In the heart of New York City, a waiter at the Oak Room restaurant pages George Kaplan at the request of two well-dressed thugs. This seemingly ordinary moment spirals into chaos when advertising executive Roger Thornhill mistakenly becomes the target of a dangerous plot. Kidnapped by the thugs, Thornhill is taken to the estate of Lester Townsend in Glen Cove, where he encounters Phillip Vandamm, a foreign spy posing as Townsend.
During a tense interrogation, Vandamm arranges for Thornhill’s death to look like a drunk driving accident. However, Thornhill survives the attempt on his life, only to find that no one believes his story, including the police and his own mother. Determined to uncover the truth, he returns to the estate, where he discovers that Townsend is actually a United Nations diplomat.
Thornhill’s quest for answers leads him to Kaplan’s empty room at the Plaza Hotel, where he realizes the thugs are still on his trail. In a desperate attempt to confront Townsend at the U.N. General Assembly Building, Thornhill witnesses a shocking murder. As he tries to help Townsend, he is photographed holding a knife, making him appear to be the murderer. With the authorities closing in, Thornhill must flee and find the real Kaplan.
Meanwhile, the United States Intelligence Agency becomes aware of the mix-up, realizing that Thornhill has been mistaken for the fictitious Kaplan. Their chief, known as “the Professor,” decides against a rescue operation, fearing it would compromise their mission. Kaplan is merely a decoy created to distract Vandamm.
Thornhill’s journey takes him aboard the 20th Century Limited train to Chicago, where he meets Eve Kendall, who hides him from the police. Unbeknownst to Thornhill, Kendall is secretly working with Vandamm. She informs him of a supposed meeting with Kaplan at a rural bus stop in Indiana. However, their plans take a dangerous turn when Thornhill is attacked by a crop duster armed with a machine gun. In a thrilling escape, he manages to steal a pickup truck amidst the chaos.
Arriving at Kaplan’s hotel in Chicago, Thornhill discovers that Kaplan has already checked out. His search for answers leads him to an art auction, where he spots Vandamm purchasing a valuable Mexican Purépecha statue. As Thornhill disrupts the auction to escape Vandamm’s henchmen, he finds himself in a precarious situation. The Professor intervenes, revealing that Kaplan is a fabrication and that Eve Kendall is the real agent.
With Vandamm planning to leave the country from Mount Rushmore, Thornhill agrees to help maintain Kendall’s cover. At the Mount Rushmore visitor center, Thornhill, now posing as Kaplan, negotiates for Kendall’s safety. However, the situation escalates when Kendall shoots Thornhill with blanks and flees. The Professor arranges for them to meet, but Thornhill learns that Kendall must board a plane with Vandamm and his right-hand man, Leonard.
Desperate to save Kendall, Thornhill attempts to dissuade her from leaving, but he is knocked unconscious and locked in a hospital room. In a daring escape, he heads to Vandamm’s house, where he overhears a chilling conversation about the sculpture containing microfilm. With time running out, Thornhill manages to warn Kendall with a hidden note.
As Vandamm, Leonard, and Kendall make their way to the plane, Thornhill faces a tense standoff with the housekeeper, who holds a gun loaded with blanks. In a heart-pounding chase, Kendall grabs the sculpture and runs to Thornhill, leading them to the top of Mount Rushmore. As they navigate the treacherous terrain, they are pursued by Vandamm’s men. A park ranger intervenes, fatally shooting Leonard, while Vandamm is ultimately taken into custody by the Professor.
In a gripping finale, as Kendall hangs precariously, Thornhill reaches down to save her. The scene transitions to a more serene moment, with Thornhill pulling Kendall—now Mrs. Thornhill—into an upper berth on a train, which enters a dark tunnel, symbolizing the end of their harrowing adventure.
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