The Wilby Conspiracy (1975)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

Rodney Amateau (writer)
Peter Driscoll (novel)

Release Date:

February 1975 (Austria)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

Black anti-apartheid activist and British engineer are forced to run from South African secret police.

Plot Keywords:

Political | South Africa | Apartheid | Racism | Chase

Cast

Sidney Poitier	...	Shack Twala
Michael Caine	...	Jim Keogh
Nicol Williamson	...	Major Horn
Prunella Gee	...	Rina Van Niekirk
Saeed Jaffrey	...	Mukarjee
Persis Khambatta	...	Persis Ray
Rijk de Gooyer	...	Van Heerden (as Ryk De Gooyer)
Rutger Hauer	...	Blane Van Niekirk
Patrick Allen	...	District Commissioner
Joe De Graft	...	Wilby Xaba
Archie Duncan	...	Gordon
Abdulla Sunado	...	Village Headman
Helmut Dantine	...	Prosecuting Counsel
Peter Pearce	...	Highway Policeman

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Germany:16 | Iceland:16 | UK:15 (video rating) | Finland:K-16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG (original rating) | USA:TV-14 (TV rating) | UK:AA (original rating)

Filming Locations:

Kenya

Company:

Baum/Dantine Productions

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: While hiding the car in a village on the way to Johannesburg, Twali speaks Swahili with the villagers. Swahili is only spoken in East and Central Africa, for example in Kenya, the location of the shooting, but not in South Africa.

Movie Connections:

References Rivaaj (1972)

Soundtrack:

All the Wishing in the World

Quality Caine and young Rutger Hauer

Overlooked, althought not underrated, if you are a Michael Caine fan, don't miss this chase/early buddy film. Caine and Portier are framed and on the run from the corrupt South American gov't. The pace never lets up. Perhaps what held my interest the most was the supporting cast. Nicol (Merlin in "Excalibur") Williamson's turns in a deliciously villainous role. A real surprise was when a young (30ish) Rutger Hauer shows up to anagonize our heroes. It is his first English Speaking role, long before he wound up states side. The late Peris Khambatta makes an appearance too. The cast and socially pertinent plot will hold your attention right up to the powerful conclusion.