Notorious
A sophisticated noir romance where love is poisoned by duty and redemption lies in the hands of a spy. Hitchcock blends the icy tension of espionage with the heat of a betrayal, symbolized by a stolen key clutched in a trembling hand.
Notorious
Notorious

"Deep their love! Great the risk!"

21 August 1946 United States of America 103 min ⭐ 7.7 (1,702)
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, Leopoldine Konstantin, Louis Calhern
Thriller Mystery Romance
Love vs. Duty Trust and Betrayal The Redemption of the "Fallen Woman" The Domineering Mother
Budget: $2,000,000
Box Office: $24,500,000

Notorious - Characters & Cast

Character Analysis

Alicia Huberman

Ingrid Bergman

Archetype: The Redeemer / Damsel in Distress
Key Trait: Vulnerable bravery

Motivation

To redeem her family name and prove her worthiness of love to Devlin.

Character Arc

Alicia transforms from a self-destructive, cynical party girl into a brave patriot and martyr for love. Her journey is one of seeking validation and redemption, first through alcohol, then through espionage, and finally through survival.

T.R. Devlin

Cary Grant

Archetype: The Stoic Professional
Key Trait: Cynical detachment

Motivation

Duty to the US government, conflicting with his repressed love for Alicia.

Character Arc

Devlin starts as a cold, judgmental agent who hides his emotions behind duty. His arc is internal; he must learn to overcome his pride and mistrust to save the woman he loves, transitioning from her handler to her savior.

Alexander Sebastian

Claude Rains

Archetype: The Tragic Villain
Key Trait: Dangerous devotion

Motivation

Love for Alicia and fear of his Nazi associates (and his mother).

Character Arc

Sebastian is a sympathetic antagonist. He genuinely loves Alicia, which makes him vulnerable. His discovery of her betrayal destroys him, turning him from a doting husband into a trapped, desperate man awaiting execution by his own peers.

Cast

Cary Grant as T.R. Devlin
Ingrid Bergman as Alicia Huberman
Claude Rains as Alexander Sebastian
Leopoldine Konstantin as Madame Anna Sebastian
Louis Calhern as Captain Paul Prescott
Alex Minotis as Joseph
Reinhold Schünzel as Dr. Anderson
Ivan Triesault as Eric Mathis
Eberhard Krumschmidt as Emil Hupka
Moroni Olsen as Walter Beardsley
Ricardo Costa as Dr. Julio Barbosa
Charles Mendl as Commodore
Wally Brown as Mr. Hopkins
Fay Baker as Ethel
Friedrich von Ledebur as Knerr (uncredited)