Notorious (U)

This is a dazzling, sublime, perfectly controlled and executed romantic thriller, wth gorgeous leads in their prime, whose relationship sizzles with sexual tension while devious plot compliations make mutual acknowledgment possible until the very end. I disagree with previous reviewer that this is of the director's better 2nd-tier films: sorry, it's a good deal better than North by Nothwest or Vertigo, which were by comparison merely entertainments. Notorious is very near the top of my list d the very best films ever made. Rarely do the writers, directors, casting people and luminous stars get and do everything exactly right, with a terrific story, and what a pleasure it is when they do.

Adam probably thought this was the Notorious B.I.G. biopic and his favourite actor is probably Bruce Willis!This Notorious is an absolute masterpiece! Thanks Time Out for showing that great Ingrid Bergman still.

Pants

Great acting, sublime directing ,beautiful black and white photography, well chosen costumes

The best of Hitchcock’s 2nd tier of b/w films made in the 40s.It has inspired casting of Grant as Devlin,the intelligence agent and Bergman as Alicia Hubermann,daughter of a Nazi traitor.The MaGuffin is atomic material mixed in with sand in winebottles. Devlin is mysteriously interposed into the action:you see Alicia ministering to his sillouette at a party she has thrown.She is being used by the intelligence services therefore groomed to infiltrate a Nazi syndicate in Rio.Devlin uses emotional blackmail and manipulation of her love for him.Claude Raines is a sympathetic Nazi villain whose bed she is to share.He genuinely loves her,but has a sinister,controlling mother.Bergman portrays a beautiful woman who out of love becomes exposed to great danger by Grant who because he thinks she is (promiscuous and dipsomaniac) a certain sort of woman becomes callous and then rides into the rescue when he realizes her plight.She is prepared to marry Raines out of love for Grant. There is some clever camera work when the camera zooms down from above in the Nazi’s house in Rio at the post honeymoon party.We close in on the key in her hand that will unlock the mystery in the wine cellar.Hitchcock’s movement of the camera up and down stairs ratchets up the tension.Grant has to climb the stairs to find the poisoned Bergman in bed and he protects her and moves with her down the stairs in full view of Raines,his mother and the gathered Nazi’s.The last scene is a beautiful delight of romantic liberation.Raines ascent of stairs back into the house is his death walk as Bergman and Grant are driven away in the waiting car.As in Vertigo there is a centralizing scene of a kiss about the central couple.