How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from North by Northwest.
Quote #1
THORNHILL: In the world of advertising, there is no such thing as a lie, Maggie. There is only the expedient exaggeration.
Thornhill's comment to his secretary sets up a film where expedient lying seems to be everyone's M.O. Nothing is really what it seems.
Quote #2
TOWNSEND: With such expert play-acting you make this very room a theater.
The room where Vandamm's holding Thornhill (or where "Townsend" is holding "Kaplan") takes the place of the theater where Thornhill was supposed to be attending a performance that same evening. The coincidence is too neat to be just coincidental; the line instead indicates just how obsessed North by Northwest is with appearances and acting.
Quote #3
THORNHILL: What a performance!
Thornhill can't believe his ears when he hears the woman who's pretended to be Mrs. Townsend—who he's never met before last night—claiming to be an old friend of Thornhill's instead. And as audience members we have to agree with him: there's no denying this woman's such a good liar that she's a gifted actress.