The Conspirators (1944)

Vincent Van Der Lyn, a Dutch freedom fighter in WWII, is forced to neutral Lisbon to escape the Nazis. There he meets a small band of underground conspirators. The group's leader, Ricardo ... See full summary »

Director:

Jean Negulesco

Writers:

Frederic Prokosch (novel) (as Fredric Prokosch), Vladimir Pozner (screenplay)

Stars:

Hedy Lamarr, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Hedy Lamarr	...	Irene Von Mohr
Paul Henreid	...	Vincent Van Der Lyn
Sydney Greenstreet	...	Ricardo Quintanilla
Peter Lorre	...	Jan Bernazsky
Victor Francen	...	Hugo Von Mohr
Joseph Calleia	...	Police Captain Pereira
Carol Thurston	...	Rosa
Vladimir Sokoloff	...	Miguel
Eduardo Ciannelli	...	Police Colonel Almeida (as Edward Ciannelli)
Steven Geray	...	Dr. Schmitt
Kurt Katch	...	Otto Lutzke

Storyline

Vincent Van Der Lyn, a Dutch freedom fighter in WWII, is forced to neutral Lisbon to escape the Nazis. There he meets a small band of underground conspirators. The group's leader, Ricardo Quintanilla, knows that one of their number is spying for the Nazis, and needs Van Der Lyn to help identify the traitor.

---

Plot Keywords:

nazi | lisbon portugal | war refugee | trap | train | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller | War

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

24 October 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Les conspirateurs

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film's earliest documented telecasts took place in Tucson Monday 6 August 1956 on KDWI (Channel 9), in Los Angeles Friday 14 September 1956 on KNXT (Channel 2), in Indianapolis Wednesday 3 October 1956 on WISH (Channel 8), in Miami Sunday 11 November 1956 on WTVJ (Channel 4), in Portland OR Wednesday 21 November 1956 on KOIN (Channel 6), in Spokane Sunday 2 December 1956 on KREM (Channel 2), in Bellingham WA Wednesday 5 December 1956 on KVOS (Channel 12), in Albuquerque Saturday 8 December 1956 on KOB (Channel 4), and in Cincinnati Wednesday 12 December 1956 on WKRC (Channel 12).

---

Goofs

When an aerial map of Lisbon is shown, it does not look at all like it, and resembles an aerial view of the China territory of Macau and Taipa Island, then under Portuguese administration.

---

Quotes

Vincent Van Der Lyn: Can I have butter, as much butter as I want?
Vincent's Waiter: Certainly sir. What else
Vincent Van Der Lyn: Don't rush me please. I want white bread, lots of butter. Steak, that thick, medium rare. Sauce moyeunaise. Lyonnaise potatoes, green salad. Do you have any Holland cheese?
Vincent's Waiter: Yes senor. Edam and Gouda. Germans sell us lots of it
Vincent Van Der Lyn: Then I won't have it. And for dessert, ah, Crepe Suzette made with good Dutch Curaçao. And coffee, real coffee.
Vincent's Waiter: Will that be all senor?
Vincent Van Der Lyn: I have been planning this dinner for three years.

---

Connections

Spoofed in Top Secret! (1984)

---

Soundtracks

Maringá
(1932) (uncredited)
Written by Joubert de Carvalho
Played on a concertina and guitar by two unidentified men in the fishing village, and sung by them

User Reviews

Hedy Lamarr is a beautiful but boring enigma as a woman of mystery...

All the ingredients that made CASABLANCA such a mega-hit are present in THE CONSPIRATORS, but not one of the ingredients is able to put the film over the top as a story of intrigue, espionage and romance.

What's surprising is that the film fails to sustain interest despite a great supporting cast that includes PETER LORRE, SYDNEY GREENSTREET and VICTOR FRANCEN. Also surprising is the fact that it's directed by Jean Negulesco, who did such a brilliant job on the direction of JOHNNY BELINDA. The script is a talky, muddled bit of contrivances and clichés, with Henried as a Dutch freedom fighter in Lisbon clashing with the Nazis and falling under the spell of a beautiful woman who guards her secrets.

HEDY LAMARR is lovely, of course, but her characterization is so paper-thin that all we can really see is her exotic glamor, without much passion or feeling below the make-up. Nor is PAUL HENRIED seen at his best, more remote than usual in what should have been a much stronger role but is dulled by a witless script and a co-star with whom he has very little chemistry.

The convoluted plot doesn't give the supporting actors much to do and it's somewhat of a relief when the story comes to downbeat ending.