  The multiphoton ionization rate of molecules depends on the alignment of the
molecular axis with respect to the ionizing laser polarization. By studying
molecular frame photo-electron angular distributions from N$_2$, O$_2$ and
benzene, we illustrate how the angle-dependent ionization rate affects the
photo-electron cutoff energy. We find alignment can enhance the high energy
cutoff of the photo-electron spectrum when probing along a nodal plane or when
ionization is otherwise suppressed. This is supported by calculations using a
tunneling model with a single ion state.
