MovieChat Forums > North by Northwest (1959) Discussion > The Poster on This Page

The Poster on This Page

posted 7 years ago by ecarle (14979)
4 replies | jump to latest

I think just about the least exciting poster for any movie is one for North by Northwest in which all we see is...Eva Marie Saint shooting Cary Grant, while he clutches his chest in pain and starts to fall.

Wha? And it seems to give away a big spoiler...but not really.

Anyway, THE great poster for NXNW is on the main page here at moviechat. It has all the elements:

Mount Rushmore
A crop duster chasing Cary Grant
UN Victim Lester Townsend falling into Grant's arms with a knife in the back(the film's big murder)
Grant and Saint kissing in pajamas on the train(getting down to it, unlike as in the earlier clothed scenes.)

And Hitchcock - the true star of the show -- toting around a giant hand with pointing finger. And what IS that, by the way? (George Washington's Rushmore finger?)

Anyway, all the excitements of NXNW in one big lollapalooza of an ad....
....though I think there is one slightly better one that incorporates Saint hanging off the cliff with Grant holding onto her INTO all of the above...

[–] greenbudgie (2355) 5 years ago

There is a lot going on in that poster. What is Hitchcock doing with that hand with the pointed finger? Is the finger directing us to a north by northwest direction? Could be. If the direct top of the poster is seen as north.

There is some gnarled looking three fingers in the rock at Rushmore. To the left of the figures. Not seen on the poster. Those gnarled fingers were carved out sometime in ages past.

[–] ecarle (14979) 5 years ago

There is a lot going on in that poster.

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Damn straight! It summons up what a classic spectacle this movie was...and would become.

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What is Hitchcock doing with that hand with the pointed finger? Is the finger directing us to a north by northwest direction? Could be. If the direct top of the poster is seen as north.

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I never thought of that before but yeah, that would seem to be the direction in which the finger is pointing and hence the "reason" for Hitchcock to be holding that big hand. Otherwise, that big hand is quite the "non sequitur" in the ad, yes?

I think you made a great call here!

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There is some gnarled looking three fingers in the rock at Rushmore. To the left of the figures. Not seen on the poster. Those gnarled fingers were carved out sometime in ages past.

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Isn't the story that originally, more than just the Presidential heads were meant to be carved on Rushmore. Like a big lapel on Washington's coat -- perhaps with "gnarled fingers" gripping the lapel?

[–] greenbudgie (2355) 5 years ago

I've just looked up some of the observations about Rushmore. Some claim to see Lincoln fingers holding onto the lapels worn by Washington. And there is supposed to be a short curved stairway in Lincoln's beard. I think I will try to investigate any Rushmore myths.

[–] ecarle (14979) 5 years ago

They would be fun to find out!