2024 movie #65. 1946. A post-war American agent (Grant) is sent to recruit the notorious daughter (Bergman) of a convicted Nazi spy to work her way into a Nazi scientist ring in Brazil. Then he falls for her, complicating the mission. Great Hitchcock movie. Watched on @tcm ( )

Hitchcock framed this wartime noir film around a debonair Cary Grant and the youthful beauty of Ingrid Bergman. Luxuriant black and white cinematography was added to this elegant love story set in the world of secret agents, giving it a lusciously romantic glow not found in his other films. The love story plays out against mounting suspense, making this one of his best films.

From sun-drenched Miami to exotic Brazil, this intertwined story of spies and romance is exciting to watch. American secret agent Delvin (Grant) is forced to use Alicia (Bergman) to get close to a suspected Nazi, Alexander Sebastion (Claude Rains). Alicia's father was convicted of being a German agent, and his playgirl daughter has been living fast and hard trying to forget ever since. Delvin reluctantly recruits her under orders from above and the vulnerable Alicia falls hard for him.

Her assignment must take top priority, so Delvin cannot let on that he too has fallen for her. Claude Rains does a good job as the deceptively dangerous Sebastion, in love with Alicia but growing more suspicious by the moment. His suspicions reach a fever pitch when her old friend Delvin arrives on the scene.

All Alicia wants is for Delvin to tell her not to get close to Sebastion. He can't, of course, and the romantic tension builds side by side with the suspense, creating an almost unbearable anxiety on two fronts.

The romance gets equal billing until Alicia and Delvin discover something in the wine cellar and Sebastion realizes she is a spy. Since Delvin has been reassigned to Spain, he may not be in time to save her. The famous staircase scene is just one highlight in a film filled with memorable images.

Hitchcock took an alluring Bergman, a handsome Grant, and a tightly written and suspenseful script, and made one of the most exciting and lusciously beautiful films in screen history. Ingrid Bergman is lovely and vulnerable and Cary Grant has his hands full keeping his feelings to himself so he can do his job. Don't miss this one. It is one of Hitchcock's best. ( )

Figlia di una spia tedesca condannata alla fine della guerra, Elena accetta di lavorare con Devlin, agente americano che deve indagare sulle attività brasiliane di un gruppo di nazisti fuoriusciti. Elena si innamora di Devlin e rimane sconvolta quando l'uomo accetta che lei sposi Sebastian, il capo dei nazisti. Un uomo "vende" la sua donna per il bene del Paese; lei si sacrifica per espiare le colpe del padre. Spionaggio, dramma psicologico, storia d'amore: un grande Hitch, con alcune scene magistrali e "il bacio più lungo della storia del cinema." (fonte: Film tv)

Miami, Florida. 24 aprile 1946. Ore 15.20. Si conclude il processo contro la spia tedesca John Huberman: l'imputato è condannato a vent'anni di carcere. Un gruppo di giornalisti e di fotografi attende con impazienza di intervistare la figlia, Elena (Alicia nell'originale inglese), ma sono delusi perché lei se ne va senza rilasciare alcuna dichiarazione.
Tempo dopo, la donna ospita uno sconosciuto ad un party e si mette a corteggiarlo in stato di evidente ubriachezza. Il mattino successivo egli rivela la sua identità: si tratta dell'agente segreto T.R. Devlin e l'ha contattata per conto del Governo degli Stati Uniti, per chiederle di partecipare a una missione in Brasile, volta a smascherare un complotto filonazista. Elena, innamorata e desiderosa di riscattare la sua famiglia, decide di accettare e parte con lui per Rio de Janeiro. Non si sente idonea all'incarico, ma è motivata principalmente dai suoi sentimenti; l'agente, invece, agisce in base ai suoi doveri di funzionario.

A secret agent love triangle.

Yet another case of an inventive classic that's not as good as other movies that have ripped it off. Not a bad movie, but I was bored through much of it. I have seen many Hitchcock films that I don't like, but this is the first that felt long. ( )