Rent Conspiracy of Hearts (1960)
3.6 of 5 from 54 ratings
1h 48min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
An order of Italian nuns, led by Mother Katharine (Lilli Palmer), smuggle Jewish children out of a nearby internment camp. The Italian army under the leadership of Major Vittorio Spoletti (Ronald Lewis) have always turned a blind eye. The situation changes once the Germans take over the camp under the leadership of Colonel Horsten (Albert Lieven) and they are determined to see the children remain imprisoned. The ruthless Horsten repeatedly confronts Mother Katharine suspecting she is involved in the childrens escape and a battle of faith and might ensues. The nun's activities become increasingly more dangerous and this threatens the unity of the Holy Order. When a Rabbi is invited into the convent and is tracked down by the pursuing Germans the film reaches its dramatic climax. - Actors:
- Lilli Palmer, Sylvia Syms, Yvonne Mitchell, Ronald Lewis, Albert Lieven, Peter Arne, Nora Swinburne, Michael Goodliffe, Megs Jenkins, David Kossoff, Jenny Laird, George Coulouris, Phyllis Neilson-Terry, Rebecca Dignam, Joseph Cuby, Maureen Pryor, Robert Rietty, Giulio Marchetti, Enzo Fiermonte
- Directors:
- Ralph Thomas
- Producers:
- Betty E. Box
- Writers:
- Adrian Scott, Robert Presnell Jr.
- Studio:
- Strawberrry
- Genres:
- Drama
- Collections:
- A Brief History of Films About Nuns, British WWII Films: The Home Front and Europe, Drama Films & TV, Getting to Know..., Introducing a British Film Family, A Brief History of Film...
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Reviews (2) of Conspiracy of Hearts
All Heart. Pity About The Rest. - Conspiracy of Hearts review by NC
First thing to say about these hearts is that they are 100% in the right place. I'm afraid that is the only positive point in its favour, for even the most perfectly made cherry pie becomes inedible if gallons of thick treacle are poured over it. No cloying sentiment is left unsaid. No cliched character is left uncast. No predictable situation is left unexplored. Gorge cannot help but rise after the umpteenth time the children are called 'angels' or 'cherubim'. It may be argued that this was a product of its time, (1960), when a high level of sentiment was a more common trait. But directors like Karoly Makk and Konrad Wolf were around then, and O how one wishes someone of that standing could have been at the helm.
No actor can be singled out, as no-one had the ability to rise above the saccharine script.
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Wartime Melodrama. - Conspiracy of Hearts review by Steve
Sentimental WWII melodrama set in a convent in Tuscany in 1943 which operates as a safe house for the transit of Jewish children out of fascist Italy. After the assassination of Mussolini, the Nazis take over security of the nearby prisoner of war camp and threaten to brutally crush the humanitarian work of the nuns.
Its big strength is the location shoot in the sunny Italian campagna, especially the fourteenth century monastery, which gives the film atmosphere and authenticity. Some of the dialogue is excellent, particularly the psychological manoeuvres between the mother superior (Lilli Palmer) and the German officer (Albert Lieven).
The nuns are archetypes, with Sylvia Syms a sensual novice and Yvonne Mitchell a scary fundamentalist. The German officers are ultra-sadistic, but this feels more melodramatic than realistic, driving the suspenseful plot to a frantic climax. Will the Nazis discover the hidden kids during their (noisy) religious ceremony?
Setting aside historical fidelity, ultimately the film is spoiled by an excess of the cutes. The performances of the children are badly misjudged, which is the director's fault. And this is exaggerated by the lush, romantic soundtrack. And transforming this holocaust story into a manipulative tearjerker feels like a failure of judgement.
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