North by Northwest (1959) and Robert Osborne and Eva Marie Saint in Chicago

Wed. March 31 2010 - Yesterday night, Chicago's last "golden-age" movie palace, The Music Box, screened North By Northwest - a free event sponsored by Turner Classic Movies.

My co-worker and I went right after work and got a spot close to the front of the line!

As suspected, the line eventually went "around the block" - literally.

BELOW: Outside the Music Box.






BELOW: I snapped this one just for fun...while we were waiting in line, I saw Eva and her husband get out of her limo and walk into the bar/grill across the street to have dinner with Robert Osbourne.



Every seat was filled. Robert Osborne was introduced and said a few words about the TCM on-the-road fest as well as next month's 4-day event in Hollywood(but he didn't mention the pricey festival passes) Then Eva came out and the two of them chatted for awhile. Osborne asked her what she remembers about Hitch and she said he was very strict and was meticulous with storyboarding; every scene in the movie was drawn out. She also said that she was impressed that he imported his bacon from Denmark.

BELOW: Robert Osborne



They opened the floor up to questions and someone said that she looks just as beautiful as she did in the movie. Someone then asked her if Cary Grant was a good kisser and she said yes, and she also said that Marlon Brando was the greatest actor she ever worked with. Then some girl addressed her as "Mrs. Saint"...and she affectionately corrected her by saying "Ms. Saint; you can call me Mrs. Hayden" referring to marriage to her husband, director Jeffrey Hayden (who was in the audience) and she mentioned that they have been married for 58 years, which drew alot of "Wow!'s" from the audience. One guy said to Eva that he saw her on stage (or TV, I can't remember) way back in 1952 when she was first starting out...it was a performance in which she sang, but I can't remember what they said.



Eva talked about the experience of filming in Chicago for the movie. She said they were only here for a few days, maybe 3 or 4. One day she and Cary went for a walk along the lake and she remembers seeing a woman walking with her husband - she noticed Cary and she poked her husband and said, "That's Cary Grant!".

Then Robert Osborne said "we have time for one more question" and some young woman (I think she was a member of the press -- alot of press and media people had reserved, front row seats) said "My question is for you Mr. Osborne" and went on to joke about how she's been "stalking" TCM and has been trying to find out how to get a job there. Osborne politely explained to her that he wasn't the person to talk to about getting a job at TCM but encouraged her to keep sending her resume to the right people.

Then the movie started. Every time I watch this movie I pick up something that I didn't notice before.

The two hosts, however, did not stay to watch the movie. So there was no autograph session afterward.

I imagine that Ms Saint, her husband, and Mr. Obsorne had a nice time together and maybe took a night cruise along the lake or something.

Overall it was a fun night.