In a lot of ways 'Notorious' can be seen to be different to other Hitchcock films. Although we see the inclusion of many Hitchcock conventions within the film the thing that strikes me most about the film being different to other Hitchcock pictures is the cinematography and the camera movement.
The picture contains a lot of charascuro lighting throughout which gives it a film noir kind of effect. We can see many similiarites to such films as 'Double Indemnity'. The juxtoposition between black and white, the obsessive smoking by charcters and the fast talking high trousered detectives as well. Alicia can also be suggested to play the femme fatale role, the deadly woman, in Alex's case anyway.
The cinematography can be classed as some of Hitchcocks best work. The shot of Devlin from a hung over Alicia's point of view. The camera turning clockwise as the dark figured Devlin walks towards her. It shows how mysterious and strange Devlin actually is in the eyes of a hazed Alicia. Hitchcock presents us with another drunken Alicia point of view shot later on in the filom where the realisation that she is being poisoned finally hits her. Alex and his mother turn into black figures standing side by side looking like grim reapers, a very scary image.
We do see many Hitchcock traits in the film. Alex's mother for example. Throughout Hitchcocks collection we see a controlling mother charcter who have a rather odd relationship with their son. In this case, Alex's mother dislikes the idea of him having a lover. Although she comes across rather sceptical about Alicia to start with we see her form a tag team with her son and plot to poison Alicia slowly to her death. Alex's mother is the only person he can turn to.
The narrative device of der liebestod is also used within the films narrative. This device has been used in other Hitchcock movies such as 'Vertigo' and supports the idea that love essentially leads to death. This can be supported by the fact that Alex falls in with Alicia whom is an American spy. However, this relationship soons results in Alex's collegues asking him for a word when she is driven off at the end and it is suggested that Alex soon gets killed. The three main characters, that is Devlin, Alicia and Alex are caught up in a live traingle, some might prefer to call it a jelousy triangle, which is also a theme used in a lot of Hitchcock movies. Hitchcock does a great thing of including props of three in every scene at the party to subliminaly show this three way relationship, however when Devlins and Alicia's relationship reaches a low the prop numbers turn to two.
Another Hitchcock convention used in 'Notorious' is the sympathetic villain. Alex is the villain due to his nasty background and nazi routes however in the end we feel sorry for him and in some cases Devlin becomes the person who we dislike most as he leaves Alex for death and takes away all of his happiness.
There are many moments with great suspense, one thing Hitchcock is famous for, such as the wine running out and waiting to find out what Alex will do to Alicia. We are hooked. The scene in which Devlin and Alicia are looking through the wine cellar and Devlin accidently smashes a bottle. The juxtoposition between the two characters moods creates massive suspense. Devlin being calm wherase Alicia is shitting bricks.
The theme of trust is studied throughout the film. Devlin and Alicia have massive trust in eachother which leads to their success, wherase, on the other hand, Alex has little trust in Alicia to start with, his love for her is overpowering, this leads to his downfall.
Devlins and Alicia's relationship are one we would expect from children. We, as the audience, know they love eachother but for some reason they keep on denying it. Devlin goes into a sulk at one point when Alicia starts to become succesful. He reveals he is going to leave.
Patriotism also plays a massive part in the movie. Devlin allows Alicia to marry Alex. This only suggests that doing a job for his country is much more important than love. Not only this but Alicia's sudden interest in the job at hand was created by her listening to a tape recording of her talking about how much she loves America.
Visually outstanding and great characterisation. 8/10
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