The Conspirators (1944)

During WW2, in neutral Portugal, a Dutch resistance fighter is attempting to find passage to England while trying to avoid Nazi spies and Portuguese policemen.

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.

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Plot Keywords:

train | psychotronic film | nazi | lisbon portugal | war refugee | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English German French

Release Date:

24 October 1944 (USA)

Also Known As:

Give Me This Woman

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

A modern source lists Marcel Dalio in the role of "Croupier," but the only croupier seen in the movie was Alphonse Martell.

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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.

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Quotes

Vincent Van Der Lyn: It's late.
Irene Von Mohr: Don't go yet!
Vincent Van Der Lyn: There is no time.
Irene Von Mohr: Forget time. Just one other moment.
Vincent Van Der Lyn: There will never be enough time, Irene.

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Connections

Spoofed in Top Secret! (1984)

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Soundtracks

Rua do Capelão
(uncredited)
Sung by Aurora Miranda

User Reviews

Superficial, disjointed WWII intrigue film with good supporting cast

A Casablanca clone that never quite gels. Paul Henreid, as Van der Lyn is no Rick Blaine (or even Victor Laszlo for that matter), but is good enough given the support he receives from proved character actors Greenstreet, Lorre, Francen, et al. Henreid hasn't the cynical streak that Bogie's Blaine had. He's too soft, and as a result his portrayal as Dutch freedom fighter "the Flying Dutchman" doesn't quite stick.

Lamarr (as Irene Von Mohr) is presented more as a polished trophy than any integral member of an underground resistance, showing off a different exotic costume and head-cover in every scene. She IS nice to look at, but after the film is over, can anyone remember what she said or did that was so special?

Peter Lorre is in his usual role, exuding a bit of quirky character depth and endearing himself to the viewer in his limited screen time. He gets in the best lines of the movie-- the "cuckoo clock" story.

Greenstreet, though definitely a presence, doesn't do much. He laughs like the "Fat Man" a few times and throws out that famous glare of his a couple more, but the viewer never gets any more than that. Anyway, how can a guy named "Ricardo Quintanilla" come across with a royal English accent???

The climax of the movie is fairly predictable. It reminds me more of the outcome of an average game of Clue. Most of the main characters of the movie are there, yet no one really does anything. This goes on for about ten minutes.

In my opinion, I find Carol Thurston's "Rosa" character much more interesting (and attractive) than Hedy's. At least she's accessible to the average non-freedom fighter. Unfortunately, these are the only two females in the whole film.

David Hoffman plays Vincent Van der Lyn's broken cell-mate in the Lisbon prison. Watch his scenes closely. It is these types of brief character portrayals that give the film some of its most memorable moments.

Overall the atmosphere of this film is quite good, especially in the scenes of the rural fishing village. Still, the viewer never really understands the reasons everything is so darn important. Characters walk around in this great atmosphere and the viewer must assume that they are coming from doing important things, or going off to do important things-- things that could either make or break the resistance movement against the Nazis. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite add up.

My advice is to either hang out at the fishing village, or leave Portugal, set sail a bit south and visit "Casablanca" instead.