Conspiracy
Brief Description:
After spending years helping her D.A. brother build a case against a drug gang, Margaret Holt kills its leader and goes into hiding at a home for women.
(from Tubi)
Date: 1930
Genre: American pre-Code mystery melodrama film
Running time: 1 hour 8 minutes
Cast:
Bessie Love (Margaret)
Ned Sparks (Clavering)
Hugh Trevor (Howell)
Rita La Roy (Nita)
Ivan Lebedeff (Miller)
Gertrude Howard (Martha)
Otto Matieson (Marko)
Jane Keckley (Miss Towne)
Donald MacKenzie (McLeod)
George Irving (Uncle Mark)
Bert Moorehouse (Victor)
Walter Long (Weinberg)
Director: Christy Cabanne
Production company: RKO Pictures
Based on: The Conspiracy by Robert B. Baker & John Emerson
(watched on Tubi)
Setting/Aesthetic/Feel: 5/5
So apparently Conspiracy has always been considered a bad film. Well, it’s one of my favourites. This is so much better than “Alias Mary Smith.” I love the 1930 setting, and I love the Neighbourhood Home, and I LOVE Clavering’s house…
Characters: 5/5
I also love Margaret. She’s such an intriguing character, the traditional weak, nervous, faintish damsel in distress, absolutely unable to hide her true emotions, yet surprisingly strong in moments of conflict. I just loved her. I also loved Howell. I don’t usually like irreverent young men, but he certainly isn’t fresh, and he means well, and everyone else tolerates and likes him, so… yeah. Besides, he actually made me laugh aloud twice. Mr. Clavering was so much fun—always insulting everyone and having such a tender heart; and he was so clever and eccentric and just amusing. I liked Miss Rose & Victor & Uncle Mark—briefly as they appeared—and Nita + Miller + Weinburg + Marko are good villains. Martha was clearly the stereotypical dumb black character thrown in for comic relief, which decreases my enjoyment of the film for sure. But I enjoyed her humour. (Laughed aloud at “HALLELUJAH!”) And MacLeod was a great take on the stereotypical police captain—not dumb, and very genial.
Plot: 5/5
The film is certainly melodramatic, but I like it. Margaret Holt kills in self-defence and flees, trying to stay ahead of the police. She manages to for a while—but then the true crime writer, Mr. Clavering, discovers her trail and takes it up unwaveringly… all unknowing that his new stenographer is Margaret. I loved seeing Jack trying to take care of her and rescue her brother (and include her uncle!), and I enjoyed all the ups and downs of humour and thrill as Margaret gets closer and closer to being caught. The ending is epic and SO much fun, as well as suspenseful! And did I mention I love the humour?
Romance: 5/5
Jack & Margaret 4 ever. ;)
Content: 4/5 (low)
Smoking, a kiss or two, low-necked dresses (particularly Nita’s), some mild language, racism (although since Mr. C. insults everyone I find it hard to tell if he’s being racist or just lovingly insulting as always, and same with Jack).
Violence: 4/5 (low)
Non-graphic on-screen murder; threats.
Overall: 4.5/5
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