Notorious

Rating:
Summary: Bergman and Hitchcock at their Peaks!
Review: "Notorious" is a first rate suspense film. It showcases a great director, Alfred Hitchcock, and a great actress, Ingrid Bergman at their peaks. The male leads, Cary Grant and Claude Rains are both excellent but are far outshone by Bergman. It was filmed in tense, post WW2 1946. The plot thickener concerns Nazis in South America. Hitchcock set the action in "beautiful" Rio de Janeiro but mysteriously and no doubt deliberately, shot in black and white. That rendered the Rio "atmosphere" moot and forced the viewer to focus on the plot. "Notorious" is difficult indeed to review without divulging the ending: Grant recruits a reluctant Bergman to be an American agent. His attitude toward Bergman shifts from love to manipulation to helpfulness to sarcasm to the cool, callous, detached agent to agent "professionalism". Whether he really loved her is left unresolved. The main bad guy is none other than Rains. This is no "Casablanca" remake. Bergman takes her assignment so seriously that she actually marries (!) Rains in a May/December arrangement. Quickly, Claude smells a fairly obvious rat - Grant does not "cover" himself well at all! That is the film's one and only weak link. Just as quickly Bergman is deep in hot water. The ending concerns Grant's icy rescue attempt right in Rains' mansion with his Nazi cohorts watching! This scene is well done and step by step realistic! Grant has one slight "advantage", which he fully and calmly exploits. There is no "James Bond" happy final scene with two happy lovers in sunny embrace. Neither is there an elegant "To Catch a Thief" fadeout. "Notorious" ends out with an abrupt, no nonsense, take no prisoners, slamming of the door. Does Bergman live happily ever after? Hitchcock doesn't tell. The actress shows her full range here, this is not the loving supportive wife of "Casablanca", earnest doctor of "Spellbound" or the harried wife of "Gaslight". This is a tougher, more manipulative Bergman who shines through. That Rains and not she received Oscar nominations is a mystery that should deter no one from appreciating this classic.

Rating:
Summary: Among the very best films of all time
Review: Easily among my Top 10 films of all time, Notorious is a stunning piece of film-making by the father of the suspense genre at the peak of his early American career.

Hitchcock had an extremely long and successful career in the movie business (directing 67 films!) and you can divide it into 4 distinct stages: his early British films (The Lodger, The 39 Steps), his early American work under David O. Selznick (Rebecca, Spellbound), the middle period with all the great Jimmy Stewart films (Rear Window, Vertigo) and the final, jarring stretch that begins with Psycho. Notorious is the best of the Selznick era and is a hallmark in Hitchcock's career and in film history.

It's the story of American secret agent T. R. Devlin (Cary Grant) and his attempt to foil Nazis who've taken up refuge in Rio De Janero after the war. His weapon is the stunning Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman), daughter of one of the former conspirators. The plan is to have her reignite an old flame with one of the goose-steppers, Alex Sebastian (Claude Rains), infiltrate the home where he lives with his overbearing mother, and sneak out information. Unfortunately for Devlin, he falls in love with the woman that he has to push into another man's arms. And into mortal danger as well.

Criterion's recently released DVD edition is a superb restoration packed with extras on the making of the film and two excellent commentary tracks. Mariane Keane points out shot-for-shot what set Hitch ahead of his time and Rudy Behlmer (who edited the tome of Selznick memos) brings a historical perspective unequaled. You can also hear the complete Lux Radio Theatre adaptation with Bergman and Joseph Cotton from 1948. Add to this the production and promotional stills, correspondence, trailers, short story excerpts, newsreel footage, and even script excerpts that include deleted scenes and an alternate ending along with many more extras and you get a definitive look at the film and all that went into it.

Notorious is simply a movie lover's dream come true and I'm glad to say that Criterion has done an outstanding job in it's presentation.

Rating:
Summary: Biggie Smalls is NOT in this movie!
Review: Somebody told me that this would be an exclsuive documentary on the Notorious B.I.G., the rapper known for hits like "Big Poppa" and "One More Chance." Instead, it's an overrated movie by Aflred Hitchcock. Thisn't the worst movie ever made, but I was DEEPLY disappointed that this isn't what I was looking for. See it if you must, but be warned: Biggie Smalls is NOWHERE to be found in this movie.

Rating:
Summary: INGRID BERGMAN GLOWS IN A HITCHCOCK GEM
Review: In "NOTORIOUS," Alfred Hitchcock directs a luminous (in some scenes, she actually glows) Ingrid Bergman and an atypically somber Cary Grant in a suspenseful romantic allegory of love and betrayal in Nazi infested post War Rio. Claude Rains is memorable and as the villain understandably in love with Ingrid Bergman.

In 1999, Anchor Bay released a DVD of this title with no significant extras. Criterion's transfer has a sharper, detailed image with rich blacks (although in some scenes there's a noticeable graininess) and a much cleaner audio clarity.

There's a fascinating commentary by film scholar and Hitchcock expert Marian Keane that's a scene-by-scene analysis of Hitch's artistic choices and sophisticated visual metaphores. It's hard to know how much of the symbolism within the frame was intentional, but Keane's commentary makes a strong case for Hitchcock being a filmmaker of great precision with a personal interest in the psychological make-up of characters yearning for love, but trapped between hope and fear. There's another commentary track by Rudy Behlmer that deals with the production itself. And Roy Webb's music is given a separate audio track.

Other extras include a brief excerpt of "The Song of the Dragon," the short story on which the film was based. There are dozens of production stills and several of producer David O. Selznick's legendary memos. Also, newsreels of the premier and stars, trailers, and script excerpts of deleted scenes and alternate endings. And there's a terrific, complete 1948 broadcast of the Lux Radio Theater's version of "Notorious" with Bergman and Joseph Cotton.

"Notorious" is sensual, tense and thrilling and one of the great films of the 40s that still resonates. Ben Hecht's tight script and Hitchcock's economical direction are a perfect match. In some ways, this is fairy tale about a beautiful princess imprisoned in a castle controlled by an evil stepmother. Will the handsome prince rescue her before all is lost?

But on a grander level, "Notorious" is a brilliant and timeless film noir that mirrors the damaged post war world with characters caught up in unimagined moral ambiguity and ambivalence as they seek a greater good. And where love hurts.

Rating:
Summary: Stunning example of Excitement, Intrigue and Romance
Review: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman and Claude Rains lead an amazing cast through a world of suspence and romance. Hitchcock manages to fuze together a "strange love affair" with an all too suspenseful and escalating situation to throw viewers into a very involving and entertaining story. Rightly considered one of the greatest films Hitchcock ever made, this movie deserves a place on your shelf not only for its involving story but also its astonishing and skillful direction by argueably the greatest director of all time. No one better could lead a person through this world better than Hitchcock. An amazing and thought provoking film that should not be overlooked.

This DVD tends to be a bit expensive with its Criterion Collection features. The extra features of this DVD which include deleted scenes and alternative ending script ideas is a welcome bonus, and the commentaries from Hitchcock scholars are also very entertaining and informative. Don't let the price scare you away from owning this incredible movie.

Rating:
Summary: A bore.
Review: 'Notorious' is supposed to be one of Alfred Hitchcock's better fims, but I remember being really bored by it. Most of the movie was just talking and nothing sticks out in my mind about it.

Rating:
Summary: Shows How Much Love Hurts
Review: I've always liked Notorious, but, until recently, it hasn't been one of my absolute favorite Hitchcock films. However, recently I've gained an appreciation for Alfred Hitchcock's more personal films. Lighter, more humorous films like The 39 Steps, The Lady Vanishes, Strangers on a Train, Rear Window, North By Northwest, Psycho (Hitch called this a black comedy), The Birds and Frenzy, to name a few, are masterpieces and rank among my favorite films of all time. But the films I have gained much more appreciation for in the past few years are those like Shadow of a Doubt, Vertigo and Notorious. Shadow of a Doubt showed that monsters can live among us, even in the most innocuous of settings and may even be someone we care about. Vertigo showed obsessive love taken to the extreme with deadly consequences. And Notorious shows just how hard it can be for someone to express love for another.

Like in many of Hitchcock's films, the central point of the story is masked by a plotline of suspense and intrigue. In this case, Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) must marry Alexander Sebastian (Claude Rains), an ex-Nazi in exile in Brazil, in order to infiltrate his organization. With the help of U.S. agent Devlin (Cary Grant), she finds out that Sebastian is stockpiling uranium (the MacGuffin). On the surface, it's a straightforward espionage tale.

However, the film, at its very core, is a tale of frustrated love. Specifically, Devlin can't bring himself to express what he feels for Alicia and must watch helplessly while she marries Sebastian. Devlin knows that he would jeopardize the entire mission if he tells Alicia he loves her and this repression begins to eat him up inside. Even at the beginning of the film when Alicia has fallen deeply in love with Devlin and tell him so, he can't bring himself to return that love, even though he feels just as she does. Cary Grant, usually charming, plays one of his darkest roles brilliantly. He shows his longing for Alicia in every expression on his face. Ingrid Bergman, likewise, shows the frustration of having to marry a man she despises while pining for the affections of the man she truly loves -- a man she thinks doesn't love her. The emotions onscreen are sometimes so raw its almost painful to watch. When Devlin finally tells Alicia how he really feels about her at the climax of the film, the scene ranks as one of the most emotional in screen history.

The movies often make it seem so easy to find true love. In Notorious, however, Alfred Hitchcock shows how painful and just how difficult it is to just say, "I love you" to someone you care about. Everyone has had situations where they were too afraid to tell someone they cared about that they loved him/her and have wondered what would have happened had they done so. It's agonizing to think that you may have missed your chance for happiness with someone who loves you as much as you love them. Alfred Hitchcock brilliantly recognizes those feelings in Notorious -- that's what makes this one of his best.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent movie... but not my favorite Hitchcock
Review: "Notorious" is a great film. Great acting with Ingrid Bergman (as Alicia Huberman), Cary Grant (as agent Devlin), and Claude Rains (as the jealous and deceiptful Sebastian). Great sets inside and out. Great camera work and lighting. The story revolves around Devlin and Sebastian - with Devlin suspecting Sebastian is up to something... and he finally discovers it when he finds old wine bottles in the cellar containing some kind of crushed iron ore. How to solve the case? Enter Alicia Huberman, to infiltrate a dangerous spy ring in Brazil. Devlin puts his romance and love for Alicia aside so he can get his man. Sebastian is cold and calculated (along with his mother) when he finds out the truth about Alicia. Enter Devlin to save the day. The only thing I did not like about "Notorious" was the ending. Devlin discovers that Alicia's been poisoned and rushes her to the hospital. Sebastian's fellow spies are suspicious of Sebastian and they call him back inside - like they want to talk to him... because they know what he's up to... and the movie ends. A lot is left up to the viewer to decide what happens. Some may call Hitchcock's ending a master stroke. I'm not sure what to call it. I found myself wanting to hear and see what was about to happen to Sebastian. While "Notorious" is a fine Hitchcock representation, I liked the suspense and drama in "North By Northwest", "Vertigo", "The Rear Window", "Psycho", and "Strangers On A Train" better. DVD extras: Interesting commentary by a Hitchcock film scholar and historian; trailers; script excerpts and deleted scenes, and rare newsreel footage of Hitchcock and Bergman. Where's Alfred - look for the director reaching for a glass of wine from the house bar about an hour into the film.

Rating:
Summary: Hitchcock and Grant at Their Best
Review: Apart from being one of Alfred Hitchcock's genuine masterpieces, "Notorious" (1946) represents Cary Grant's strongest dramatic performance. His portrayal of counterspy Devlin remains so emotionally cold and dark that it leaves no room for his traditional humor. Ben Hecht's detailed screenplay depicts Hitchcock's cruelest romance. Devlin emerges as an unsympathetic sadist who seduces and manipulates Alicia (Ingrid Bergman), an alcoholic nymphomaniac, into helping the U.S. Government obtain secrets by marrying the Nazi spy Sebastian (Claude Rains), who actually loves her more than Devlin does. With the inspired casting of Bergman and Rains, the love triangle in "Notorious" is similar to "Casablanca." However, in Hitchcock's world, there is no stirring display of patriotism or sentimentality. Furthermore, Hitchcock was the only filmmaker to strip Grant of his protective charm -- and never again would the actor venture into such uncertain, disturbing territory.

Rating:
Summary: Among Hitchcock's Best
Review: Notorious is a wonderfully complex romance set amidst a backdrop of spies and counter spies in post WW II Rio. Ingrid Bergman is Alicia Huberman, daughter of a Nazi conspirator. Because of her familial connection, she is enlisted by the Americans and paired with agent T. R. Devlin, played by Cary Grant, to infiltrate a group of Nazis living in exhile. At first Alicia and Devlin are attracted to each other romantically, but as the mission progresses, their relationship turns bitter. Bergman's character goes so far as to marry the leader of the Nazis, a move which further alienates her from Grant. The Criterion DVD is really quite wonderful. The print is clear and bright, making earlier video and DVD versions look poor in comparison. The critical commentaries by film scholar Marian Kean and film historial Rudy Behlmer are interesting and will add to the viewers understanding of the film and the mastery of director Alfred Hitchcock. Each scene is wonderfully framed and excecuted by this master filmaker. There are plenty of extras to enjoy, but the real plus here is the aforementioned terrific film transfer and the wonderful performances from the key players including a great turn by Claude Rains as Bergman's Nazi husband. If you haven't seen this film, you really won't fully understand the influence Hitchcock had on American cinema. Aspects of this film have been copied over again, but none can come close to this masterpiece. The fact that the three leads weren't even nominated for Academy Awards, is one of the mysteries of this overblown popularity contest.