North by Northwest (1959): 17 Shocking Facts You Totally Missed

North by Northwest: a mountain made of plaster, a hidden camera at the United Nations and a house that never existed. Alfred Hitchcock got exactly one day at the real Mount Rushmore. The faces were off limits, so the famous chase was rebuilt in Culver City. Watch the cafeteria scene and you will spot a boy covering his ears before the gun goes off. The United Nations refused permission, so Hitchcock hid a camera in a van across the street. Cary Grant called it a terrible script, and the actress playing his mother was only about seven years older than he was. James Stewart wanted the role badly. Martin Landau made a bold choice with Leonard, and the O in Roger O. Thornhill may be a private jab at David O. Selznick. And the bonus: one napkin drawing of the presidents made Washington so furious that the Park Service credit was pulled from later prints. 0:00 Intro 0:29 Mount Rushmore 1:43 The Crop Duster 3:09 A Terrible Script 4:15 His Screen Mother 5:31 The United Nations 6:44 One Word Changed 8:53 James Stewart 10:03 The Vandamm House 12:30 Martin Landau 13:42 The Empty O 16:17 Saul Bass Titles 17:29 The Gray Suit 19:42 The Final Shot 20:51 Bonus 👇 Which fact surprised you most? Tell us in the comments!