Conspiracy | 1930 | Mystery Melodrama

Title: Conspiracy | 1930 | Mystery Melodrama Director: Christy Cabanne Studio: RKO Pictures Starring: Bessie Love, Ned Sparks, Hugh Trevor, Rita La Roy, Ivan Lebedeff, Gertrude Howard, Otto Matieson, Jane Keckley, Walter Long, Bert Moorehouse Based on: Play *The Conspiracy* by Robert B. Baker and John Emerson Release Date: August 10 1930 (United States) Runtime: 69 minutes Format: Black and white with sound Country: United States Language: English Genres: Mystery Thriller Melodrama --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Margaret and Victor Holt’s quest begins 00:10:00 Infiltrating the narcotics ring 00:20:00 Margaret undercover as secretary 00:30:00 Plot to trap Victor revealed 00:40:00 Margaret kills Morton in defense 00:50:00 Hideout with allies and reporter 01:00:00 Truth revealed and resolution --- Summary: Conspiracy is a 1930 American pre-Code mystery melodrama in which Margaret Holt and her brother Victor dedicate years to exposing the drug gang responsible for their father’s death. Victor rises to become an assistant district attorney, while Margaret gains access to the gang by posing as a secretary. When her true identity is discovered, she intervenes to save her brother, killing the criminal head Morton in the struggle and fleeing to avoid arrest. With the help of a plucky reporter and an eccentric mystery writer, the deception is unraveled, Victor is rescued from captivity, and a romantic connection develops between Margaret and the reporter. --- Background: Directed by Christy Cabanne and produced by RKO Pictures, Conspiracy was adapted from the stage play *The Conspiracy* by Robert B. Baker and John Emerson. The film was typical of early sound cinema’s fascination with mystery and crime narratives, blending melodramatic tension with character interplay during the transitional pre-Code era. --- Trivia: Conspiracy was the second film adaptation of the Baker/Emerson play, with an earlier silent version made in 1914. The film stars Bessie Love as the determined Margaret Holt and features Ned Sparks in an uncommon role as an eccentric mystery writer. Plot elements include undercover investigation, mistaken guilt, and collaborative sleuthing, reflecting popular early-talkie storytelling. The movie was preserved at the Library of Congress, ensuring its survival despite its relative obscurity. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: August 10 1930 Original Studio / Distributor: RKO Pictures Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: Not applicable --- Hashtags: #Conspiracy1930 #MysteryFilm #PreCode #BessieLove #NedSparks #ClassicCinema #PublicDomain