Parents' Guide to

North by Northwest

By David Gurney, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Witty Hitchcock thriller piles on suspense and innuendo.

Movie NR 1959 131 minutes
North by Northwest Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

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age 13+

Based on 6 parent reviews

D-Dawg
D-Dawg Adult
June 11, 2019
age 15+

A true classic, unlike Citizen Kane

Unlike Citizen Kane, North by Northwest is a true cinematic masterpiece that has clever dialouge. It truely blends Comedy and Drama while still being a movie that should be taken seriously. I think older children would be better though, solely because of some brief images of violence, and older audiences are more likely to follow and understand it

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Unknown Agent
Unknown Agent Adult
November 20, 2015
age 11+

Great

Great Movie 11+
See all 6 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In NORTH BY NORTHWEST, Cary Grant stars as Roger Thornhill, an advertising executive who is mistaken for a spy named George Kaplan. When his life is turned upside down, Thornhill decides the only way to get his life back is to track down the real Kaplan himself.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (24):

Sure to entertain viewers with even the most diverse of tastes, the film is a true cinematic pleasure with an impressive pedigree. North by Northwest is consistently light and comic. Some sort of silly comment or joke relieves even the tensest scene. Cary Grant is superb as Thornhill. The character demands large tonal shifts, from mama's boy to suave sophisticate, from terrified man on the run to indignant pawn of the government, and Grant pulls it all off convincingly. Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) is a perfect foil for Thornhill's man under pressure. She's cool and mysterious, leaving Thornhill unsure of whether to trust her for much of their time together.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the lasting appeal of Hitchcock movies like North by Northwest. What makes this film a classic? What are some techniques that he uses that you've seen used in other movies?

  • Talk about who Roger Thornhill is at the beginning and the end of this movie. Has the experience made him a better person? What is the underlying message of the movie?

  • How do the characters in North by Northwest demonstrate integrity, perseverance, and courage? Why are these important character strengths?

Movie Details

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