NORTH BY NORTHWEST is a fun movie, and great, suspenseful viewing for family movie night (for those who are old enough). There are several intense scenes, and in two places men are shot (nongraphically). One man is stabbed and another man is framed for it. There is a bit of innuendo ("you could always sleep in by booth with me, where it's safe" or "what should I do with you in the morning") and a couple are seen kissing passionately.
This is a family favorite for all three of our kids.
We like classic movies because the material is generally suitable for the kids and it’s not dumbed down for them or us. Because much of the content is from a past era, some things need explanation. We prefer to use questionable content as teachable moments with which to reinforce our values.
Some of the scenes are harrowing, but all told there is less violence here than in most of today’s fare. I will however describe the teachable moments we have found.
-One scene contains a man involuntary driving while drunk. Yes, it was involuntary. We use it as a chance to talk about moderation and responsibility.
-Another scene implies spending the night with a stranger. We make sure our kids know that’s not exactly desirable behavior.
Those are the main ones – enjoy!