North by Northwest (1959), dir. Alfred Hitchcock
Bristol Megascreen at Bristol Aquarium, Anchor Road,Bristol UK, BS1 5TT
Friday 29 November, 19:45 (GMT)
Rating: PG
Running Time: 2hrs 13mins, plus intro
Join us for an unforgettable cinematic experience to watch the Hitchcock classic, North by Northwest, on one of the biggest screens in the region. With an introduction from Jon Auty, host of the Behind the Stunts podcast, who will explore Cary Grant’s physical prowess, action films, and the stuntwork behind them.
Jon Auty will also share insights into the world of stunt work, highlighting figures like Ray Austin, Grant’s double in the film, considered by many as a founding father of stunt work in the UK. Austin was instrumental in giving many stunt legends their start, including Rocky Taylor, who got his big break doubling for Patrick MacNee on The Avengers. This fascinating backstory will provide a deeper appreciation of the physical demands and artistry behind Cary Grant’s performances.
Debonair advertising executive Roger O. Thornhill (Cary Grant) is mistaken for a secret agent by a gang of mysterious spies, headed up by Phillip Vandaam (James Mason) and his henchman (Martin Landau). Framed for the murder of a UN delegate, he flees on a sleeper train where he meets the seductive Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) and hides in her bunk in what turns out to be the beginning of a 2000-mile chase.
Full of iconic images (the crop-duster, the Mount Rushmore monument), in sweeping VistaVision, with an Oscar-nominated script by Ernest Lehman (West Side Story) and a compelling score by Bernard Herrmann (Psycho), this is the “Hitchcock film to end all Hitchcock films.” Grant’s sophisticated performance, a precursor for the 007 franchise, sees him at his suave best. Not to be missed on the big screen!
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Jon Auty is a renowned authority on the stunt community. As the editor and publisher of STUNTS Magazine, he provided insights into the world of stunt professionals in the UK and the US, earning Honorary Membership in the Hollywood Stuntman’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Auty has advised on numerous newspaper articles, books, and live shows, and has been involved in TV projects like The Paradise Club, A Touch of Frost, and Taggart, as well as films such as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, A Knight’s Tale, and Die Another Day. In 2019, he authored Jump, Rocky Jump, the story of stuntman Rocky Taylor, and continues to advocate for stunt professionals through his podcast and YouTube channel, Behind The Stunts |
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Behind the Stunts is a YouTube channel and Podcast dedicated to the joy and excitement of action stunts on film and TV , including stunt reels from performers all over the world and the very best in documentary |
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Screening as part of Art of Action, a UK-wide film season supported by National Lottery and BFI Film Audience Network. |
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Supported by Screen Research at UWE Bristol. |
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|---|---|---|
| OPENING NIGHT RECEPTION WITH LIVE MUSIC FROM THE RICHIE PARADISE TRIO |
PANEL: CARY IN MOTION CELEBRATING CARY GRANT’S PHYSICAL PROWESS |
PANEL: ANIMAL MAGIC! PANEL DISCUSSION WITH MATTHEW SWEET, MICHAEL LAWRENCE AND THEO JONES |
Celebrating Bristol’s recent designation as a UNESCO City of Film, in recognition of the city’s vibrant screen heritage, of which Cary Grant is one of our brightest stars.