Notorious (1946)

Directed by: Alfred Hitchcock
Format: DVD
DVD features: trailers, radio adaptation, movie stills, production anecdotes, news reel, deleted scenes and alternate ending script excerpts (on Criterion DVD)
Starring: Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Cary Grant, Leopoldine Konstantin

Generally, I find myself watching recent movies, but from time to time, I like to revisit the classics; bone up, as it were, on my film education. I feel that, to understand cinema, it’s important to appreciate some of the early masters of the art. Many of the films made today pull from more classic film, as well as directly reference or even remake it. If watching movies in black and white or reading subtitles isn’t your bag, you’re seriously missing out on some of the greatest celluloid scenes. In summary, it’s important to be open to a wide variety of on-screen entertainment.

One of the most recognized names in classic Hollywood is Alfred Hitchcock. It’s almost impossible to go wrong with anything that has his name listed after “directed by”. Although Notorious isn’t one of his horror masterpieces, like Psycho, it certainly fits into the “suspense” category. Ingrid Bergman stars as Alicia Huberman, the daughter of a Nazi sympathizer who's just been sentenced to prison for treason. At a party after the trial, she meets T.R. Devlin (Cary Grant) and the two embark on a drunken drive. When Alicia is pulled over, the policeman waives her ticket when he sees Devlin‘s credentials. Seeing as how Alicia despises cops, this doesn’t go over well with her at all. Devlin reveals that he is an agent, working for the federal government and his superiors would like to send her on assignment to Brazil. After some argument, she reluctantly agrees to the plan. But, it becomes a problem when the German conspirator she’s sent to seduce decides to marry her. She’s already fallen madly in love with Devlin. Notorious is a web of love affairs, shady dealings and sinister plots. Will Alicia make it out of her marriage alive? Will Devlin finally profess his love for her? Will the Germans get what’s coming to them? And what’s that strange dirt in the wine cellar?

It’s true that Hitchcock certainly knows how to tell a story. There are genuine moments of thrilling danger, although not of the gun fight variety, that keep you on the edge of your seat. But, the primary focus in Notorious seems to be the love affair between Alicia and Devlin. It’s not the syrupy type of love found in your average “chick flick”, but a sort of desperate desire that threatens to unravel the rest of the plot. The apparent detachment of the US government officials and willingness to throw Ms. Huberman to the wolves only exacerbates the affair.

Although the film is set in post WWII times, the only bit of history one needs to know is that the Nazis were the enemy and that, after the war, America was cleaning house. In fact, it’s partly the era in which the film takes place that lends it a great deal of charm. Rich contrasts, fabulous wardrobes, sprawling mansions, cocktail parties and smoking in the boardroom are all elegant throwbacks not to be under appreciated. There are also a few elements of the past that are less than savory in this picture. For instance, the fur fashion and substandard treatment of women are things we might like to forget.

After Casablanca, I can’t seem to see Ingrid Bergman in any other role. She’s a superb actress and beautiful, of course, but I always expect to see her in the arms of Humphrey Bogart. In Notorious, she’s a reckless alcoholic who has had a string of lovers. This is why the feds feel no sympathy for her situation. This is also the type of woman I like to see in movies. She’s a very strong woman, despite her faults, and isn’t afraid to walk into a nest of enemies. She also defies the simpering damsel in distress stereotype so often found in cinema. Cary Grant is very much the typical leading man. He’s suave and he can drink a litre of whisky without missing a step. Although expertly played, Devlin is very much a dry meal. It’s the villains in these movies who seem to have the most character. Claude Rains plays the target of the missions efforts and he’s much more interesting to watch. His mother is the most evil of all the Germans in the film. She’s a suspicious and sinister factor in the plot and the truest danger to Alicia. Maybe Hitchcock had issues with mommy?

Notorious is honest to goodness quality cinema. No over-endowed women, no burly action stars, no CGI and plot and dialogue are superb. So, after you’ve seen Psycho, Vertigo and Rear Window, pick up Notorious and pop some popcorn.

Alternate Recommendation: Wait Until Dark
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