North by Northwest - Characters & Cast

Initially, his motivation is simple survival and clearing his name. He is desperate to prove his true identity and return to his comfortable, ordinary life. As the film progresses and he falls for Eve Kendall, his motivation shifts to protecting her, even at the risk of his own life, driving him to confront Vandamm directly in the film's climax.

Roger Thornhill begins as a slick, self-absorbed, and somewhat superficial Madison Avenue advertising executive, twice-divorced and attached to his mother. When he is thrust into a world of espionage, he is initially hapless and out of his depth. However, as the danger escalates, he is forced to become resourceful, courageous, and cunning. His journey transforms him from a man who creates illusions for a living into a man of action who must navigate a deadly reality, ultimately becoming the heroic agent he was mistaken for.

Her primary motivation is to serve her country by gathering intelligence on Vandamm. However, this is complicated by her developing feelings for Roger Thornhill. She is torn between her duty, which requires her to deceive and endanger Roger, and her desire to protect him, which puts her own life and mission at risk.

Eve Kendall is introduced as a cool, seductive, and mysterious woman who may or may not be trustworthy. She initially appears to be Vandamm's mistress and complicit in his schemes, betraying Thornhill. Her arc is one of revelation, as she is exposed as a U.S. government agent who has infiltrated Vandamm's organization. Her cool exterior is a necessary performance to maintain her cover, but beneath it, she is vulnerable and caught in a dangerous game. She transitions from a figure of suspicion to a damsel in distress who is ultimately saved by, and united with, Thornhill.

Vandamm's motivation is to smuggle microfilm containing government secrets out of the country. He is driven by his political allegiances and the business of espionage. He is also motivated by a desire for control and is infuriated by Thornhill's persistent ability to elude him, making their conflict personal.

Phillip Vandamm is a polished, intelligent, and ruthless foreign spy who deals in government secrets. He remains a consistently menacing and sophisticated antagonist throughout the film. His character does not have a significant arc; he is the unyielding force of evil that Thornhill must overcome. His cunning is matched only by his cruelty, as seen in his casual willingness to eliminate anyone who stands in his way, including Eve once he discovers her betrayal.

Her motivation is simply that of a society mother concerned with appearances and her son's seemingly erratic behavior. She wants to get to the bottom of the 'nonsense' so they can get back to their normal lives of theater dates and social obligations.

Clara Thornhill serves primarily as a comedic foil and a representation of Roger's old, coddled life. She does not have a developmental arc. Initially, she is completely dismissive and skeptical of her son's incredible story, believing he's been drinking or is making it all up. Her humorous disbelief underscores the absurdity of Roger's situation and his isolation, as not even his own mother will believe him. Her presence reinforces Roger's need to break away from his dependent past.