Notorious
In order to help bring Nazis to justice, U.S. government agent T.R. Devlin recruits Alicia Huberman, the American daughter of a convicted German war criminal, as a spy. As they begin to fall for one another, Alicia is instructed to win the affections of Alexander Sebastian, a Nazi hiding out in Brazil. When Sebastian becomes serious about his relationship with Alicia, the stakes get higher, and Devlin must watch her slip further undercover.
Despite its tight budget of $2.0M, Notorious became a commercial juggernaut, earning $24.5M worldwide—a remarkable 1125% return. The film's distinctive approach engaged audiences, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Nominated for 2 Oscars. 3 wins & 3 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Notorious (1946) exhibits strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Alfred Hitchcock's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Alicia Huberman
T.R. Devlin
Alexander Sebastian
Madame Anna Sebastian
Paul Prescott
Main Cast & Characters
Alicia Huberman
Played by Ingrid Bergman
The daughter of a convicted Nazi spy who is recruited by American intelligence to infiltrate a Nazi organization in Brazil, torn between duty and her growing love for her handler.
T.R. Devlin
Played by Cary Grant
A cold and calculating American intelligence agent who recruits Alicia for a dangerous mission but struggles to reconcile his professional detachment with his romantic feelings for her.
Alexander Sebastian
Played by Claude Rains
A wealthy Nazi conspirator in Brazil who harbors a longtime romantic obsession with Alicia and becomes her husband, unaware of her true mission.
Madame Anna Sebastian
Played by Leopoldine Konstantin
Alexander's domineering and suspicious mother who distrusts Alicia from the start and ultimately discovers her deception.
Paul Prescott
Played by Louis Calhern
Devlin's superior at the American intelligence agency who orchestrates the mission and prioritizes operational success over personal concerns.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Alicia Huberman drowns her shame in alcohol at a party after her father's treason conviction. She is reckless, self-destructive, and defined by her notorious reputation.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Devlin reveals he works for American intelligence and recruited Alicia because of her father. She's offered a chance to prove her patriotism by spying on Nazis in Rio de Janeiro.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Alicia accepts the mission to infiltrate Alexander Sebastian's Nazi circle, even though it means potentially seducing him and betraying her love for Devlin. She chooses duty over personal happiness., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Sebastian proposes marriage to Alicia. She accepts, cementing her position inside the Nazi conspiracy but losing any chance of a life with Devlin. False defeat: the mission succeeds but her heart breaks., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sebastian and his mother discover Alicia is an American agent. Rather than expose themselves to their Nazi colleagues, they decide to slowly poison her to death. Alicia is trapped, dying, with no escape., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Devlin realizes Alicia isn't avoiding him—she's in mortal danger. He synthesizes his professional duty with his love for her, finally choosing to trust and save her regardless of protocol., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Notorious's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Notorious against these established plot points, we can identify how Alfred Hitchcock utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Notorious within the thriller genre.
Alfred Hitchcock's Structural Approach
Among the 20 Alfred Hitchcock films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.6, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Notorious represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alfred Hitchcock filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional thriller films include The Warriors, Thunderball and Rustom. For more Alfred Hitchcock analyses, see Family Plot, The Birds and Vertigo.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Alicia Huberman drowns her shame in alcohol at a party after her father's treason conviction. She is reckless, self-destructive, and defined by her notorious reputation.
Theme
Devlin tells Alicia, "You can't run away from yourself." The theme: redemption requires facing who you truly are, not the reputation others assign you.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Alicia's world of shame and self-destruction following her Nazi father's imprisonment. We meet Devlin, the mysterious American agent, and see the attraction between them despite her notorious past.
Disruption
Devlin reveals he works for American intelligence and recruited Alicia because of her father. She's offered a chance to prove her patriotism by spying on Nazis in Rio de Janeiro.
Resistance
Alicia and Devlin travel to Rio, falling in love during the journey. Alicia debates whether she can trust Devlin and whether this mission offers genuine redemption or just exploitation of her notorious past.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Alicia accepts the mission to infiltrate Alexander Sebastian's Nazi circle, even though it means potentially seducing him and betraying her love for Devlin. She chooses duty over personal happiness.
Mirror World
Alicia re-encounters Alexander Sebastian at a party. He still loves her from years before. This relationship will force Alicia to sacrifice herself and test whether Devlin truly believes in her transformation.
Premise
Alicia executes the spy mission, cultivating Sebastian's affections while gathering intelligence. The romantic triangle intensifies as Devlin grows jealous but remains professionally distant, and Alicia feels abandoned by the man she loves.
Midpoint
Sebastian proposes marriage to Alicia. She accepts, cementing her position inside the Nazi conspiracy but losing any chance of a life with Devlin. False defeat: the mission succeeds but her heart breaks.
Opposition
Alicia marries Sebastian and moves into his mansion. She and Devlin steal the wine cellar key and discover uranium ore, confirming the Nazi plot. But Sebastian grows suspicious, and his mother realizes Alicia is a spy.
Collapse
Sebastian and his mother discover Alicia is an American agent. Rather than expose themselves to their Nazi colleagues, they decide to slowly poison her to death. Alicia is trapped, dying, with no escape.
Crisis
Alicia weakens from the poison, bedridden and isolated. She believes Devlin has abandoned her. Sebastian maintains the facade that she's merely ill while administering more poison. Alicia faces death alone.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Devlin realizes Alicia isn't avoiding him—she's in mortal danger. He synthesizes his professional duty with his love for her, finally choosing to trust and save her regardless of protocol.
Synthesis
Devlin storms Sebastian's mansion, finds Alicia poisoned, and carries her out past the assembled Nazis. Sebastian is left behind, facing execution by his own colleagues for the security breach. Love and duty unite.
Transformation
Devlin carries the weakened Alicia to his car and drives away with her. She is redeemed—no longer notorious, but loved and trusted. He has transformed too, choosing love over emotional detachment.