11: North By Northwest (1959)

NORTH BY NORTHWEST is without question the biggest spectacle of Hitchcock’s career, quite explicitly by design. Conceived as a chase film from the UN to Mount Rushmore, the 1959 classic was structured through grandiose set pieces, much like the action movies being made now. In fact, watching the film today, one can’t help but see (for both good and bad) how directly related North By Northwest is to the James Bond franchise that would start a few years later. The comparison is apparent when the film is viewed nest to FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE, the best and most timeless Connery film in my opinion. Both are beautiful travelogues that spend as much time on romance and charm as spy intrigue, creating movie adventures that are truly for everyone.