Notorious (1946 film)

Notorious (1946 film)
"Copyright 1946 RKO Radio Pictures Inc." · Public domain · source
Name	Notorious
Director	Alfred Hitchcock
Producer	Alfred Hitchcock
Writer	Ben Hecht
Starring	Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains
Music	Roy Webb
Cinematography	Ted Tetzlaff
Editing	Theron Warth
Studio	RKO Pictures
Released	August 15, 1946
Runtime	101 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$1 million
Gross	$8 million

Notorious (1946 film) is a classic spy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock and starring Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, and Claude Rains. The film is set in South America and Miami, and features a complex plot involving espionage, romance, and suspense. Notorious was produced by RKO Pictures and released in 1946, and it has since become one of the most acclaimed films of all time, with many considering it one of the greatest films directed by Alfred Hitchcock, alongside Psycho (1960 film), Rear Window, and Vertigo (1958 film).

Plot

The plot of Notorious revolves around Alicia Huberman (played by Ingrid Bergman), the daughter of a convicted Nazi spy, who is recruited by T.R. Devlin (played by Cary Grant), an American agent working for the United States government. Devlin convinces Alicia to infiltrate a group of Nazi agents in Rio de Janeiro, led by Alexander Sebastian (played by Claude Rains), who is also a former lover of Alicia's. As Alicia becomes embroiled in the group, she and Devlin develop a romantic relationship, but their feelings for each other are complicated by the danger and deception surrounding them, reminiscent of the complex relationships in Casablanca (1942 film). The film's plot is full of twists and turns, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats, much like The 39 Steps (1935 film), another classic thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Production

The production of Notorious was a complex and challenging process, involving Alfred Hitchcock and his team, including Ben Hecht, who wrote the screenplay, and Ted Tetzlaff, who handled the cinematography. The film was shot on location in Miami and Rio de Janeiro, and featured a mix of studio sets and location shooting. The production team also included Roy Webb, who composed the film score, and Theron Warth, who edited the film. Notorious was produced by RKO Pictures, which was a major film studio at the time, and was known for producing films such as Citizen Kane (1941 film), directed by Orson Welles, and King Kong (1933 film), a classic monster movie.

Cast

The cast of Notorious includes Cary Grant as T.R. Devlin, Ingrid Bergman as Alicia Huberman, and Claude Rains as Alexander Sebastian. The cast also includes Louis Calhern as Captain Paul Prescott, Leopoldine Konstantin as Madame Sebastian, and Reinhold Schünzel as Dr. Anderson. The cast's performances were widely praised, with Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman receiving particular acclaim for their on-screen chemistry, similar to the chemistry between Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall in To Have and Have Not (1944 film).

Reception

Notorious was released in 1946 and received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising the film's complex plot, strong performances, and Alfred Hitchcock's direction. The film was a commercial success, grossing over $8 million at the box office, and has since become a classic of American cinema, alongside films such as The Maltese Falcon (1941 film), The Big Sleep (1946 film), and Double Indemnity (1944 film). Notorious has been recognized as one of the greatest films of all time by numerous organizations, including the American Film Institute, the Library of Congress, and the British Film Institute, which have also recognized films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968 film), The Godfather (1972 film), and Tokyo Story (1953 film) as classics.

Themes

Notorious explores a number of themes, including love, deception, and loyalty. The film's portrayal of espionage and counter-espionage is also notable, and reflects the Cold War era in which it was made, similar to films such as North by Northwest (1959 film) and The Manchurian Candidate (1962 film). The film's use of suspense and tension is also characteristic of Alfred Hitchcock's style, and is reminiscent of films such as Strangers on a Train (1951 film) and Rear Window. Notorious also explores the theme of identity, particularly in the character of Alicia Huberman, who is torn between her loyalty to her father and her growing feelings for T.R. Devlin, similar to the character of Rick Blaine in Casablanca (1942 film).

Legacy

Notorious has had a lasting impact on the world of cinema, and continues to be studied and admired by film scholars and enthusiasts today, alongside films such as The Rules of the Game (1939 film), The Battle of Algiers (1966 film), and The Shawshank Redemption (1994 film). The film's influence can be seen in many other films and television shows, including James Bond films such as Goldfinger (1964 film) and The Spy Who Loved Me (1977 film), and TV shows such as Mission: Impossible and The Avengers (1960s TV series). Notorious has also been recognized as a cultural landmark, and has been selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress, which has also recognized films such as Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927 film), The Wizard of Oz (1939 film), and Star Wars (1977 film) as culturally significant. Category:1946 films