I do think this is one Hitchcock's best. The chemistry between Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman is electrifying, and I think their kiss in the wine cellar is one of the sexiest moments ever committed to film. As far as Claude Raines--well (with the possible exception of Kevin Spacey), they just don't make character actors like that any more. Also, the ending was very atypical of '40s movies, grim rather than light.
