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Wednesday, January 30, 2013

The Conspirators (1944)

After committing various acts of sabotage against the Nazis, a Dutch resistance fighter (Paul Henreid) escapes to Lisbon where he finds romance with a mysterious woman (Hedy Lamarr). But while working for the underground in neutral Portugal, he is framed for murder. By the Nazis? Or a traitor among the underground? The success of CASABLANCA wasn't lost on Warner Brothers, hence this pale concoction of WWII romance and intrigue with Lisbon subbing for Casablanca. In addition to Henreid, other CASABLANCA veterans include Peter Lorre and Sydney Greenstreet. But it's a plodding affair with an unnecessarily complicated plot. Henreid was never very interesting as a leading man and he's certainly no substitute for Bogart and while Lamarr is as beautiful as Bergman, she doesn't have anything else to offer. Directed by Jean Negulesco (JOHNNY BELINDA) with a score by Max Steiner (who seems to think he's in Spain rather than Portugal). With Joseph Calleia, Vladimir Sokoloff, Eduardo Ciannelli, Steven Geray, Anthony Caruso and George Macready.

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