Conspirator (1949)

On a visit to London, 18 year-old American Melinda Greyton goes to her first party, a Regimental ball. There she meets and falls madly in love with Major Michael Curragh, a handsome ... See full summary »

Director:

Victor Saville

Writers:

Sally Benson (screenplay), Sally Benson (adaptation),

Stars:

Robert Taylor, Elizabeth Taylor, Robert Flemyng

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Taylor	...	Maj. Michael Curragh
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Melinda Greyton
Robert Flemyng	...	Capt. Hugh Ladholme
Harold Warrender	...	Col. Hammerbrook
Honor Blackman	...	Joyce
Marjorie Fielding	...	Aunt Jessica
Thora Hird	...	Broaders
Wilfrid Hyde-White	...	Lord Pennistone (as Wilfred Hyde-White)
Marie Ney	...	Lady Pennistone
Jack Allen	...	Raglan
Helen Haye	...	Lady Witheringham
Cicely Paget-Bowman	...	Mrs. Hammerbrook
Karel Stepanek	...	Radek
Nicholas Bruce	...	Alek
Cyril Smith	...	Detective Inspector

Storyline

On a visit to London, 18 year-old American Melinda Greyton goes to her first party, a Regimental ball. There she meets and falls madly in love with Major Michael Curragh, a handsome bachelor who returns her affections. After a relatively short period of time, they marry and all is bliss. Michael has some peculiar habits such as when he gets upset when Melinda sends an old overcoat out for cleaning or when she takes a few £1 notes from his wallet. In fact, Michael is a Communist spy and has been a member of the Party since he was in school. When Melinda finally realizes just what and who he is, she tells him to choose between her or his beliefs. He tells her he'll leave the Party but its all a ruse. He does love his wife however and when his spy masters tell him Melinda must be done away with he faces the ultimate choice.

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Plot Keywords:

spy | communism | based on novel

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Taglines:

The Man She Loved Was A Traitor, Sworn To Kill Her!

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Genres:

Thriller | Drama

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Traidor

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Some of the Best: Twenty-Five Years of Motion Picture Leadership (1949)

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Soundtracks

"On the Quarter Deck"
(uncredited)
Music by Kenneth Alford
Boosey & Hawkes Ltd

User Reviews

Romantic casualties of the Cold War...

Excellent young adult performance by 18-year-old Elizabeth Taylor playing newlywed American living abroad whose soldier husband is up to no good: he's living a double life and is really a communist traitor! Underpopulated, underwritten melodrama does have one strong aspect: a surprisingly strong, spunky woman at the center of the story. Robert Taylor is solid as Taylor's 30-ish husband, but any psychological conflicts are not quick to come out (there is a tense duck-hunting scene where the couple runs into trouble, but it's just shucked off). Liz looks beautiful and gives a fairly complex portrayal here--her eyes glinting with suspicion and anger. The film isn't a classic, nor is it swill, but as a quickie product from MGM, it's probably better than it had to be. **1/2 from ****