Film of the Week: Notorious, 1946

Grant and Bergman
RKO

By, 1946, Alfred Hitchcock had made several films for David O. Selznick, and, every step of the way, had to answer to Selznick’s many demands. Selznick believed that he and he alone should be in charge of every picture made for his studio, and relished in writing stacks of memos in which he dictated everything from casting to costume choices. Similarly, Alfred Hitchcock felt that he (and he alone) was in charge of the pictures he was directing and bristled at even the slighted interference from anyone.

As Hitchcock toyed with the idea of making a picture about a female spy who was essentially sold into sexual slavery by her government (as well as the man she loved), he found himself increasingly bothered by Selznick who tried to control the director at every turn. Hitchcock was not so secretly relieved when failing finances and a distinct lack of interest in the project caused Selznick to sell the project to RKO for $800,000. Unfortunately for Hitchcock, it seems that didn’t mean that Selznick had any idea of not interfering. Selznick’s deal also gave him 50% of the picture’s potential profits. The despotic producer felt that that 50% entitled him to still have a say in the film even though it was being made at another studio. Selznick kept insisting that Hitchcock cast Joseph Cotten as the male lead beside Ingrid Bergman. They’d worked well together in Gaslight, after all. But, Hitchcock wasn’t willing to bend. He cast Cary Grant—his top choice all along, and gave us the first pairing of Grant and Bergman—a successful partnership that would continue for many years.

Rains, Grant and Bergman
RKO

Production on Notorious began in 1945 and wrapped in 1946. The story concerned a young woman (Ingrid Bergman) whose father was tied to Nazi Germany. She was pressed into service as a spy by an American agent (Cary Grant) with whom she’s fallen in love. Their relationship is complicated when, as part of her mission, she’s forced to marry the man on whom she’s spying (played with typical brilliance by Claude Rains). The cast is completed with Madame Konstantin—a German actress who was relatively unknown to American audiences—as Rain’s cruel mother.

Konstantin, Bergman and Rains
RKO

The relative freedom from Selznick allowed Hitchcock to continue to perfect the camera angles and trickery that became his hallmark. Dramatic zooming shots from staircases and dazzling close-ups define the visual style of the film which is at once suspenseful and romantic. Many—including Hitchcock’s daughter—consider Notorious his finest work.

If you’ve not seen it, you really should. It’s a visually and emotionally gripping film.