Annabel story
A chemist obsesses over a married woman. Directed by: Paul Henreid. Story by: Robert Bloch (teleplay), Patricia Highsmith (novel).
11 total · 1 choice · 7 major · 3 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| obsessive love | choice | David was so besotted with Annabel that he did many foolish things, lost her to another, and even ended up murdering her because he couldn't accept that she wouldn't be his. |
| coping with unwelcome romantic attention | major | David was basically salking his old flame, Annabel. David awkwardly turned down Linda when she asked him to go on a date to the ballet together. |
| delusional point of view | major | David suffered from the delusion that Annabel still loved him even after she married another man. His delusion was so strong that he murdered Annabel and her husband when his view of reality was challenged. |
| denial | major | David could not accept that the happily married Annabel didn't love him. |
| husband and wife | major | Married life for Annabel and Gerald Delaney was turned upside down when Annabel's old flame David took deranged measures to get back together with her. |
| love triangle | major | David loved Annabel who only loved Gerald who loved her back. |
| murder | major | David ended up killing Gerald and Annabel both in fits of rage when his delusional world view was challenged. |
| unrequited love | major | It was made clear in the end that Annabel didn't love David, though he was obsessively in love with her. Linda longed to be with David, but he was utterly obsessed with Annabel. |
| coping with the death of a spouse | minor | Annabel wept over the loss of her husband, Gerald. |
| law enforcement | minor | The sheriff questioned David over Gerald's suspicious demise. |