North by Northwest – Crop Dust plane scene

“North by Northwest” is a film based on the mistaken identity of one man and his determination to clear his name of misidentification, murder, and also saving the woman of his dreams.

Alfred Hitchcock made the film in 1559, starring Cary Grant who plays Roger Thornhill. Roger is mistakenly identified as George Kaplan, a man wanted by a Villain who is called Vandamm (James Mason). As the story plays out, Roger has his life threatened a number of times whilst being chased by the police across the country for what is believed a murder he supposedly committed.

The scene I chose to speak about was the Airplane scene. Roger Thornhill has been sent to a location in the middle of know where to meet the man he is accused of being. As the scene starts off, we are able to see that Thornhill is in the middle of nowhere and thus possible to be killed by many options without the possibility of easy escape. Thornhill who has so far managed to escape from many efforts on his life or even captured by the use of his quick whit or charm.

         The scene opens with an establishing shot of fields upon fields. Thornhill is waiting at the side of the road, and we are able to see and hear all the surrounding vehicles that pass, as the audio is made very clear. Every car that passes has its own specific sound and as the vehicle gets closer the sound increases, so when it passes the sound decreases along with the transport.  

Thornhill is waiting and looking with anticipation to see where this man will appear from. It is not until we see a man get out of a car that we ask ourselves. Is this the man Thornhill has been waiting for? A shots on the pair looking at each other draws in curiosity. The audience is supposed to think is the man. It isn’t until Thornhill decides to walk over and ask the man his name that we realize that this isn’t George Kaplan.

Throughout this scene we are shown a crop duster flying over a field that has no crops in it, but the plane is spraying them with fertilizer dust. As the man is concerned about the prospect of meeting this man via a car or bus, he gives little thought to the airplane getting closer and closer to him. It is only when the man he meets mentions with curiosity how the plane is dusting crops where this isn’t any crops that we take more notice and wonder if there is anything important about this plane. Soon see a change of direction from the plane along with a drop in height that we realize that this plane is trying to kill Thornhill via hitting him with the plane. The plane makes many attempts and he has Fertilizer dropped on him whilst hiding in the only field that has crops around.

The camera angles throughout this scene add suspense to this scene. When the plane is far away is gives a sense of calm as though the danger has left, but in an instant the plan is back attacking Thornhill bringing fear back to the audience. Thornhill’s facial expressions also help bring suspense to the close up shots.

“Since Hitchcock considered editing the defining element of the film, his use of acting as a means of expression was subtle. He preferred to use cinematic techniques such as shots and placement to instill anticipation in his viewers”. (http://voices.yahoo.com/alfred-hitchcocks-north-northwest-significance-43897.html)

         The film was a very good watch throughout and well written by Ernest Lehman. Hitchcock did a great job in drawing the audience into such a back and forth film of excitement, fear, adrenaline, rush and also a touch of romance.