Conspiracy

Conspiracy is a 1939 American spy drama film directed by Lew Landers, from a screenplay by Jerome Chodorov, based on the story, "Salute to Hate", by John McCarthy and Faith Thomas. The film stars Allan Lane, Linda Hayes, and Robert Barrat, and was produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, who premiered the film in New York City on August 23, 1939, with a general release on September 1. Plot Steve Kendall is an American working as a telegraph operator aboard a cargo ship. He inadvertently discovers that his ship is carrying contraband arms, when a revolutionary agent forces him to send a message to his fellow revolutionaries ashore. The secret police catch the two together and the revolutionary is shot dead as he attempts to jump overboard. Having seen the two of them together, the police mistakenly believe Kendall to be in league with the local revolutionaries. As they near port, Kendall dives overboard and swims ashore. Being chased by the militia and police, he winds up meeting a local member of the revolutionary party, Nedra who was also the sister of the dead revolutionary. Prior to her brother's death, Neadra's group had been planning to hijack the illegal arms on Kendall's ship. Nedra introduces Kendall to Tio, an American expatriate who runs a local dance hall. Tio agrees to hide him in the basement of the hall, while Nedra tries to figure a way to smuggle Kendall out of the country. Eventually Nedra arranges transport for Kendall on a steamship heading north. Before he can make good his escape, the police descend on Tio's, forcing not only Kendall to flee, but Tio and his friend, Studs, as well. The police chase them via speedboat, heading them off at the steamship. The group heads back to land, where Tio radios a call for help. After a gunfight, the foursome escape via seaplane to the United States, where, after they arrive, Nedra tearfully lets them know that she has to go back and help her comrades in their fight for freedom. Cast Allan Lane as Steve Kendall Linda Hayes as Nedra Robert Barrat as Tio Charley Foy as Studs Lionel Royce as Lieutenant J. Farrell MacDonald as Captain Lester Matthews as Gair Henry Brandon as Carlson William Von Brincken as Wilson Solly Ward as Dr. Fromm John Laing as Inspector Orderly Dwight Frye as Lieutenant Keller John Laird as Radio operator Al Herman as Bartender Fred Rapport as Walter)