Alfred Hitchcock’s direction of  North By Northwest, given the lack of effects that were available to him in 1958 (not that he probably would have approved of the prevalence of digital effects in today’s blockbusters) produced some memorable cinematic images. The iconic crop duster scene is probably one of his best known sequences.  From the moment a high camera angle focuses on a Greyhound bus stopping and we see Cary Grant’s character, Roger O. Thornhill disembark to find himself on a quiet Highway with nothing around him but prairie and crop fields, he is uncomfortable and vulnerable. The awkwardness of talking to the person he thinks he is there to meet is replaced by confusion and then the fear that he is a sitting duck to the menacing crop dusting plane that at first seems a benign aspect of the environment he finds himself in.

With the enforced lockdown that began in late March this year, having a little more time on my hands than usual, I listened to a radio programme about Grant which renewed my interest in him and started watching a few of his films again, in particular North By Northwest. I have seen quite a few different angles of Grant running with the plane bearing down on him, but this angle that I have used really gives the feeling of speed.

The artwork incorporates a section of the script from the Prairie Stop scene (on Highway 41)  in which Thornhill arrives at on the Greyhound bus. Also included is a stamp effect with ‘North By Northwest’ and ‘Prairie Stop’ and ‘HWY 41.’, with Thornhill’s ‘ROT’ which appears on his monogrammed matchbook in the film in the centre.

This 50cm x 70cm print is available in a number of variations: A ‘textured’  or ‘flat’ sky and ground  version with the option of a CYAN, Light Cyan or Dark Blue stamp effect. Another design, which shows a larger stamp with a different effect is also available in a ‘flat’ or ‘textured’ option. All can be ordered with a 2cm white border or borderless. Each is printed on a high quality metallic art paper.