Wrong Is Right [The Man with the Deadly Lens] *** (1982, Sean Connery, George Grizzard, Katharine Ross, Robert Conrad, G D Spradlin, John Saxon, Henry Silva, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Webber, Hardy Kruger, Dean Stockwell, Ron Moody) – Classic Movie Review 6181

Writer/ co-producer/ director Richard Brooks goes for the idea of Dr Strangelove meets Network in his bold 1982 satirical-minded thriller based on the novel The Better Angels by Charles McCarry.

Sean Connery stars as the Man with the Deadly Lens of the substitute title, Patrick Hale, a globetrotting superstar TV reporter, who is investigating a terrorist group and the US government’s possible links with it. The story connects to the US President, US Vice-President, the Director of the CIA, a trigger-happy general, an Arab terrorist, a European arms dealer and religious fanatics.

Writer-director Brooks riskily attempts an eccentric mix of political conspiracy thriller and satire of American TV culture and news reporting, with its unhealthy obsession with violence. And, surprisingly and commendably, he mostly brings it off.

Brooks is helped by another strong Connery performance and good work from a tremendous star cast that includes George Grizzard as the US President Lockwood, Katharine Ross as photographer Sally Blake, Ross, Robert Conrad as General Wombat, G D Spradlin, John Saxon, Henry Silva, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Webber, Hardy Kruger as the German arms dealer Helmut Unger, Ron Moody as an Arab monarch, King Awad, and Dean Stockwell as the US President’s aide, Hacker. It is interesting, if sometimes, eccentric casting.

Also in the ensemble are Rosalind Cash, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Toby Hughes, Paul Lambert, Tony March, Marianne Marks, Keith McConnell, Cherie Michan and Tom McFadden.

It is shot by Fred J Koenekamp, produced by Andrew Fogelson and Richard Brooks, scored by Artie Kane and designed by Edward C Carfagno.

The title was hastily changed from Wrong is Right after the film flopped at its initial American screenings, but then the original novel title is not very good either – The Better Angels.

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 6181

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