The Conspirators
(1944)
100 or 103 mins | Drama | 21 October 1944
Director:
Jean NegulescoWriters:
Vladimir Pozner, Leo RostenProducer:
Jack ChertokCinematographer:
Arthur EdesonEditor:
Rudi FehrProduction Designer:
Anton GrotProduction Company:
Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.The film's working title was Give Me This Woman. Author Frederic Prokosch's first name is spelled "Fredric" in the onscreen credits. HR news items add the following information about this production: Jack Chertok took over as producer from Hal B. Wallis when the latter ended his contract with the studio. Warner Bros. requested that David O. Selznick loan Joan Fontaine to the studio to perform in the picture. A 14 Oct 1943 LAT news item reported that Frank Gruber was writing the screenplay. According to the film's press releases, Helmut Dantine, Humphrey Bogart and Ann Sheridan were to star in the picture, which was first advertised as a Casablanca "reunion" (see above). Hedy Lamarr was borrowed from M-G-M for the film. ...
The film's working title was Give Me This Woman. Author Frederic Prokosch's first name is spelled "Fredric" in the onscreen credits. HR news items add the following information about this production: Jack Chertok took over as producer from Hal B. Wallis when the latter ended his contract with the studio. Warner Bros. requested that David O. Selznick loan Joan Fontaine to the studio to perform in the picture. A 14 Oct 1943 LAT news item reported that Frank Gruber was writing the screenplay. According to the film's press releases, Helmut Dantine, Humphrey Bogart and Ann Sheridan were to star in the picture, which was first advertised as a Casablanca "reunion" (see above). Hedy Lamarr was borrowed from M-G-M for the film.
After committing an act of sabotage against the Nazis, Vincent Van Der Lyn escapes from the Netherlands to neutral Portugal. At the border, Lisbon police captain Pereira questions Vincent about his activities and warns him to honor the country's neutrality. During the questioning, Lutzke, a German, notices that Vincent's passport was not stamped by the Vichy French border patrol and follows Vincent to a café. Outside the café, a man named Du Val is shot, and Irene Duchatel, who was just speaking with him, rushes inside and sits at Vincent's table to escape the police. Vincent is attracted to the beautiful Irene and buys her a drink, but a short time later, she pretends to make a phone call and slips out the back door. Determined to find her again, Vincent goes to a casino she had mentioned in passing. At first Irene denies that they have met before, then she warns Vincent not to contact her again. Later, Irene is joined by Hugo Von Mohr, an official in the German embassy, and Lutzke, and Vincent contacts Riccardo Quintanilla, the head of the resistance movement in Lisbon. Du Val's death has upset the group as he was supposed to brief Jennings, the man who is to replace Vincent in the Netherlands. Quintanilla informs Vincent that the death also means there is a traitor in the organization. Vincent offers to meet with Jennings the following evening. In the morning, Vincent meets Irene, having learned where she lives, and takes her for a drive in the country. When he tells her that he has fallen in love with her and asks her ...
After committing an act of sabotage against the Nazis, Vincent Van Der Lyn escapes from the Netherlands to neutral Portugal. At the border, Lisbon police captain Pereira questions Vincent about his activities and warns him to honor the country's neutrality. During the questioning, Lutzke, a German, notices that Vincent's passport was not stamped by the Vichy French border patrol and follows Vincent to a café. Outside the café, a man named Du Val is shot, and Irene Duchatel, who was just speaking with him, rushes inside and sits at Vincent's table to escape the police. Vincent is attracted to the beautiful Irene and buys her a drink, but a short time later, she pretends to make a phone call and slips out the back door. Determined to find her again, Vincent goes to a casino she had mentioned in passing. At first Irene denies that they have met before, then she warns Vincent not to contact her again. Later, Irene is joined by Hugo Von Mohr, an official in the German embassy, and Lutzke, and Vincent contacts Riccardo Quintanilla, the head of the resistance movement in Lisbon. Du Val's death has upset the group as he was supposed to brief Jennings, the man who is to replace Vincent in the Netherlands. Quintanilla informs Vincent that the death also means there is a traitor in the organization. Vincent offers to meet with Jennings the following evening. In the morning, Vincent meets Irene, having learned where she lives, and takes her for a drive in the country. When he tells her that he has fallen in love with her and asks her to join him in England, she explains that Hugo saved her from a concentration camp and that he is her husband. On returning to his hotel, Vincent finds a badly wounded Jennings in his room. Before Jennings dies, he manages to tell Vincent that his killer "took the eagle." Within minutes, the police arrive, having received an anonymous tip, and arrest Vincent for Jennings' murder. When Irene learns of the arrest, she tries to give Vincent an alibi, but Vincent accuses her of setting a trap for him. Later, Vincent escapes from jail and hides in the home of a fisherman sympathetic to the resistance. Quintanilla dispatches Irene to bring Vincent a gun. She explains that she is also a member of the underground, as is Hugo, and conducts him to Quintanilla. There, Vincent proves his innocence when he delivers Jennings' message about the eagle. Secretly, Vincent and Quintanilla set a trap for the traitor, who is revealed to be Hugo. When Hugo tries to escape, Vincent kills him and finds the "eagle," a coin used for identification by the resistance, in his pocket. Pereira witnesses the killing, but allows Vincent to go free. Vincent agrees to take Jennings' place and return to the Netherlands, and Irene promises to wait for his return.
TOP SEARCHES
That Forsyte Woman
The working title for this film was The Forsyte Saga . According to a pre-release news item in Time magazine, M-G-M decided to change the title ... >>
The Terminator
A full-page advertisement in the 24 Feb 1984 DV announced the recent start of principal photography, referring to the film by its working title, Terminator. ... >>
Pretty Baby
The summary and note for this entry were completed with participation from the AFI Academic Network. Summary and note were written by participant Jeremy Carr, Visiting Research Fellow ... >>