ROMANCE
| Hitchcock is
often referred to as the master of suspense. This title --constantly used
in the advertisements for his movies-- applies, but it is but a fragment
of the range of emotions Hitchcock's movies portray and evoke.
Among the most interesting
and often neglected facets of Hitchcock's films is the many ways in which
romance is woven in the Hitchcock universe. |
 |
Love
One function of romance in
Hitchcock's movies is a way to make sense of the terrible pains and heartaches
the hero is put through in the course of the action. Romance is the typical
plot device whereby the hero 'gets the girl'. In this sense, romance is
used very often in Hitchcock's work. The fact that his movies focus on
plots involving crime necessitate an equal concentration on romance and
love.
Herbert Marshall and Norah
Baring in Murder!
You can now view Murder!
online.
Ingrid Bergman and Cary Grant
in Notorious.
Ingrid Bergman and Gregory
Peck in Spellbound.
Click
image for video of the Dali dream sequence.
James Stewart and Grace Kelly
in Rear
Window.
Priscilla Lane and Robert
Cummings in Saboteur.
Sexuality
Occasionally, a touch of
sexuality is added in Hitchcock's vision of romance. This does not happen
often though, mostly because of the constraints put upon his work by the
censors of his days.
Janet Leigh and John Gavin
in Psycho.
Frederick Stafford and Karin
Dor in Topaz.
Seduction
Romance has different faces
in Hitchcock's work. Often more than just indicating love, romance is complicated
because of the heroes' involvement in an act of crime and/or immorality
and their confusion over guilt and innocence.
In To Catch a Thief, seduction
is playful.
In North
By Northwest, seduction is a tool of guilt as well as love...
...and romance is mixed with
betrayal and danger.
