Review of Notorious

In my mind this will always be Hitchcock's greatest work, as well as one of my favorite movies of all time. As a film it is nearly flawless and it entertains and captivates from start to finish. One of Hitch's last black and white features, this one is as timeless as it was innovative. Admire for instance the crane shot that begins as an overhead view of mingling party-goers, then swoops down from above the balcony, and finally ends in a close up of a small key inside Alicia's (Bergman) clutched hand. Or the clever way Hitch shoots the extended kiss that broke all the rules in Hollywood at the time, without actually breaking them. These are things that had never been done before. Aside from style, this film is teeming with substance. Notorious is of an extremely rare breed in that it is an exceptional thriller, romance, drama, and espionage film all at once. Unbelievably, it also employs some of the most razor-sharp comedy in the Hitchcock library. Carey Grant gives the most hard-edged, while at the same time, most vulnerable performance of his career. And there's nothing not to admire about the lovely Ingrid Bergman as she plays the hard-drinking, fun-loving socialite with a dubious (one might say Notorious) romantic reputation. Despite her history, her character emerges as a woman of profound courage, integrity, and warmth. She's THE quintessential "hooker with a heart of gold." And perhaps the most complex of all the characters is the "villian", Sebastion (Claude Raines). His allegiances and actions paint him the villian, but his emotional motives and stakes in the story are genuine, and invite empathy. A truly rich character, closely informed by his tyrannical mother. (what is it with Hitch and moms?) This story will entice you, anger you, thrill you, break your heart, and piece it back together. In short, it will move you like few films can.