The Wilby Conspiracy ** (1975, Sidney Poitier, Michael Caine, Nicol Williamson, Prunella Gee, Saeed Jaffrey, Persis Khambatta, Rutger Hauer ) – Classic Movie Review 6939

Director Ralph Nelson’s 1975 British movie stars Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine, who are off their usual beat in this largely creaky and unpersuasive but commendably well-meaning and action-packed political thriller, set in East Africa. It is based on the novel by Peter Driscoll, and made in Kenya.

As expected, both Poitier and Caine are excellent, as an anti-Apartheid fighter named Shack Twala and English engineer called Jim Keogh fleeing secret police, but Nicol Williamson steals the show as Major Horn, a dogged bigot cop on the trail of militant racists.

Executive producer Helmut Dantine plays the prosecuting counsel. Also in the cast are Prunella Gee, Saeed Jaffrey, Persis Khambatta, Rutger Hauer, Rijk de Gooyer, Patrick Allen, Joe De Graft, Archie Duncan, Abdulla Sunado, Peter Pearce, Bryan Epsom and Freddy Achiang.

The Wilby Conspiracy is directed by Ralph Nelson, runs 107 minutes, is a Baum-Dantine and Optimus production, is released by United Artists, is written by Rod Amateau and Harold Nebenzal, based on the novel by Peter Driscoll, is shot by John Coquillon, is produced by Martin Baum, Helmut Dantine and Paul M Heller, is scored by Stanley Myers and is designed by Harry Pottle.

The movie is largely set in Johannesburg and Cape Town, but because of the anti-Apartheid feeling, it was filmed in Kenya rather than South Africa, with studio work at Pinewood in England.

Nelson directed Poitier in his Oscar-winning role in Lilies of the Field (1963).

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 6939

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