The big lebowski vs North by northwest

[Robert86]

Hey folkies

I was watching North by Northwest from Hitchcock in class this morning, it was a great and funny movie. But as I was watching it, it dawned on me that the Big Lebowski seems to have a similar storyline and borrows a couple of the elements, such as the whole mistaken identity thing and such. Not to say that this is bad, using little bits and pieces of other movies and making them your own is cool. I just wanted to know if anyone else has noticed this as well, its quite interesting.

 

[John C Lyons]

ahahahahahaha! this could be the oddest movie comparison ever!

no i never noticed that, but thats pretty hilarious...

 

[David G. Smith]

From my understanding, The Big Lebowski is to be considered The Cohen's version of a Raymond Chandler novel. I am sure that Ernest Lehman, the writer of North by Northwest was familer with Chandler's work and drew from some of some of the same sources.

Good call on the association.

 

[vegasdigitalfilms]

Wouldn't suprise me. The Cohens are experts at retelling old tales.

"Oh Brother Where Art Thou" is an adaptation of "The Odyssey" by Homer.

Jeff

 

[spidey]

As my cohen friend told me the dude is the only perosn who identity is true to himself everyone else isnt who they seem to be.

 

[Dario Nieva]

Never noticed that! Good find.

 

[wbfish]

Robert Altman said that there are only three or four stories. Be original in the telling of the story, your take on it is what counts. I have always believed it's not the story, it's how you tell the story.

 

[uhrgl]

Good call. There are some common elements that run through good noir and thrillers.

 

[Super Trooper]

I think The Big Lebowski is a riff on The Maltese Falcon. Maybe not...

 

[HorseFilms]

Isn't Strange Brew a very loose adaptation of Hamlet?

 

[Jon Oskar]

What ever it is, it surly is one of the funniest movies ever made

"Your not wrong Donny! yore just a ****ing asshole"

cant beat that

:laugh:

 

[Robert86]

"The dude abides"

 

[Asa]

I heard the Big Lebowski holds a record for the amount of times the word f#ck is used...it's above 300, can't remember the exact number.

"We believe in nussing, Lebowski. And when we come back, we will cut off your chonson!"

One of those crazy German nihilists is Flea from the Chili Peppers...

 

[Josh_Boelter]

The mistaken identity plotline has been around for centuries. It wouldn't surprise me if the Coens borrowed the idea from North by Northwest, but the mistaken identity plotline is certianly nothing new. Actually, most story ideas have been around for centuries.