Conspirator

In this Cold War suspense drama from MGM and director Victor Saville, Melinda (Elizabeth Taylor) falls in love at first sight with British military officer Major Michael Curragh (Robert Taylor). They are soon wed and she couldn't be happier, only Michael has a secret: he's a spy working with the Soviets to steal British military secrets. He struggles to keep his double life a secret, but Melinda is the inquisitive sort, and Michael's handlers aren't too happy with the situation.

This is one of the first post war movies to feature the Soviets as the villains, taking the place of the usual Nazis. I guess it's appropriate that staunch conservative Robert Taylor should star. He's not too awful, still stiff as a board as usual, but a little expressive at times. His style is reminiscent of the 1930's, with his super-slick hair and pencil mustache, which only adds to one issue with the movie: the age difference between he and Liz. Robert was 38 and Liz was all of 16 years old when this was filmed, although she has the poise of an older woman. I was surprised to see Honor Blackman, later of TV's The Avengers and James Bond fame. I wasn't really aware that she acted this far back, but she was older than I thought, too; she was 23 when this was filmed. As for the movie itself, it's not terrible, but not very memorable, either. An adequate time-waster.

Excellent young adult performance by 18-year-old Elizabeth Taylor playing newlywed American living abroad whose soldier husband is up to no good: he's living a double life and is really a communist traitor! Underpopulated, underwritten melodrama does have one strong aspect: a surprisingly strong, spunky woman at the center of the story. Robert Taylor is solid as Taylor's 30-ish husband, but any psychological conflicts are not quick to come out (there is a tense duck-hunting scene where the couple runs into trouble, but it's just shucked off). Liz looks beautiful and gives a fairly complex portrayal here--her eyes glinting with suspicion and anger. The film isn't a classic--nor is it swill--but as a quickie product from MGM, it's probably better than it had to be. **1/2 from ****

I hate the word "dated", because it can only sensibly apply to a work in which the characters or plot don't reflect the era.

So, actually, what most of the internet educated IMDb users claim to be "dated" are often the only films not "dated". "Dated" means watching a movie about Wyatt Earp, and getting the feeling he has played video games instead of thinking about local events.

Here, we have a film that is definitely not dated. It deals with a handsome Communist spy who has to work his dealings around his personal life.

Robert Taylor's character is very credible, and multi dimensional. If this movie was made by one of the beavis and buttheads of today, he'd simply kill everyone who coughed when he told a lie. Yes, you're right. This would mean the world population would be zero humans within a month, and it makes no sense.

Here, in "Conspirator", he is a real person, and so is his wife, who is onto him. In dramatic style, they still want to work their relationship, and honestly, this is what people do, when they find something out about each other. Real people don't murder each other each time they find out a secret about each other.

We're shown early that the pace of the film skips over minor details, which modern writers deem so important. In one sense, some would say that "dates" this film, since it is more plot oriented, more Shakespeare than Tennessee Williams. Intricacies aren't explored as much. We're given the story line and the story, and the length of the movie allows for that.

Is it completely perfect? I don't think so. However, the characters are more credible for the time than people today can handle, so it probably isn't safe to show friends. People will have a problem with the iconoclastic attitude towards today's "everyone is a psychotic killer" philosophy.

Elizabeth Taylor is a lovely, vibrant American woman who falls in love with older Communist spy Robert Taylor in "Conspirator," a British film that was Elizabeth Taylor's entry into adult stardom.

She received her first screen kiss, in fact, from co-star Robert Taylor - not bad, but then, this is Elizabeth Taylor we're talking about.

The stars and supporting players (including a very young Honor Blackman) aren't the problem. For me the script and therefore the character actions are questionable.

Elizabeth is supposed to be passionately in love with her new husband, as well as insecure and naive. On learning Taylor, a British officer, is a Communist, she grows up fast. We're told. We really don't see it, nor are we given an idea of how much time has passed to give her an opportunity to reach this new maturity.

We're supposed to believe he was unable to stave her off with some tall story? Also, for a superficial young woman interested in redecorating her house, she certainly is suddenly a very committed patriot.

As for Robert Taylor, a man who's been involved with the party for so many years would certainly have known the trouble he'd be in for failing to carry out orders and how bad it would look to beg for help and make excuses. Come on.

There's nothing wrong with the acting, and Elizabeth Taylor is dazzlingly beautiful, though in my opinion, it will be a couple of more years before her beauty truly is at its height. But she certainly performs her adult role well.

Robert Taylor is appropriately dashing and menacing, with his widow's peak, something my mother always mentioned about him, in full prominence. They certainly made a beautiful couple. But in "Conspirator," alas, they're not meant to be.

Robert Taylor was always considered a handsome actor and not a great actor. In fact he was fascinating to watch in the few color Westerns and costume dramas that he did towards the end of his career.

"Conspirator" is an exceptional film that allowed him to be a dashing villain--somewhat like his roles in "Undercurrent" and as the anti-hero in "Ride, Vaquero". What was interesting to note some 53 years after the film was made was the undeniable fact that Robert Taylor stole the scenes from Elizabeth Taylor, who undeniably proved to be a great actress in later films in her Burton years.

The Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde format of the story allowed Taylor to give a glimpse of what he could do on screen even when the story of a bumbling spy who was a senior army officer insults the average moviegoers' intelligence.