North by Northwest is, of course, the story of Roger Thornhill (the magnificent Cary Grant), a New York advertising executive whose life is turned topsy-turvy when he’s mistaken for a spy. This sets him off on a cross-country adventure during which he’s nearly killed by a crop duster, is seduced by the mysterious Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), and is forced to do battle atop Mount Rushmore. James Mason plays the villain of the piece, Vandamm, who is thinks Thornhill is out to get him.

As a Hitchcock fan, I’d wanted to see this movie for a long time, but never did because I was waiting for it to get a first-rate DVD treatment. The 50th Anniversary Edition does not disappoint. From the moment Saul Bass’s stylish opening credit sequence starts to play, it’s impossible not to be awed by how good the film looks here. The sharp picture and sound quality are pivotal during scenes such as the famous crop duster attack; we really get a sense of the desolate openness of that field, which adds to our perception of the danger Thornhill is in.

Everything about North by Northwest is riveting. Cary Grant turns in one of his finest performances, by turns arrogant, dashing, humorous, and ingenious. He’s called upon to play a lot of different emotions here, and he does so brilliantly. One of my favorite scenes is the one in which Thornhill escapes the clutches of Vandamm’s henchmen at an auction by hilariously causing a scene. A moment like that could go way over the top with the wrong performer, but Grant sold it. Saint, Mason, and Martin Landau (as the villain’s right hand man) are all equally good.

This movie has a lot of trademark set pieces, and even though I was familiar with them before viewing, they nevertheless work even more magnificently in context. Hitchcock worked without fancy CGI, yet he completely sells us on that Mount Rushmore ending. Ernest Lehman wrote the screenplay, filling it with intelligence and ingenuity that makes the suspense scenes pay off to their fullest potential, without ever giving you time to realize how absurd some of it is. (Luring Thornhill into a field to kill him with a plane?)

For me, North by Northwest easily ranks right up there with Psycho and Rear Window in Hitchcock’s oeuvre. It is a film that every serious cinephile should see, and this special edition DVD is a great way to do it, as the bonus materials exceptionally compliment the main feature.

First up among the special features is an 85-minute documentary “Cary Grant: A Class Apart.” Originally produced for Turner Classic Movies in 2003, it salutes one of the silver screen’s greatest and most versatile stars. “Destination Hitchcock: The Making of North By Northwest” is hosted by Eva Marie Saint, and it gives us all kinds of juicy behind-the-scenes information about the making of a classic. “The Master’s Touch: Hitchcock’s Signature Style” looks at how the director applied his storytelling and filmmaking skills to such effective use in film after film.

“North By Northwest: One For the Ages” is perhaps my favorite of the extras. Other directors, such as Curtis Hanson, William Friedkin, and Guillermo del Toro offer up their own reflections on the movie and on Hitchcock himself. It’s enlightening to hear how modern filmmakers were influenced by the master. I also love the vintage TV spot and theatrical trailer. Hitch even takes part in a “guided tour” of the story. He portrays himself as a travel agent as he provides an overview of the many locations featured in his production.

In addition to all this, you will find audio commentary by Lehman, as well as a music-only track that highlights Bernard Herrmann’s perfect score. North by Northwest 50th Anniversary Edition is available on DVD and Blu-Ray, and it’s a must-own.