Notorious Reviews

This brilliant Hitchcock offering combines romance, suspense, and international intrigue with unforgettable performances from Grant and Bergman. The thriller trappings are merely trim: what's really at hand is a twisted love affair between Grant and Bergman that hints at sadomasochism. He's untrusting, passive, and unsympathetic; she's shady, agressive, and alcoholic. It's a dangerous chocolate box of poisoned candy, Hitchcock's ode to the dementia of passion. Dig in. Alicia Huberman (Bergman), the daughter of a convicted Nazi spy, has an international jet set reputation as a playgirl, causing American agent Devlin (Grant) to fall in love with her. Devlin, in an effort to uncover a Nazi plot, enlists Alicia's aid in Rio de Janeiro. They contact Nazi agent Alexander Sebastian (Rains), whom Alicia must eventually marry. Meanwhile, Devlin and she must discover how the Sebastian plot is being engineered. With the blistering onscreen romance between Grant and Bergman--two of the most popular stars in Hollywood--and the creation of one of Hitchcock's greatest "MacGuffins"--the secret uranium shipments--NOTORIOUS emerges as one of Hitchcock's most masterful and sophisticated efforts. The passionate kissing scene in which the lovers devour one another instead of their chicken dinner still retains all of its power. Ingrid Bergman was certainly never sexier: here's the woman who scandalized America with her torrid, extramarital affair. Next to the protagonists, Rains's expert villany is mama's boyism gone awry. And no wonder. With Mme. Leopoldine Konstantin chomping cigars, Hitch really flails away at motherhood. The camera swoons right along with us in a dizzying manner. Best shot: the key. You can't miss it.