a tasteful little murder" thrown in for free. The film's settings are the backdrop for its Cold War plot, which is about the struggle of the U.S. and its allies against unnamed global threats.
Questions about Visions of the United States
- Why doesn't North by Northwest include any scenes set in other countries?
- What's the effect of the national grand tour that North by Northwest leads viewers on?
- How would you characterize Hitchcock's politics, taking North by Northwest as your case?
Chew on This
By showcasing cities and national landmarks, North by Northwest glorifies the United States.
North by Northwest offers a thoroughly one-sided take on the Cold War conflict between capitalist countries and their communist foes.