Devlin locking Alex out of the car to face his doom actually deprives the US government of turning a valuable former Nazi against his cohorts. Clearly, Devlin punishes Alex in a fit of pique because Alex poisoned Alicia and Devlin would rather have her husband permanently out of the way rather than her dealing with an embarrassing divorce, but the right move would have been to drive Alicia to the hospital and hand Alex over to Devlin's superiors.
shareA review (sorry, don't have on hand) actually brings this up.
And, I agree with it, except the idea that he cares at all about Alicia dealing with an embarrassing divorce might be giving him too much credit. I believe it was all a fit of pique and no thought of future embarrassment for Alicia entered his thought process.
But, I do admit to having a very bad view of Devlin. One of the worst good guys ever. I mean, I know he redeemed himself as far as Alicia is concerned, but I still think this could have been motivated completely by pettiness and punishing Sebastian, and not at all by misguided noble actions.
Yes, I'm an American. And, prouder than ever after participating in the Doctor Who board on IMDB.
Boy, I'd love to see that review. I've watched the film many times, and it just occurred to me on the last viewing that Devlin's actions, indeed, help himself, but not the US intelligence service. It is a great ironic ending, however.
The little coward would have just run off or taken poison in prison like Alicia's father did. He couldn't make a move without his mommy.
Devlin's priority was Alicia because he loved her and blamed himself for ever letting her take the assignment and you can bet he was going to spend the rest of their lives making up for it. That's why even though Devlin is a flawed character, you like him because when it mattered, he came though and saved Alicia.
"I say,open this door at once! We're British !"
For all Devlin knew, Alex could have been armed. Allowing him into he car would have been dangerous.
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π JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen π
For all Devlin knew, Alex could have been armed. Allowing him into he car would have been dangerous.
...and why should they have trusted a former Nazi, anyway?
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π JimHutton (1934-79) and ElleryQueen π
The film works best as it is:earlier in the picture Sebastian did nothing to stop one of his servants being killed because he got careless.He is one of a group of ruthless people and he has gotten careless himself by falling for an enemy agent.When the car drives away, it's only fitting that he had to climb the steps back towards his former associates who will give him a dose of his own medicine.Alicia won't need a divorce.
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