Thursday, February 25, 2010

You Mind If I Have Dinner With You Tonight?

Notorious - Directed by Hitchcock.

To avoid dealing with the fact that her father was convicted of treason for aiding Germany during World War II, Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) loses herself in a wild life of alcohol, parties, and irresponsibility. The daughter of an American mother, Alicia views her father’s betrayal as a matter of personal shame. One day when she least expects it, a handsome American secret agent, TR Devlin (Cary Grant), comes into her life and coerces Alicia into spying on war criminals living in Brazil.

Alicia agrees to the assignment as an attempt to clear the Huberman name from its earlier infamy. Unfortunately, she must work closely with dangerous German refugees hiding out in Rio de Janeiro. She especially dreads spying on Alexander Sebastian (Claude Rains), her father’s close friend who is suspected of many war crimes. This detestable older man (and cowardly momma’s boy) has always been attracted to Alicia, thereby presenting a double danger to her.

The closer she gets to Alexander to obtain information, the more jealous and possessive he becomes toward her. The situation becomes even more complicated when Devlin and Alicia develop feelings for one another. Add an evil and conniving mother (Leopoldine Konstantin) to the mix, and Alicia faces an increasing amount of physical and emotional danger that could possibly end her life – or at least her life as she knows it.



Devlin conceals his reaction to her memories and his growing interest in her. Instead, he informs her of their arrival in Rio. In an outdoor cafe while waiting for her assignment and orders to begin, Alicia asks about the particulars of her assignment and her living situation. She also demands a cook. She refuses another drink: "No thank you, I've had enough...I'm practically on the wagon. That's quite a change." Although Devlin compliments her sobriety, he dismisses it as only a "phase" - he is wary of the former playgirl's lurid reputation. Their conversation turns amorous, as she teases and berates the cool, indifferent, distant, and sometimes nasty Devlin about his unflappable, repressed romantic emotions. Alicia is tremulously hopeful that his faith in her will be renewed, now that she is changing into a new woman and becoming transformed from her former image.

The film is known for having at the time of its production 'the longest kiss in film history.' [Director Alfred Hitchcock circumvented the Hollywood code limiting a kiss to three seconds by interrupting the kiss every three seconds, but they never once break their embrace.] The famous marathon kissing scene between Devlin and Alicia in her apartment lasts almost three minutes, beginning on a scenic Rio balcony, entirely shot in a tight closeup of their faces. They rapidly alternate passionate, clinging kisses and whispered endearments, first on the balcony over the beach, and then continuing with nibbling bites and nuzzling hugs as they walk from the balcony to the telephone and then to the front door. All the while during the sexual seduction, they discuss dinner, hold on to each other, and carry on a conversation:

Alicia: It's nice out here. Let's not go out to dinner. Let's stay here.
Devlin: We have to eat.
Alicia: We can eat here. I'll cook.
Devlin: I thought you didn't like to cook.
Alicia: No I don't like to cook, but I have a chicken in the icebox and you're eating it.
Devlin: What about all the washing up afterwards?
Alicia: We'll eat it with our fingers.
Devlin: Don't we need any plates?
Alicia: Yes, one for you and one for me.
Devlin: You mind if I have dinner with you tonight?
Alicia: I'd be delighted. Where are you going?
Devlin: If you're going to stay in, I have to telephone the hotel, see if there are any messages.
Alicia: Do I have to?
Devlin: I have to. (They walk inside to the telephone where he dials the hotel for messages.)
Alicia: This is a very strange love affair.
Devlin: Why? (she kisses him)
Alicia: Maybe the fact that you don't love me.
Devlin: (He kisses her) ...When I don't love you, I'll let you know.
Alicia: You haven't said anything.
Devlin (kissing her): Actions speak louder than words.

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