Conspirator (1949 film)

Conspirator
Conspirator
	Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Victor Saville
Written by	Sally Benson; Gerard Fairlie
Screenplay by	Sally Benson
Based on	Conspirator; 1948 novel; by Humphrey Slater
Produced by	Arthur Hornblow Jr.
Starring	Robert Taylor; Elizabeth Taylor;
Cinematography	Freddie Young
Edited by	Frank Clarke
Music by	John Wooldridge
Production; company	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Distributed by	Loew's Inc.
Release dates	9 December 1949 (UK); 24 March 1950 (USA);
Running time	87 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	$1,832,000
Box office	$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.^[2] 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]} 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.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
^ Walker 1991, p.78–79.

Additional sources

Walker, Alexander (1991). Elizabeth: The Life of Elizabeth Taylor. New York: Grove Press. ISBN 978-0802113351.

External links

Conspirator at IMDb
Conspirator at the TCM Movie Database
Conspirator at AllMovie
Conspirator at the British Film Institute^{[better source needed]}
Conspirator at Rotten Tomatoes

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[Mannix-1] The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.

[2] Walker 1991, p.78–79.

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