Notorious (1946)

Disappointment for a huge fan!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

It's a mild crowd pleaser for people who are exhausted by blockbusters.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Copyright 15 August 1946 by RKO Radio Pictures, Inc. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 15 August 1946. U.S. release: 6 September 1946. U.K. release: 21 April 1947. Australian release: 26 June 1947. 9,120 feet. 101 minutes.SYNOPSIS: In an attempt to smash a Nazi spy ring in Rio, an American agent weds one of the most fanatical of the Nazis. NOTES: A remake of Convoy (1927) in which Dorothy Mackaill, Lowell Sherman and Ian Keith essayed the roles now played by Bergman, Rains and Grant. Joseph C. Boyle directed for First National from a screenplay by Willis Goldbeck, whilst Ernest Haller photographed. Claude Rains was nominated for a prestigious Hollywood award for Supporting Actor, losing to Harold Russell in The Best Years of Our Lives. Ben Hecht was nominated for Best Original Screenplay (sic), losing to Muriel Box and Sydney Box's The Seventh Veil. Producer David O. Selznick who owned the script plus the services of Hitchcock, Bergman and Grant sold the package to RKO for $800,000 plus a half share of the profits. RKO spent an additional $2 million. The movie went to gross over $9 million, so everyone came out ahead. In its year of release Notorious was number nine at the U.S. boxoffice. RKO's share of the profits amounted to $1,010,000. One of Bosley Crowther's Ten Best of the year for The New York Times. Best Actress, Ingrid Bergman - 1946 Photoplay Gold Medal Award. COMMENT: Everybody seems to like Notorious unqualifiedly. Everyone except me. Mind you, I like it too, once the story actually starts, - but this doesn't happen until Claude Rains comes on, and that's at least thirty minutes in. I'm bored stiff with all the long introductory scenes, which seem pretty pointless unless you're a rabid Cary Grant fan. He plays a rather unsympathetic character here to boot. It's a shame to waste Ingrid in such tedious scenes. The relationship between these two characters could have been made in a succinct five or ten minutes. Once the story starts with Rains at his most malevolently benign and Bergman at her most radiantly vulnerable, even Grant improves. And there's a marvellous performance by another hard-case Hitchcock mother, this time German actress Leopoldine Konstantin in her only English-language feature. Once Hitch can get his camera away from the Bergman-Grant romance, he manages to pull off some tinglingly suspenseful scenes. Indeed once Bergman enters this Nazi Mandalay with its reprise of the Rebecca keys (capped by an astoundingly effective crane shot in which the camera dollies from a first-floor balcony to a close-up of the stolen cellar key in Bergman's hand) he makes marvellously atmospheric use of light and shadows.A huge popular success for all concerned, particularly Bergman. Yet oddly it was her last crowd-pleasing English-language film until Anastasia ten years later.

This is the only Hitchcock film I have seen other than Psycho. I have heard many times about the 'Hitchcock style' and I am still trying to identify exactly what this is. Overall I think stylistically this film hold up well other than some obvious antiquated techniques and technology, such as the projected background. It is always very clear to a contemporary audience that these people are not actually in Brazil. Despite of this, it is still a very enchanting story. I spent a year in Brazil so I particularly enjoyed seeing and hearing a fairly accurate representation of Rio. I have also grow particularly attached to Cary Grant and Alicia Huberman and I think this was another great addition to their acting repertoire. And although the style may be very different than contemporary actors I think it holds up pretty well to any one who wants it to.

After watching the film Notorious I was very happy that I decided to watch this film it was great! The story line of this film, acting, directing, and everything was just awesome I was pleased with this film over all as a whole. Having seen another Hitchcock movie I think that his movies are just amazing and I think I will definitely look into watching more films from Mr. Alfred Hitchcock. In this film Hitchcock not only include suspense and mystery but this film also had romance and thrill. When watching this film you are taken on a roller coaster of emotions and you are really interested in what is going on in the story. Overall this was a super film and Alfred Hitchcock is a amazing director.

Compound excellent director, screenwriter and great cast resulted in a superb film. NOTORIOUS is a great, exciting and tense melodrama. Hitch has combined what is expected of him for years. Exquisite romantic story and very intelligent thriller that follows her.The elements in the film do not differ much from previous works. In other words, they are great. Thematically, the film is remarkable. Alcoholism and uranium in trace. Nazi gang in exile and emotionally damaged girlfriend as an American spy. The emotional drama of the main character is likely to overcome everything else. I would not say that emotion is based on courage, morality or cynicism. Although these elements are exaggerated, I think they are a danger, doubt and love pain incomparably stronger for romance in this film.The situations in the film are a bit old-fashioned and it definitely could have been tighter, but on the other hand I wonder how much it would damage made emotions and romance. It's all about the kiss. Love scenes are candid and disturbing. Rare are such a sensitive emotional scenes. The main actress leads the expression of the rich and real emotions.Ingrid Bergman as Alicia Huberman is the heart of this film. It's all about her character. It is the most important link and did a great job. Cary Grant as T.R. Devlin is amazingly strong. Type detective who falls in love. Expected are his feelings prevailed profession, but firmness and strength of character is maintained to the very end. Claude Rains as Alexander Sebastian is a "big shot", which has engaged in something that is not up. Rains is the right choice. His character does not give cruel leadership than jealousy, suspicion and fear.This movie is a wonderful experience, great genre blend, elegant style and excellent visual expression left a deep mark.