Notorious is an American thriller film of 1946, produced by Alfred Hitchcock. The central focus of this film is Love. Other themes featured involve political betrayal, trust, friendship and the duty embodied in character relationships. In this movie, we are introduced to a promiscuous character, who loved drinking as part of her leisure activities. The shift in Alicia’s perspective towards Alex and Devlin is evidenced during the dinner they had. Though camouflaged by too much suspense, sexual fantasy is apparent. Alicia is seen as a troublesome person, and nothing but a sexual object. In the movie, we witness how she is being handled by the male characters, and the torture she undergoes throughout the act.
As the movie unfolds its story line, the male reporters are seen surrounding Alicia, trying to interrogate her. From interrogation, we are taken all the way to the scene showing her at the party, freely chatting with people as she served the drinks. As keen audience, we come to realize in this part how Alicia is attracted to Devlin. In fact she confessed what she felt for him, as she is quoted saying,” I like you you’re my Kind of guy” (Modleski, 58). Alicia is a woman type who had a lot of internal issues, especially with her father. However, instead of worrying about her family misunderstandings, she organizes a party and drinks to it, as she fishes out for young nice looking gentlemen. The setting here shows how she is openly exposed to sexual habits, unruly behaviors, and eventually the end result of such behaviors; as we are shown how the unruly woman gets punished.
According to Wood’s argument, Notorious facilitates sympathy for Alicia as a result of brutal treatment she faced. Other than the harassment from male, she is also under pressure from the government, trying to investigate and control her. In this film, we as the audience are invited by the author to emotional connection with Alicia. The emotions developed are as a result of the view that she (Alicia) is a victim of male gaze. The movie also elaborates on the issues of identification and ideology. From this point, we are familiarized with the myths and the gender roles. Alicia is identified as an object of aggression, having being a victim of male gaze. This is evidenced at the court room where Alicia is being examined by the justice system as her father undergoes a trial. The flashing lights of the reporters had a common objective of publicly identifying her. To hide this, Alicia had a large hat on, which conveys a message that she has intentions of controlling her identity against the very inquisitive nagging reporters.
The shift in the point of views (POV) is entirely motivated by the need to create suspense. This is barely to avoid the more surprises that could have developed in audience’s minds. The concern of Alicia and Alex creates suspense amongst the audience, because of Alex’s discovery of Devlin’s and Alicia’s sexual relationship. According to Hitchcock, suspense cordially relies on the viewer’s knowledge. As a result of this knowledge, the tension grows as the audience try to predict what is likely to happen next. Had the film failed to incorporate other characters’ POV, notorious would probably have garnered high surprises and less suspense.
In essence, the shift in the point of view during the party scene in the film ’Notorious’ affects the film’s meaning as discussed above.
