The Conspirators (Warner Bros.) (1944)

Warners’ ‘The Conspirators’ Dramatizes Today's News (Current Theatre Story) That Warner Bros. possess a penchant for bringing to the screen those spots on the map where things are popping loudest is a fact long acknowledged by moviegoers throughout the land. Moscow (‘‘Mission to Moscow’), Casablanca (“Casablanca’’), Marseille (‘Passage to Marseille”), are but a few of the cities, which read like a list of newspaper headlines, brought to the screen by Warner Bros.’ cameras. The most recent case in point is “The Conspirators,” now at the Strand, starring Hedy Lamarr and Paul Henreid. The Portuguese capital of Lisbon, transformed into a cauldron of romance and intrigue by a world at war, where spies and counter-spies, Nazis and anti-Nazis, soldiers of fortune and cringing refugees from the abattoir that was _ occupied Europe, rub elbows, is the stage for this absorbing mystery-romance and the pictorial journey into its seething environs is fraught with dramatie impact and emotional stimulation. Besides Hedy Lamarr and Paul Henreid, as the lovers beset by the fortunes of war, “The Conspirators” also boasts the presence of Sydney Greenstreet, Victor Francen and Peter Lorre, those sterling exponents of evil: and crime who contributed much of the tension to Warners’ recent “The Mask of Dimitrios.” Adapted from the widely read Fredric Prokosch novel of the same name, the film travels the identical highway leading to romance, adventure and sudden death as set down in the book. Also on hand in finely etched portraits of protagonists of violence and crime are Joseph Calleia and Edward Ciannelli. Carol Thurston, youthful Warner: starlet, contributes an effective portrayal of a Portuguese fishermaid who provides succor for the harried’ Paul Henreid. Monte Blue and Kurt Katch also furnish capable characterizations in lesser roles. Founded by the legendary Ulysses, the city of: Lisbon is prominent throughout the world as a prolific contributor to centuries of history. Known: best as the city whose ports in 1588 sent forth the Spanish Armada to its doom in English waters, Lisbon is also noted as the metropolis that saw 15th Century discoverers Vasco da Gama and Bartholomeo Diaz sally out in: search of new worlds; and as an oasis for victims of the present war. Should your city’s archives contain any events of historical or current significance don’t be surprised if eventually such Warner Bros.’ expositors of cimema artistry as Jean Negulesco, who directed “The Conspirators,” for Producer Jack Chertok; writers Vladimir Pozner and Leo Rosten and Max Steiner, contributor of the film’s musical background, begin excavations for the purpose of screening your town. Fes Mat No. 202; Still HL2; 30c Lovely Hedy Lamarr, who plays a woman torn between love and loyalty in Warner Bros.’ newest dramatic hit, "The Conspirators,"" coming Friday to the Strand. Paul Henreid is co-starred. Peter Lorre Gave Hedy Lamarr Her First Job You and Hedy Lamarr probably wouldn’t agree on what is interesting about her. Perhaps you’d like to know something about her private life or the state of her romance with John Loder. But she herself thinks the most interesting thing that happened to her in recent weeks was her meeting with Peter Lorre. They walked across a floor, shook hands, and she _ said, “Hello, Peter.” It was at Warner Bros., and he was going into her film, “The Conspirators.” That was a notable experience for the star, and here is why she thinks so: Lorre was in the first picture she ever made, many years ago in Vienna. He was the star, and the film was called “The Trunks of Mr. O. F.” “T had gone out to the studio the day before” recounted Miss Lamarr. “I wanted to get a job as script girl. They told me to come back the next day: “I did and as I sat in the reception room I heard someone complain that they had found no one to play a certain minor role. I sat there for a minute, and then I got up and said, ‘I want to play that part.’ “The man looked at me coldly for a moment, and then he asked, ‘What experience have you had?’ . “At that moment Peter canie along. It was. the first time I had heard his sharp tongue. “If you ask me, her experi ence is of no importance,’ Peter drawled. ‘You look at her face.’ “I got the part. And, oh yes, one thing more. Peter didn’t say that just to be nice to me. He has a horror of saying nice things to anyone, bless him. It was just a chance to insult that man.” Ru AGr Besides Miss Lamarr who is co-starred with Paul Henreid in “The Conspirators,” and Peter Lorre, the cast also includes Sydney Greenstreet and Victor Francen. It opens Friday at the Strand. might take a HEDY RECEIVES YUGOSLAV KISS VIA GARFIELD John Garfield personally dilivered a kiss to Hedy Lamarr from Anton Drojnic, who first made love to her on the screen, and whom Garfield met recently among Yugoslav partisans in Italy. He introduced himself to Garfield when the star visited the combat areas. “Please kiss Hedy for me,” he said. Garfield obliged when he visited her on the Warners’ set where she was making “The Conspirators,” with Paul Henreid. This is the filmization of the Fredric Prokosch novel by the same name which opens Friday at the Strand. ARNG ores ea ees AE a Hedy Lamarr WinGOut oss cree Ais sda cas ee Paul Henreid PTC ee Sess ons dbgdtecacaksscactecias Sydney Greenstreet BOrnazsey «25 cisc. csc cces Te Set ee ea Bie w.Peter Lorre Me Trelis ss cscs asp savdcahesstnsicninahis Victor Francen dives" BEE “ETT hs Remuera pa Rp en UE a Joseph Calleia SOIR SLL te ee OR REET PRE RART Carol Thurston — OTS) ie at ee nin ES 25 Ieee ee Vladimir Sokoloff | vg Lo Lo ire IEORS eRe SEE rey (Ps peat Reine EE Edward Ciannelli Wey GRD oo skal vac scs csi ato sclentnanks Steven Geray PUR koe oe ce ee Kurt Katch Ady 2 22. aa Inne RGR Cee Ay Senay ye Ree eed Gregory Gay ROM eo iw sskins snide Marcel Dalio PG CA I ee ek George Macready Wires ORBON ooo iis fickss das ccdkepee ttc oe Doris Lloyd | aT Re Pm eitiy e's ening” Rape et Pe A aT Se Louis Mercier JOUNING 3... 2 bs-cc5 ccs Ae Re ae op IC pe Monte Blue POO OY ooscire Aes arencicow creo ae Billy Roy Amen’ 6554... nee. eee David Hoffman POT POUIIOR Ais tee eee Otto Reichow gf PRR RS a ep he tis SERIE aeons Leon Belasco Casing Atterichcnits sc. 5c...-...sosc oat atiseat Frank Reicher SYNOPSIS (Not for Publication) Lisbon, Portugal of early 1944 was a city whose streets teemed with Nazis and anti-Nazis, soldiers of fortune and refugees from occupied Europe. Into this maelstrom arrives Vincent Van der Lyn (Paul Henreid), member of the Dutch underground— famed for his exploits in sabotage against the Nazis, come to contact confederates headed by Quintanilla (Sydney Greenstreet), aided by Bernazsky (Peter Lorre). At the Cafe Imperium, Vincent meets Irene (Hedy Lamarr), who, in gratitude for saving her life, has married Hugo Von Mohr (Victor Francen), member of the German Legation. Unknown to Vincent, Irene is also a member of the underground. The group is about to send another agent into occupied Europe. Vincent is to see him that night but enroute he stops to visit Irene who arouses suspicion by seeming to wish to detain him. When he arrives at his room, Vincent finds the agent near death, the victim of assassins. But before he dies he breathes out: "Tell Quintanilla they took the eagle.” Vincent is placed under arrest as a suspect by the Portuguese police but escapes and rejoins Quintanilla. Quintanilla tells Vincent three things: That Von Mohr, | Irene’s husband, is an anti-Nazi, a member of their organization; that the eagle taken from their assassinated agent is an underground passport, and that the killing indicates the presence of a traitor among their group, the shadow of suspicion not even escaping § Vincent. Vincent protests his loyalty and evolves a plan whereby the killer may be caught. That night Quin- tanilla summons all members to the gambling casino. — Quintanilla, master psy The atmosphere is tense. chologist, traps Von Mohr into betraying himself. Von Mohr makes his escape, Vincent pursues him and in. the pursuit, Vincint shoots Von Mohr to death. On Von Mohr’s body he finds the eagle taken from . the slain agent. Vincent takes the eagle. He will carry it as his passport on the impending mission to the underground behind Nazi lines. On the eve of his departure, Irene and Vincent promise their love to each other. Running Time: 101 Minutes PRODUCTION Directed by Jean Negulesco; Screen Play by Vladi mir Pozner and Leo Rosten; Additional Dialogue by — Jack Moffitt. From the novel by Fredric Prokosch. Mu-_ sic by Max Steiner. Produced by Jack Chertok: Photo graphed by Arthur Edeson, ASC. Art Director, Anton . Grot; Film Editor, Rudi Fehr. Sound by Robert B. Lee. :; Herschel Daugherty: Technical: ' Advisor, Henry Da Silva. Special Effects by William © Dialogue Director, McGann, Director—Willard Van Enger. Set Decora tions by Walter Tilford. Montages by James Leicester... Gowns by Leah Rhodes. Makeup Artist, Perc West. more. Orchestral Arrangements by Leonid. Raab... Musical Director, Leo F. Forbstein. Assistant Director, . Reggie Callow. i 3