The Conspirators

The Conspirators

Year: 1944

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: English

Director: Jean Negulesco

DramaThriller

A guerilla leader falls in love with a mysterious woman in World War II Lisbon.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Conspirators (1944)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Conspirators (1944). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

World War II, early 1940s

The events unfold during World War II, a period when espionage and resistance movements defined life across Europe. Portugal’s neutrality provides a precarious haven for spies and refugees alike. The tension of the era amplifies every decision, as trust is scarce and betrayal can be deadly.

Location

Lisbon, Estoril, England

Set across wartime Portugal and the surrounding theater of occupation, the story moves through Lisbon’s streets and the Estoril coast. Lisbon acts as a neutral hub where passports and visas are checked, masking deeper currents of covert activity. The Estoril Casino serves as a bustling cover for clandestine meetings and tense confrontations between resistance members and German operatives. The plot also traces a route toward England, underscoring escape and peril during World War II.

❄️ War 🕵️ Espionage 🎭 Thriller

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:58

Main Characters – The Conspirators (1944)

Meet the key characters of The Conspirators (1944), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Vincent Van Der Lyn (Paul Henreid)

A Dutch schoolteacher who becomes a determined resistance fighter, bravely taking on dangerous missions against the Nazi network. He is resourceful and courageous, yet increasingly tested by deceit within his own circle. His romance with Irene adds a personal dimension to the political struggle.

🛡️ Brave 🧠 Cunning ❤️ Romantic

Irene Von Mohr (Hedy Lamarr)

A beautiful stranger who emerges as a covert resistance ally, masking her true loyalties behind charm and secrecy. Her past and ambitions keep Vincent guessing, and her actions pull him deeper into a dangerous game of trust. She evolves from a wary contact to a pivotal ally in the resistance.

❤️ Ambiguous 🕵️‍♀️ Mysterious 🛡️ Loyal

Ricardo Quintanilla (Sydney Greenstreet)

Leader of the resistance group who coordinates operations and keeps a watchful eye for potential traitors within the team. He orchestrates plans with measured caution and uses tactical deception to expose the betrayer. His role blends pragmatism with a strong sense of duty to the cause.

🧭 Leader 🗺️ Strategist

Hugo Von Mohr (Victor Francen)

A high-ranking German diplomatic official who is revealed to be deeply embedded with the German effort. His refined exterior masks a calculating, dangerous agenda, making him a central antagonist. His past with Irene adds a personal layer to the conflict.

🕴️ Antagonist 💼 Diplomat

Jan Bernazsky (Peter Lorre)

A member of the resistance who helps coordinate the network and passes information to leaders like Quintanilla. He embodies the cautious, calculating mindset necessary to survive in a clandestine world. His presence helps maintain the thread of suspicion that runs through the group.

🧭 Ally 🗺️ Strategist

Anton Wynat (Gregory Gaye)

Norwegian member of the resistance, playing a key role in gathering intelligence and supporting the group’s operations. His involvement illustrates the international scope of the resistance network. He contributes to the shared efforts against the occupiers.

🤝 Ally 🗺️ Operative

Captain Pereira (Joseph Calleia)

A police captain who balances skepticism with pragmatic cooperation. He serves as both a foil to the resistance and a crucial ally in the plan to trap the traitor. His measured approach helps navigate the delicate balance between authority and insurgency.

👮 Authority 🧭 Skeptic

Otto Lutzke (Kurt Katch)

A German agent tailing Van Der Lyn, whose duplicity and ruthlessness threaten the resistance. He embodies the seductive danger of the occupier and acts as the primary antagonist in the pursuit. His eventual exposure unfolds in a tense confrontation.

🕵️ Antagonist 🧨 Traitor

Jennings (Monte Blue)

Van Der Lyn’s replacement contact who dies, triggering a critical turn in the mission. His disappearance marks the high stakes of the spy game and pushes the narrative toward the revelation of the traitor. His brief involvement leaves a lasting impact on the investigation.

💀 Victim 🕵️‍♂️ Catalyst

Miguel (Vladimir Sokoloff)

An underground member whose presence signals the broader reach of the resistance across occupied Europe. He participates in the efforts to safeguard plans and expose the traitor. His actions contribute to the collective push against the Nazi network.

🗝️ Underground 🧭 Ally

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:58

Major Themes – The Conspirators (1944)

Explore the central themes of The Conspirators (1944), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Espionage

Espionage drives the plot as undercover operatives, coded tips, and shifting loyalties ripple through the resistance and the German pursuit. Alliances are tested as secrets surface and the line between ally and traitor blurs. The narrative builds suspense around who controls the information and who can be trusted with it.

❤️ Love

A dangerous romance complicates duty, as Vincent and Irene's relationship strains the boundaries between personal attachment and mission obligations. Irene's hidden loyalties and past wounds raise the stakes, forcing both characters to weigh love against the risk to the resistance. The affair personalizes the political conflict, intensifying every choice they make.

🤝 Trust

Trust is continually tested as traitors lurk within the circle and every lead could be a trap. The group must decide whether to reveal plans or conceal them to protect the mission, often at the cost of personal safety. The casino finale hinges on a shared belief in each other’s honesty, making truth and timing the decisive weapons.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 14:58

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World War II Espionage Movies with Forbidden Romance like The Conspirators

High-stakes spy missions entangled with dangerous and passionate love affairs.Discover movies like The Conspirators that blend tense WWII spy thrillers with passionate, high-stakes romance. If you enjoyed the dangerous liaison in Lisbon, you'll find similar stories of love and loyalty tested by the shadows of espionage and betrayal.

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Narrative Summary

Stories typically follow an agent or resistance fighter whose cover and mission are complicated by a romantic entanglement with someone who may be an ally, a target, or an enemy. The plot intertwines the progress of a crucial mission—like finding a traitor or delivering information—with the development of a risky relationship, forcing characters to choose between duty and heart.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their unique combination of a historically tense setting, the intellectual puzzle of spycraft, and the raw, emotional weight of a romance blossoming under impossible circumstances. They share a mood of suspense, passion, and moral ambiguity.

Paranoid Thrillers About Betrayal Like The Conspirators

Stories where no one can be trusted, and the true enemy is hidden within.If you liked the tense hunt for a traitor in The Conspirators, explore more paranoid thrillers where trust is a liability. These movies keep you guessing with stories of infiltration, double-crosses, and the psychological toll of not knowing who to believe.

paranoidsuspensefulclaustrophobicbetrayaltenseuntrustworthypsychological

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a close-knit group—a resistance cell, a team of agents, a crew—being undermined by a mole. The protagonist must investigate their own comrades while continuing a dangerous operation, leading to a claustrophobic atmosphere of accusation and fear. The climax often reveals the betrayer in a shocking confrontation.

Why These Movies?

These films are united by their core focus on psychological tension derived from internal threat. They share a specific mood of claustrophobic paranoia, a steady pacing that builds suspicion, and a plot structure that makes the audience question every character's motives.

Unlock the Full Story of The Conspirators

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Conspirators in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Conspirators is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Conspirators Summary

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The Conspirators Summary

The Conspirators Timeline

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The Conspirators Timeline

The Conspirators Spoiler-Free Summary

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The Conspirators Spoiler-Free Summary

More About The Conspirators

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