Notorious [M]

Towards the end of the war, suave secret agent Devlin recruits loose-living Alicia Huberman, the estranged daughter of a convicted Nazi traitor, to infiltrate a group of Nazi exiles and find German scientists hiding in Brazil. Soon after arriving in Rio, Alicia falls in love with Devlin, the man who has saved her from a life of drinking, tramping, and uselessness, and is agonised when she feels that Devlin is just pimping her for the assignment. Driven to take her mission to extremes, Alicia marries Alexander Sebastian, the former conspirator of her father, but she must still report her findings to Devlin and, under the watchful eye of her new husband, their romance will not go unnoticed for long. 

I did not love it as much as Spellbound, which still comes in as my absolute favourite Hitchcock film, but Notorious was not without its irresistible charms. Earning its place in The Book, this film is the perfect blend of romance, drama, and suspense. I did love it. 

Towards the end of the war, suave secret agent Devlin recruits loose-living Alicia Huberman, the estranged daughter of a convicted Nazi traitor, to infiltrate a group of Nazi exiles and find German scientists hiding in Brazil. Soon after arriving in Rio, Alicia falls in love with Devlin, the man who has saved her from a life of drinking, tramping, and uselessness, and is agonised when she feels that Devlin is merely pimping her up for the assignment. Driven to take her mission to extremes, Alicia marries Alexander Sebastian, the former conspirator of her father, but she must still report her findings to Devlin and, under the jealous and watchful eye of her new husband, their romance will not go unnoticed for long. 

Set against the dramatic backdrop of World Ward II, Notorious elicits some very memorable, powerful, and iconic Hitchcock traits e.g. a long sweeping close up that begins on the second story of a manor and closes on a key hidden in Alicia’s hand. Come to think of it, I cannot recall another film where the camera is used in this way; it’s a simple trick, but at the same time it really stands out and is quite iconic in its own right. Awesome! 

I think what was particularly special about Notorious was the dramatic triangle of the three leads. Some action or other causes you to constantly be changing your respect and feelings towards them; on more than one occasion, you’re questioning Devlin, and even Alexander, the token villain and “other man”, shows some heroism towards the end. 

Ingrid Bergman, who earlier starred alongside Gregory Peck in Spellbound, delivers a dazzling performance as Alicia; she’s alluring, she’s passionate, and she just has such presence. You’re completely captivated from the first moment. I adore Ingrid Bergman! 

Starring Cary Grant, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, and Leopoldine Konstantin, Notorious is a wonderful film filled with romance, passion, drama, biting dialogue, and suspense. It really is a fabulous film that holds something for everyone.