North by Northwest hits TV screens today at 1:45pm on BBC Two. The iconic spy movie directed by Alfred Hitchcock has gone down in history as the “original” James Bond movie – but it was wrapped up in some controversy.
It all started when Hitchcock began looking at Cary Grant as the lead actor for the movie.
Unfortunately for Hitchcock and Grant, there was a big problem.
Hitchcock had previously promised James Stewart the role of the protagonist, Roger Thornhill.
Some reports claim the director “accidentally” promised the role to Stewart.
But either way, Hitchcock had to get rid of Stewart any way he could to bring Grant onto the picture.
So he got a bit devious.
Hitchcock knew Stewart’s schedule, so he looked at what filming was coming up for him.
He noted that Stewart was about to start filming his 1959 movie Anatomy of a Murder.
Because of this, he knew he could create a clash.
He purposefully delayed the shooting of North by Northwest so that Stewart’s filming would begin to run into his new movie.
READ MORE: Cary Grant behind Alfred Hitchcock’s audacious ‘double bluff’
Hitchcock’s delay of North By Northwest meant that the production of the film was extended dramatically.
Grant’s contract included a specific clause that promised he would be paid extra fees if filming overran.
Because of this, Grant was awarded an extra $5,000 a day.
These further lump sums spent on the star of the movie meant North By Northwest was sent massively over budget.
Ultimately, however, Hitchcock wasn’t bothered.
North By Northwest has become one of the most iconic thriller films of all time and was a great success.
The movie made almost $10 million at the box office on a $4 million budget.
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