NOTORIOUS

US, 1946, 102 minutes, Black and white.
Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Louis Calhern, Madame Konstantin.
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock.

Notorious was very popular on its first release and contributed greatly to Hitchcock's reputation. It now seems to be a favourite of the critics and is offered as a good example of Hitchcock's interests and styles. It has the crime background and the suspense of murder as Claude Rains and his mother slowly poison Ingrid Bergman The film also has the espionage background as in Foreign Correspondent, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Torn Curtain, Topaz. As with each espionage film, it has a contemporary background which always adds to the fascination of Hitchcock films.

The film is linked with North By Northwest, not only because Cary Grant is the hero but in Eva Marie Saint's character paralleling Ingrid Bergman's, and in the suave villains of Claude Rains and James Mason. Screenplay is by writer Ben Hecht who also wrote Spellbound for Hitchcock the year before. Notorious is very entertaining.

1. How did the tone and atmosphere of the film communicate the feelings of 1946? Can we adequately appreciate this mood?

2. How was patriotism a theme of the film? In the principal characters, situations, conscience and choice?

3. What kind of person was Alicia? The significance of her father being a traitor? Her notorious and low moral reputation? Her presence at her party and the reckless ride afterwards?

4. Why did she consent to do the work? What was the importance of the recorded conversation between herself and her father? What really motivated her? How important was her feeling for Devlin?

5. Devlin - was he an attractive hero or too much a professional policeman? Why didn't he speak about his feelings for Alicia?

6. Prescott - the mind behind the plan, competent, symbolising Government attitudes towards espionage?

7. What were the moral implications for Alicia? Did the Government have the right to make her play this part, involving the deception of marriage? Why did Alicia consent?

8. How did Hitchcock use suspense to involve audience - identification with Alicia, antipathy towards the Germans? Was this a successful suspense film?

9. Audience reaction to the Germans? The incident at the dinner and murder of a betrayer? Their plans, comfortable life in Brazil?

10. Was Alexander Sebastian an interesting, attractive character? His relationship with his mother? How dominating was she? Was he a patriot?

11. Was the core of the film a romance with a triangle? Was this well handled? The irony of the triangle in view of the deception, patriotism, moral questions? Did Alicia change during this experience?

12. Comment on the suspense during the party sequence - especially with the key.

13. Reaction when they decided to poison Alicia - what role did the mother play? The irony of Devlin thinking Alicia was drinking when, in fact, she was being poisoned?

14. What was the danger for Alexander Sebastian if his colleagues discovered the truth? Did he have any alternative but to kill Alicia? Did he still love her?

15. Why was Devlin so obtuse about his feelings for Alicia? Suspense in getting her out of the house? Was this well done?

16. The ending was an understatement - how effective was this? Alexander helping Alicia to the car and left there stranded; the implications as he turned back to the house? Critics say Notorious is one of Hitchcock's best films. Why?