Christmas Gift Ideas: North By Northwest - 50th Anniversary Edition

About the DVD By John C.

I first saw North By Northwest on TV when I was about 9-years old. It literally just blew me away. From the amazing crop-dusting scene, to the fight atop Mount Rushmore, this was just one of the best things I’d ever seen. Watching it again on DVD many years later, it’s still one of my favourite Hitchcock films. Filled with mistaken identity and brilliant suspense, this is a classic in every sense of the word.

The first disc includes a beautifully restored version of the film and audio commentary by Ernest Lehman. The second disc includes over 3 hours of bonuses, including documentaries on Alfred Hitchcock and Cary Grant.

About the DVD By Erin V.

One of the most classic films of all time, this 50th anniversary edition is a must-have for any movie buff. Alfred Hitchcock's masterful storytelling is fully present here, as is his amazing ability to create suspense. Just take the crop-dusting scene for example. It is about 10 minutes long, yet we are never bored, even while nothing is really happening - because we know it will and are waiting for it to.

While the special effects are not really anything by today's standards, they are groundbreaking for the time, and still are believable and match the context of the film today. The classic score by Bernard Herrmann is a giant orchestral piece that is more noticeable than the majority of scores today, but so classy that it works. It contains many now famous themes, like the brilliant opening credits, and the music for the fight atop Mount Rushmore.

I am glad to finally have this classic on DVD. It is one of my favourite films that I have watched several times. If you get the BluRay, you will be treated to a book-like case with a book inside along with the disc, just like either format of the Clone Wars Season 1. If you have BluRay, definitely opt for this option - the extra price is worth it. But no matter what format you get it in, this is one to buy for someone, or better yet, put on your own Christmas list this season.