James Mason as Philip Vandamm.

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When you think of a villain, a number of images come to mind. Maleficent cackling in Sleeping Beauty. The awful society snobs in All that Heaven Allows. Basil Rathbone in, well, lots of things. Villains come in all shapes and sizes, but perhaps my favorite kind of dastardly antagonist is the perfect gentleman. With manicured hands, dashing looks, beautiful suits, and impeccable manners, this villain exposes the corruption and wickedness that can hide behind the well-maintained facade. Sometimes the effect can be devastating, but other times it can just be plain fun.

As the expert at uncovering the evil underneath the quotidian, Alfred Hitchcock had some villains that were matchless. The qualifications were usually as follows: suave, sophisticated, witty... More often than not, being British helped too, as did executing the best arched eyebrow. From Herbert Marshall to Robert Walker, Hitchcock's antagonists were fascinating to watch. No one proves that more than James Mason as Philip Vandamm in North by Northwest.

The motif of doubles runs throughout Hitchcock's work. Think of Guy and Bruno in Strangers on a Train or Uncle Charlie and his niece Charlie in Shadow of a Doubt. Vandamm and Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) are a continuation of this -- they're both urbane British men who can banter like nobody's business.

However, while Roger is out diving from crop dusters and hiding from cops on trains, Vandamm is giving out orders and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle. Lackeys like Leonard (Martin Landau) can do the dirty work. You can tell that this has made Vandamm a little soft when he punches Leonard and clutches his hand in pain. During a scene at an auction, Vandamm doesn't even lift his own hand to make a bid -- he has Leonard raise his!

Like Cary Grant, James Mason was a romantic figure, a man that ladies could swoon over and men could admire. Unlike Grant, though, Mason explored darker characters and proved he could excel at portraying brooding loners, struggling alcoholics, and mysterious rogues. Fun fact/side tangent: Grant was offered the role of Norman Maine in A Star is Born (1954) and he read the part for George Cukor. To my utter dismay, Grant turned it down, despite Cukor's complete delight with his performance. While it's a tragedy, I think we can all agree that James Mason was sublime as Norman Maine.

Of course, he also made for a supreme Vandamm. He may let his goons take care of nuisances, but there is an edge to him that lets you know this is a guy you don't really want to cross. It can be easy to overlook -- after all, he practically purrs as he dishes out quips and threats. As played by the very handsome Mr. Mason, Vandamm is the absolute picture of charm and elegance. The man could actually wear a sweater vest with a suit and still look menacing. Is it any wonder how Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint) fell for him? Thanks to Mason, audiences easily fall for him, too.

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