Conspiracy of Hearts

1960

1h 51m

Drama

List

71%

Tomatometer

7 Reviews

75%

Audience Score

50+ Ratings

During World War II, Mother Superior Katharine (Lilli Palmer) oversees a picturesque Italian convent and makes it her duty to smuggle out the Jewish children from a nearby concentration camp. The nuns in her charge react in different ways: While sensitive novice Sister Mitya (Sylvia Syms) takes a special interest in the refugees, worldly Sister Gerta (Yvonne Mitchell) is reluctant to get involved at all. After the Nazis occupy the convent, their situation becomes dire.

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David Parkinson

Time Out

If you want to know what the ultimately synthetic box-office film would look like, then try this weepie.

Oct 25, 2015

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

The pathos of little children caught in the agony of war is always a solid staple of sentiment on the screen. It has been well and touchingly presented in any number of films. And it is offered again with deep compassion in "Conspiracy of Hearts" ...

Oct 25, 2015

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

A highly accomplished tearjerker from Britain, and worth seeing for its warmth of feeling - even though you are aware all along that you are being "worked on" by a team of professional sentimentalists.

Dec 11, 2019

Full Review

Isabel Quigly

The Spectator

It's the sort of film where in a crisis nuns roll their eyes skywards and slowly murmur, with clasped hands, things like : 'Sweet Jesus, have mercy.'

Jul 20, 2018

Full Review

TV Guide

Among the cast, the kids are the scene-stealers, and it is to Syms' credit that she is able to hold her own with them on several occasions.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 25, 2015

Full Review

Film4 Staff

Film4

A sincere and involving celebration of the human heart that manages to sell its moving story without relying on mere sentimentality.

Oct 25, 2015

Full Review

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Audience Member

Wartime drama with a lot of heart as the name suggests, there's also quite a lot of tension too with the German interest in the convent. Slow, but the dialogue is good.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

Full Review

Audience Member

ok post WWII pic about WWII

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

well umn just seen this movie 4 the 1st time n think that this is a good movie 2 watch,.....its got a good cast of actors/actressess throughout this movie....i think that lilli palmer, sylvia syms, yvonne mitchell. ronald lewis play good roles/parts throughout this movie....i think that the director of this drama/war/classics movie had done a good job of directing this movie because you never know what 2 expect throughout this movie.....i think that this is a really powerful drama movie 2 watch with a good cast throughout this movie n this is a sad movie 2 watch as well but its a good movie 2 watch

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/27/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Nuns smuggling Jewish children from an Italian interment camp - it had a fairly predictable plot and characterisation.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/23/23

Full Review

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Ralph Thomas

Director

Lilli Palmer

Mother Katharine

Sylvia Syms

Sister Mitya

Yvonne Mitchell

Sister Gerta

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Synopsis

During World War II, Mother Superior Katharine (Lilli Palmer) oversees a picturesque Italian convent and makes it her duty to smuggle out the Jewish children from a nearby concentration camp. The nuns in her charge react in different ways: While sensitive novice Sister Mitya (Sylvia Syms) takes a special interest in the refugees, worldly Sister Gerta (Yvonne Mitchell) is reluctant to get involved at all. After the Nazis occupy the convent, their situation becomes dire.

Director: Ralph Thomas
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Runtime: 1h 51m