The Macguffin

The Macguffin is a plot element that drives the story on, everyone has to believe it’s important. The main characters are willing to do, sacrifice, kill or protect the object to obtain/keep hold regardless of what the Macguffin may be.

Itself it is undefined and open to the audience’s interpretation, which isn’t important to the plot. Examples of Macguffins could be: money, power, survival, a potential threat (always in James Bond) or something completely unexplained.

“As to what that object is specifically is, the audience don’t care” – Hitchcock

It is the central focus at the start of the film, as the film gets on the Macguffin becomes less important as the struggles and characters develop. As the audience we come to love the ‘goodies’ and despise the ‘baddies.’  The Macguffin comes back into the story again at the end of the film but can be forgotten by the end as more focus is on the characters

An example of a Macguffin is in 'Notorious' the Nazi spies are hiding a something in the wine cellar which Cary Grant, the American spy, wants to find out what they are hiding. The Nazi's wife steals the key then gives it to Cary Grant who goes to inspect the wine cellar. When they are looking in the wine cellar the audience are in constant ponder of will they be found, or will someone go down there.