Alfred Hitchcock: Notorious

The Love between Devlin and Alicia

Seminar Paper , 2005 , 21 Pages , Grade: 1,3

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

In 1946 the director and “Master of Suspense” Alfred Hitchcock published a film named Notorious. The plot of this film is said to be about “a compelling spy mission interwoven with a romantic love story”. Hitchcock comments on the idea of his film as follows: “In Notorious geht es einfach um einen Mann, der verliebt ist in eine Frau, die in offiziellem Auftrag mit einem anderen Mann geschlafen hat und gezwungen wurde, ihn zu heiraten.” Concluding from his statement Hitchcock’s most important issue was to realize the love story between the two protagonists Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) and T.R. Devlin (Cary Grant). In fact the struggle of Alicia and Devlin, who are meant to be the heroic figures, is running like a central thread through the film until they are finally able to come together in the end. In the following analysis of the film Notorious from 1946 will be discussed how this struggle affects and changes both characters and their relationship to each other.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Alicia Huberman
  • Alicia's Two-sided Personality - Appearances are Deceptive
  • The Influence of her Father's Past
  • The New Miss Huberman
• T.R. Devlin
  • T.R. Devlin a Professional Spy
  • Duty versus Love - Devlin and Women
• The Relationship of Alicia and Devlin - Love and Rejection
  • Their First Meeting
  • Alicia's Assignment as a Spy – between Job and Private Matters
  • The Love Triangle Devlin - Alicia - Sebastian
    • Alicia's Point of View
    • Devlin's Point of View
    • Sebastian's Point of View
  • The Situation Collapses - The Interference of Sebastian's Mother
  • The Rescue of Alicia - A Final Confirmation of Devlin's Love?
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This term paper analyzes the film "Notorious" by Alfred Hitchcock, focusing on the complex relationship between the two protagonists, Alicia Huberman and T.R. Devlin. The paper explores how their love story unfolds against the backdrop of a spy mission, highlighting the challenges and sacrifices they face. The paper aims to understand the dynamics of their relationship, the influence of their past experiences, and the impact of their choices on their individual lives and their connection.

• The complexities of love and duty in a spy mission
• The portrayal of female characters in Hitchcock's films
• The impact of past trauma and family dynamics on individual behavior
• The exploration of moral dilemmas and personal sacrifices
• The use of suspense and psychological tension in Hitchcock's storytelling

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The introduction provides an overview of the film "Notorious" and its central theme of love and espionage. It highlights the importance of the relationship between Alicia and Devlin and sets the stage for the analysis of their individual struggles and the evolution of their connection.

The chapter on Alicia Huberman delves into her multifaceted personality, exploring the contrast between her public image as a "notorious" playgirl and her inner strength and intelligence. It examines the influence of her father's past and its impact on her self-esteem and behavior. The chapter also analyzes Alicia's transformation as she embarks on a spy mission and her attempts to break free from her self-destructive habits.

The chapter on T.R. Devlin focuses on his role as a professional spy and his internal conflict between duty and love. It explores his relationship with women and his struggle to balance his professional obligations with his personal feelings for Alicia. The chapter also examines Devlin's motivations and his methods of handling the complexities of the mission.

The chapter on the relationship between Alicia and Devlin examines the development of their connection, from their initial meeting to their eventual love and rejection. It analyzes the challenges they face, including Alicia's assignment as a spy, the presence of a love triangle, and the interference of Sebastian's mother. The chapter also explores the emotional complexities of their relationship and the sacrifices they make for each other.

Schlüsselwörter

The keywords and focus themes of the text include Alfred Hitchcock, "Notorious," spy mission, love story, Alicia Huberman, T.R. Devlin, female characters, past trauma, moral dilemmas, personal sacrifices, suspense, psychological tension, and film analysis.

• College: University of Trier
• Course: The American Films of Alfred Hitchcock
• Grade: 1,3
• Author: Anne-Mareike Franz (Author)
• Publication Year: 2005
• Pages: 21
• Catalog Number: V129066
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640354092
• ISBN (Book): 9783640353729
• Language: English
• Tags: Alfred, Hitchcock, Notorious, Love, Devlin, Alicia