''Conspirator'' is a 1949 British

film noir Film noir (; ) is a style of Cinema of the United States, Hollywood Crime film, crime dramas that emphasizes cynicism (contemporary), cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of Ameri ...

suspense Suspense is a state of anxiety or excitement caused by mysteriousness, uncertainty, doubt, or undecidedness. In a narrative work, suspense is the audience's excited anticipation about the plot or conflict (which may be heightened by a viol ...

espionage Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering, as a subfield of the intelligence field, is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information ( intelligence). A person who commits espionage on a mission-specific contract is called an ...

, and

thriller film Thriller film, also known as suspense film or suspense thriller, is a broad film genre that evokes excitement and suspense in the audience. The suspense element found in most films' plots is particularly exploited by the filmmaker in this genre. ...

directed by Victor Saville and starring Robert Taylor and

Elizabeth Taylor Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor (February 27, 1932 – March 23, 2011) was an English and American actress. She began her career as a child actress in the early 1940s and was one of the most popular stars of classical Hollywood cinema in the 19 ...

. 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 The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

. 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 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...

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 *

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 Dame Thora Hird (28 May 1911 – 15 March 2003) was an English actress. In a career spanning over 70 years, she appeared in more than 100 films, as well as many television roles, becoming a household name and a British institution. Hird w ...

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 Sir Cyril Richard Smith (28 June 1928 – 3 September 2010) was a British Liberal Party and Liberal Democrat politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Rochdale from 1972 to 1992. Smith was first active in local politics as ...

as Detective Inspector *

Janette Scott Thora Janette Scott (born 14 December 1938) is a British retired actress. Life and career Scott was born on 14 December 1938 in Morecambe, Lancashire, England. She is the daughter of actors Jimmy Scott and Thora Hird and began her career as ...

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 World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, such as John Amery and Norman Baillie-Stewart, out of fear of

litigation A lawsuit is a proceeding by one or more parties (the plaintiff or claimant) against one or more parties (the defendant) in a civil court of law. The archaic term "suit in law" is found in only a small number of laws still in effect today. ...

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. 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 *

External links

* * *
''Conspirator''
at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

1949 films 1940s spy thriller films British spy thriller films Cold War spy films 1940s English-language films Films directed by Victor Saville Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films Films set in London British black-and-white films Films based on British novels Films shot in Norfolk 1940s British films Films scored by John Wooldridge English-language spy thriller films {{1940s-thriller-film-stub