The Modesto Film Society inaugurates this year’s Modesto Architecture and Design (MAD) week celebration with a screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic North By Northwest, showing on Sunday, Sept. 16 at 2 p.m., at Modesto’s historic State Theatre.

Director Hitchcock demonstrates his mastery of design in this thriller in which architecture plays a key role. Cary Grant plays Roger Thornhill, an advertising executive kidnapped by a gang of spies led by Philip Vandamm (James Mason). Grant is drawn into a cross country espionage plot in which he is targeted by both the spies and the government. The glamorous Eve Kendall (Eva Marie Saint), who seems to know more than she lets on, aids Grant in his quest for truth.

General admission tickets are $8, and may be purchased on line or at The State Theatre box office, weekdays, noon to 4 p.m. More information about the film or MAD week activities may be obtained by contacting www.thestate.org, www.modestodesign.org., or calling The State Theatre at 527-4697.

The theatre is at 1307 J St., Modesto.