north by northwest + hitchcock UN snub.

I recently had the pleasure of turning on the television (a rare indulgence) and finding my favorite Hitchcock film, NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959) playing on Turner Classics. See additional fall showtimes. Turns out, the key scene at the United Nations building--both the UN lobby and delegates lounge interior-- were recreations. Hitchock was denied access to the famous building (designed in 1945 by Le Corbusier, Oscar Niemeyer, Sir Howard Robertson), the UN said it didn't want to be part of a movie that depicted the assassination of a diplomat in a UN lounge. Although, it turns out the master of suspense did not take this rejection lightly. He used a hidden camera which filmed Cary Grant's entrance up the steps into the actual building.