Conspirator (1949 film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Conspirator

| image = Conspirator film poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Victor Saville

| producer = Arthur Hornblow Jr.

| writer = Sally Benson
Gerard Fairlie

| screenplay = Sally Benson

| based_on = {{based on|Conspirator
1948 novel|Humphrey Slater}}

| narrator =

| starring = {{Plainlist|

}}

| music = John Wooldridge

| cinematography = Freddie Young

| editing = Frank Clarke

| studio = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

| distributor = Loew's Inc.

| released = {{Film date|1949|12|09|UK|1950|03|24|USA|df=y}}

| runtime = 87 minutes

| country = United Kingdom

| language = English

| budget = $1,832,000{{Citation | title = The Eddie Mannix Ledger | publisher = Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study | place = Los Angeles}}.

| gross = $1,591,000

}}

Conspirator is a 1949 British film noir, suspense, espionage, and thriller film directed by Victor Saville and starring Robert Taylor and Elizabeth Taylor. Based on the 1948 novel Conspirator by Humphrey Slater, the film is about a beautiful 18-year-old American woman who meets and falls in love with one of a British Guards, an officer who turns out to be a spy for the Soviet Union. After they are married, she discovers his true identity and forces him to choose between his marriage and his ideology. When his Soviet handlers order him to murder his young American wife, he is faced with the ultimate choice. The film was made for distribution by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Plot

While visiting England, 18 year old Melinda Greyton attends a Regimental Ball where she meets handsome Major Michael Curragh. The attraction is mutual and a whirlwind courtship follows.

After the honeymoon is over the young bride finds out her husband is actually a Russian spy. She is frantic and cannot understand. After much discussion Michael decides to pretend to give up that life, but soon discovers the party orders him to kill his wife.

Cast

Robert Taylor as Major Michael Curragh
Elizabeth Taylor as Melinda Greyton
Robert Flemyng as Captain Hugh Ladholme
Harold Warrender as Colonel Hammerbrook
Honor Blackman as Joyce
Marjorie Fielding as Aunt Jessica
Thora Hird as Broaders
Wilfrid Hyde-White as Lord Pennistone
Marie Ney as Lady Pennistone
Jack Allen as Raglan
Helen Haye as Lady Witheringham
Cicely Paget-Bowman as Mrs. Hammerbrook
Karel Stepanek as Radek
Nicholas Bruce as Alek
Cyril Smith as Detective Inspector
Janette Scott as Toby, Aunt Jessica's grandchild (uncredited)

Production

The producers were careful to cut mentions in the film of the British traitors during the Second World War, such as John Amery and Norman Baillie-Stewart, out of fear of litigation by their families.Walker 1991, p.78–79. An indirect mention of Baillie-Stewart remained in the film, however, with him being referred to not by name but simply as "that fellow in the Tower". The plot of the film also bore some similarities to the later case of the Cambridge Spies, including Donald MacLean.

Reception

The film created some controversy over the age difference between Robert Taylor, who was in his late 30s, and Elizabeth Taylor, who was 16 at the time of production.{{citation needed|date=July 2022}} When "Melinda" is asked her age by "Aunt Jessica", Elizabeth Taylor's voice says "18", but her lips say "16".

=Box Office=

According to MGM records, the film earned $859,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $732,000 overseas, resulting in a loss to the studio of $804,000.

References

;Additional sources

{{cite book|last=Walker |first=Alexander |title=Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor |publisher=Grove Press |location=New York |year=1991 |isbn=978-0802113351}}

External links

{{IMDb title|0041260}}
{{TCMDb title|71448}}
{{Rotten Tomatoes}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20180326004636/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b6a7e628a Conspirator] at the British Film Institute{{better source needed|reason=Help request: a live link can be searched for at https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/search/expert - if available, replace the archive URL with the live link. Or if none found, remove this 'better source needed' template. | date=October 2023}}

Category:1949 films

Category:1940s spy thriller films

Category:British spy thriller films

Category:Cold War spy films

Category:1940s English-language films

Category:Films directed by Victor Saville

Category:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films

Category:Films set in London

Category:British black-and-white films

Category:Films based on British novels

Category:Films shot in Norfolk

Category:1940s British films