Conspirator
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVictor Saville
Written bySally Benson
Gerard Fairlie
Screenplay bySally Benson
Based onConspirator
1948 novel
by Humphrey Slater
Produced byArthur Hornblow Jr.
Starring
CinematographyFreddie Young
Edited byFrank Clarke
Music byJohn Wooldridge
Production
company
Distributed byMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release dates
  • 9 December 1949 (1949-12-09) (UK)
  • 24 March 1950 (1950-03-24) (USA)
Running time
87 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,832,000[1]
Box office$1,591,000[1]

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

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While visiting England, 18 year old Melinda Greyton (Elizabeth Taylor) attends a Regimental Ball where she meets handsome Major Michael Curragh (Robert Taylor). 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 give up that life, but soon discovers the party orders him to kill his wife.

Cast

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]

See also

References

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

External links


Films directed by Victor Saville
Categories