CONSPIRATOR
US, 1949, 87 minutes, Black and white.
Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Honor Blackman, Robert Flemyng, Harold Warrender, Marjorie Fielding, Thora Hird, Wilfrid Hyde- White.
Directed by Victor Saville.
Conspirator is one of the early films made with the coming of the Iron Curtain. It was made at the same time as a number of films from RKO (Walk East on Beacon, Lady on Pier 13) which were staunchly anticommunist. This was the period of investigation into alleged communists – which Robert Taylor testified for, from a conservative anticommunist stance.
The film was made in Britain, using a very strong British supporting cast. It has atmospheric London settings, and was set in 1949, the year that it was made.
Elizabeth Taylor, seventeen, portrays a young American who becomes infatuated with a British major, played by Robert Taylor. Honor Blackman plays her close friend. Robert Flemyng plays a captain in the army who is also attracted to Elizabeth Taylor. Marjorie Fielding appears as Taylor’s aunt. Thora Hird is Robert Taylor’s housekeeper and Wilfrid Hyde-White? is Honor Blackman’s father.
The couple are married and it is only after the marriage that the wife discovers, what the audience already knows, that Robert Taylor is a communist and in the pay of the Kremlin. When his wife discovers the truth, she grows up very quickly from a rather flirtatious and selfish young woman to a patriot. There are confrontation scenes between the two – even with the Russians ordering Taylor to kill his wife. However, he opts out with suicide. The film is rather simplistic in its presentation of characters and situations – although it was soon revealed that there were such spies in the UK including Burgess and McLean?, Kim Philby and later Anthony Blunt. However, there is a sting in the ending when the young wife is forced to say publicly that the reason for her husband’s death was her leaving him, no reference to the politics and espionage. The film was directed by Victor Saville, British director who made such films as The Iron Duke and Evergreen in England but had a successful career in the United States, especially in the late 1940s with such films as Green Dolphin Street, If Winter Comes, The Miniver Story.
1. An interesting film throwing light on the anticommunist attitudes of the 1940s?
2. Production in Britain? Locations? The American stars? The British supporting cast? Strong character actors?
3. The title, the reference to Michael Curragh? The discovery of the conspirator? Unmasking, condemnation?
4. The focus on Melinda, young American, coming to England, her friendship with Joyce? Their parents being friends, food aid to England? At the ball, the officers all dancing with the wives of senior officers? Joyce and Melinda as wallflowers? Hugh’s approach? Melinda seeing Michael? The immediate infatuation? Dancing? His taking her home? The subsequent outings? Her pique at his going to Wales, his phone call and her reconciliation? The visit to Wales, the hunting game with the children, her being disturbed about the rabbit caught in the trap? The wedding? The happy life, her shopping, keeping house, the housekeeper?
5. Michael, serious, his aunt and her support? His communist background? The postcard with London Bridge? His going by underground to the communist cell? The interviews, their being transcribed? His wanting to see the superior? Giving information, caught in the money notes? (**??) His conscience? Going down to see his aunt, her support, playing with the children? Apologies to Melinda? His proposal, the marriage?
6. Joyce, her character, support of Melinda, supplying clothes? Hugh, his role, going duck-shooting with Michael and the other friends? The colonel and his presence?
7. Michael, his giving the information? Melinda taking the money, the note, her reading it? Her fears? The duck-hunting – and the communists ordering him to kill his wife? His defence of her? The accidental shot? Her fear that he was poisoning her – and his drinking the liquor?
8. Broaders, the housekeeper, her concern, her puzzles about behaviour? Her support of Melinda? The preparations for the dinner, the places, the guests?
9. Melinda, her fleeing the house, walking, Michael and his threats? Her being afraid of him – especially as regards sending his coat to the drycleaners and his reaction?
10. Michael, going back to the communists, the head revealing himself? Their later disappearance? His return home? His suicide?
11. Melinda, the police, the military? Their putting her under oath to keep the reasons for Michael’s death secret?
12. An opportunity to understand the anticommunist attitude, fears and suspicions of the period?
