"The F.B.I." The Conspirators (TV Episode 1967) Poster

(TV Series)

(1967)

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8/10
Generational communism.
planktonrules3 November 2019
When the story begins, the Caldwell family is visited by Mr. Caldwell's brother. Apparently, their name isn't really 'Caldwell' and the husband and wife are communist agents. And, the brother is NOT happy that the pair are still dedicated party members--and he threatens to blow their cover. So, the family's handler (Michael Rennie) takes matters into his own hands and kills the brother. But, since the Caldwells ARE so dedicated, Mr. Caldwell seems okay with the murder. What sort of evil stuff is the family preparing to do? They're going to blow up a ship filled with supplies headed for the Vietnam War....and they couldn't care less who they kill in the process. But what about their pretty daughter....how will she react when she learns her boyfriend will also be aboard the ship?

I think this episode worked well because of Rennie and Phyllis Thaxter (as Mrs. Caldwell)--they are enjoyably evil and vicious. Overall, one of the better spy episodes of "The F.B.I.".
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9/10
More Then A Procedural
januszlvii7 August 2024
Warning: Spoilers
The Conspirators was a different episode of the FBI because it was more of a family drama then the usual procedural episode of The FBI, which made it work. There is a family of Communist spies with the mother Viv Caldwell ( really Milton) who was played by Phillis Thaxter and is the worst. Her husband John ( Arthur Franz), who is not as bad, but still someone who was going to blow up a ship and kill 45 sailors, then there is their 20 year old daughter Betty ( Julie Sommers) who is in love with the ship's doctor. There is also their leader Letterman ( Michael Rennie), who is almost as evil as Viv. Spoilers ahead: Betty turns out to be the heroine of the story who tells Erskine ( Efram Zimbalist Jr) that her father was going to blow up the ship ( even after Erskine tells her boyfriend is safe). It is interesting that her mother calls her a "Traitor" while her father was more understanding ( especially when she said " I will tell them ( The FBI) everything I remember." ) A really good episode. 9/10 stars.
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Hilarious Goof
barneyo21 June 2006
Something that is quite funny at the beginning of this episode:

Bad guy Michael Rennie visits two of his operatives who are now married and not wanting to jeopardize their American lifestyle. He is welcomed by the wife who takes Michael's coat and puts it on a coat rack. They slowly move into the next room, continuing to talk and not noticing something still in view of the camera: In the background, the coat falls off the coat rack to the floor with no reaction from anybody.

The husband is played by Arthur Franz, who just passed away a few days ago. I had thought he died in 1983, but now I learn that was Eduard Franz whose obit I heard on "Entertainment Tonight" at that time. The wife is played by Julie Sommars.
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