Conspiracy of Hearts (1960)

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writers (WGA):

Adrian Scott (story) (front Dale Pitt)
Robert Presnell Jr. (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

7 April 1960 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | War

Tagline:

Here is One of the Most Shocking Dramas Ever Dared-Rippng at Your Emotions Like No Other Motion Picture!

Plot:

In wartime Italy nuns in a convent regularly smuggle Jewish children out of a nearby internment camp...

Plot Keywords:

Nun | Italy | Children | Convent | Jewish

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe.

Cast

Lilli Palmer	...	Mother Katharine
Sylvia Syms	...	Sister Mitya
Yvonne Mitchell	...	Sister Gerta
Ronald Lewis	...	Major Spoletti
Albert Lieven	...	Colonel Horsten
Peter Arne	...	Lt. Schmidt
Nora Swinburne	...	Sister Tia
Michael Goodliffe	...	Father Desmaines
Megs Jenkins	...	Sister Constance
David Kossoff	...	The Rabbi
Jenny Laird	...	Sister Honoria
George Coulouris	...	Petrelli
Phyllis Neilson-Terry	...	Sister Elisaveta
Rebecca Dignam	...	Anna
Joseph Cuby	...	Joseph
Maureen Pryor	...	Sister Consuela
Robert Rietty
Giulio Marchetti
Enzo Fiermonte

Directed by
Ralph Thomas

Writing credits (WGA)
Adrian Scott		(story) (front Dale Pitt)
Robert Presnell Jr.		(screenplay)
Dale Pitt		(front for Adrian Scott)

Produced by
Betty E. Box	....	producer
Earl St. John	....	executive producer (as Earl St John)

Original Music by
Angelo Francesco Lavagnino		(as Angelo Lavagnino)

Cinematography by
Ernest Steward		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alfred Roome

Art Direction by
Alex Vetchinsky

Costume Design by
Yvonne Caffin

Makeup Department
Eddie Knight	....	makeup artist (as Edward Knight)

Production Management
Denis Holt	....	production manager (as R. Denis Holt)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stanley Hosgood	....	assistant director
Giorgio Zambon	....	assistant: Italian

Art Department
Arthur Taksen	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist
John W. Mitchell	....	sound recordist
Don Sharpe	....	sound editor

Camera and Electrical Department
James Bawden	....	camera operator
Norman Gryspeerdt	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Music Department
Muir Mathieson	....	conductor

Other crew
Gladys Goldsmith	....	continuity

Production Companies

• Rank Organisation, The (as The Rank Organisation)

Distributors

• Rank Film Distributors (1960) (UK) (theatrical) (released by) (as Rank Film Distributors Limited)
• Paramount Pictures (1960) (USA) (theatrical)
• J. Arthur Rank Film (1960) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Elephant Films (2005) (France) (all media)

Other Companies

• Consiglio Superiore della Belle Arte  we are grateful for the help and facilities given by (as all the Consiglio Superiore della Belle Arte, Italy)
• Holy Order of Cistercian Brothers at Certosa di Firenze  we are grateful for the help and facilities given by (as the Holy Order of Cistercian Brothers at Certosa di Firenze at Galuzzo)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) | Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:U | Australia:PG | West Germany:16 (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Italy

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Goofs:

Factual errors: Throughout the scenes in which they appear, most of the nuns are wearing make-up. This would be most unlikely for nuns.

Soundtrack:

The Invaders

A greatly underrated Movie

I first saw this movie in 1960 when I was 10 and was taken to see it with my mother on our weekly Monday night visit to the Cinema. I didn't go out of choice, It was just for me and my mother to get out of my Fathers way so he could get on with jobs about the house. I can't remember many films that I saw at that time but this was one of the few that stuck in my mind. I suppose it was that I could identify with the Children as they were about my age and that it was about the war. Those of us born in the 40's and 50's grew up with stories about the war. It was certainly a topic for discussion I'm our household as my Father had been a radio operator in the RAF from 1939 onwards.

I can remember being deeply moved and disturbed by it even at that young age especially at the climatic ending. Since then I have seen it on TV as it occasionally pops up on UK TV often in the afternoons. The last time it appeared about 18 months ago I took the opportunity to record it on Video. I watch it when I need to renew my faith in mankind as it proves that even in the darkest times, there are people who will risk all for others and their beliefs and that goodness eventually triumphs over evil.