Spotlight

Spotlight Date: 7-September-03
Spoiler Rating: Medium

Notorious (1946)

Movie characters who start off despising each other almost always end up falling in love. But while you can predict early on that the contentious stars of Alfred Hitchcock's "Notorious" will come together, it takes but a few minutes of the movie's vicious opening to realize that their romance isn't going to have any moonlight, roses, or walks on the beach. As with "Rebecca," "Rear Window," and "Vertigo," the love story at the heart of "Notorious" is a very adult one, rife with complications caused by grown-up responsibilities, disappointments, and patterns of behavior shading into addiction. (Not to mention murder, deception, etc.) In the hands of most directors, this could add up to a lot of mess, but in Hitchcock's case, more pain for the characters means more pleasure for the viewers. "Notorious" is a scintillating tale of espionage and frustrated desire, highlighted by first class acting and the maestro's unparalleled flair for suspense.

The film begins in Miami in 1946, just as European party girl Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) learns that her father has been sentenced to prison for abetting German plots against the United States. Even before the verdict Alicia was a bit of a lost cause, wasting her time and her youth on drunken binges and short-lived affairs, which only look to get worse after her father's shame. This way of life comes to an abrupt halt, however, when she meets a tall, dark, and handsome stranger named Devlin (Cary Grant) who coerces her into becoming an American spy, carts her off to Rio de Janeiro, and promptly falls in love with her. Alicia, even more than Devlin, views their relationship as a means of both cementing and proving the fact that she has left behind her floozy days for good. But her happiness and nascent pride last less than a day, for the assignment given her in Rio squelches both her romance and her resolve to be a reformed woman.

Alicia is asked to reacquaint herself with an old beau and friend of her father, a wealthy man named Alex Sebastian (Claude Rains) who frequently hosts a group of known German conspirators. Once invited into his house, she is expected to learn all she can of the Germans' plans and report back to U.S. intelligence (through her undercover contact, who is, of course, Devlin). She is horrified at first by the assumption behind the request --- i.e., that since she's a slut anyway she won't object to immodestly pursuing a man --- and she is also heartbroken by Devlin's refusal to discourage her from accepting the assignment. But Alicia soon becomes resolved to the degradation and danger involved in the undertaking and easily gains a place in Alex's home. Thereafter begins a perilous charade in which she attempts to learn his secrets while he keeps a close eye on her, first out of infatuated jealousy, and then out of suspicion. Complicating matters is Alex's domineering mother (Madame Konstantin), who does not approve of Alicia or any woman intruding upon her little family and eagerly looks for a reason to destroy her.

"Notorious" grips you from the beginning and never lets go, with a tantalizing melange of twisted relationships, tortured interactions, and nail-biting intrigue. Much of this is due to the excellence of the cast, in addition to the quality of Ben Hecht's complex script. Grant and Bergman each delivers one of their finest dramatic performances, imbuing the simplest words and glances with palpable regret for the sacrifices they have made. Rains also succeeds at the difficult task of generating sympathy for Alex: you know he's a vain fool engaging in bad, bad things, but you feel sorry for him because of his horrid mother and his genuine, naive affection for Alicia. And, finally, the stellar performances are matched in brilliance and intensity by the director's distinctive style, which illuminates all the facets of character and plot. "Notorious" abounds with Hitchcock's trademark shadows and angles, effectively used to set the viewer on edge, and builds up tremendous tension through his focus on small but critical details like a set of keys, a cup of coffee, and bottles of champagne in a tub of ice. (All this, plus the breathtaking shot that begins on top of a balcony and dives down into a party crowd, ending at a close-up of Alicia's clenched fist.)

Put simply, "Notorious" is the product of a handful of artists at the top of their game. Great story, great acting, great direction: from among many fine choices, it stands out as one of Hitchcock's best.

Copyright © 2003 The Jujube (M. I. Kim). All rights reserved.