Notorious (1946 Alfred Hitchcock)

A well overdue treat, Hitch shoots half of Notorious in intimate close-up (and a quarter in extreme long shot). It's brilliantly cinematic, e.g. moment where Grant leaves a bottle of Champagne on the table - his boss Louis Calhern knows what it's for and that it's no longer needed without a word - indeed long stretches of the film could be silent.

Bergman is as great as always but Grant also really is good - it's all in the eyes (thinking). Plus great support from slimy Claude Rains, sinister mother 'Madame' (Leopoldine) Konstantine and Reinhold Schunzel.

Shot by Ted Tetzlaff with some agile focus pulling; score by Roy Webb.

For further proof that Hitch inspired the Connery Bonds, the drunken high speed night drive resurfaces in Thunderball.