Hitchcock and Grant: Notorious

Having recently watched/rewatched the three classic Hitchcock and Grant films Notorious, To Catch A Thief, and North By Northwest, I thought I might post a little on them.

The first of these three is Notorious. It's a 1946 picture that includes Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains along with Grant. I would say that, despite being a good film, it is the least of the three endeavors. It is shot in black and white, and in 4:3.

• Plot Summary

Alicia Huberman (Bergman) is the daughter of an unrepentant post-war Nazi who has just been jailed. She plans to spend her time having fun with people who like her, and being a drunk. That is, until T. R. Devlin (Grant) convinces her to become an American agent and infiltrate a group of Nazi's living and working in Brazil. Alicia is wanted because her father's reputation will allow her to quickly gain their trust. Naturally, she and Devlin fall for each other. However, when she has to take the Nazi leader, Alexander Sebastian (Rains), as her beau it causes a falling out.

Alicia performs her work well for a time and provides useful information, but when Sebastian discovers the real reason she is with him, he begins to poison her. Not having seen her for a while, Devlin decides to check on Alicia at Sebastian's house. In the end he must get her out while Sebastian, Sebastian's mother, and all the Nazis are watching.

• First, for why it is a good film.

The biggest reason, by far, is Ingrid Bergman, who gives one of the best performances I have ever seen from an actress. Despite the film being suspense/thriller, there are several scenes in which she pulls off outstandingly subtle and layered performances. I particularly liked her response to the news that her father was dead. Also, she does absolutely the best job I have ever seen of playing a woman in new love.

Along with Bergman's brilliance, the rest of the cast turn in solid performances. As does Hitchcock behind the camera. There are a couple of interesting cinematographic effects. And Hitch's shots are always well composed, if sometimes a bit too obvious (more so in Notorious than in later films).

• And now, for why it is not as good as To Catch A Thief or North By Northwest.

One of the basic reasons is Cary Grant's role. Grant himself is always solid, but this role does not let him shine the way the other two films do. He was at his best when delivering rapid fire dialog full of witty one liners and sharp banter barely this side of the censors, and in he gets to do very little of that. He's not particularly suave, or charming, or funny... he's just the male romantic lead. And Cary Grant is one of the rare actors who should never be just anything!

But the blame for this cannot fall to Grant. It is primarily on the shoulders of the screenwriter and Hitchcock. This is a movie that starts out as though it will be character centered, then shifts gears into full on plot mode. A mountaintop scene that lasts just long enough for a fight to turn to a kiss is the best example here.

There is also the issue that I found Notorious to be rather less suspenseful than most Hitchcock pictures. Were the final scene only the first half of a buildup I think I would have been much more satisfied. And even more so if there had been some sort of denouement (a technique Hitchcock consistently employs later on). If Alicia's spy work is the McGuffin, then why end at its conclusion instead of at least briefly showing her and Devlin to us once more?

• Verdict
  

In the end, the film is certainly worth a watch. And while it is up there for Bergman, I would call it "good enough" for Hitchcock and Grant.


Rating: 7/10
MPAA Rating: NR
Objectionable Material: almost none
Recommended for: anyone who likes classic film, Hitchcock, or Ingrid Bergman.

The most protective of parents might be concerned with Alicia's marrying Sebastian for the purpose of gaining information. However the sexual implications are never discussed explicitly, and children old enough to make the connection are likely to be mature enough to watch.