The Wilby Conspiracy

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.

I would really have liked to have given The Wilby Conspiracy a higher rating than I did. But unfortunately a really huge and ridiculous error was made in telling the tale.

Due to political pressure brought to bear from various world human rights activists, black nationalist Sidney Poitier is freed by the apartheid South African government. On the way to celebrate, Poitier, his lawyer Prunella Gee and her boyfriend Michael Caine get into a mêlée with South African police and after assaulting a pair of them have to flee.

But it turns out the government in freeing Poitier in the first place has a whole other agenda. Poitier also has something else in mind, to get a stash of diamonds hidden years ago in a robbery to aid the African National Congress.

During the course of fleeing Poitier seeks the aid of an Indian dentist played by Saeed Jeffrey and his assistant Persis Khambatta. While Poitier is hidden away in a modern day priest-hole he takes Khambatta in there with him and while the South African Security are even outside within a few feet of him, Poitier and Khambatta are doing the horizontal mambo. Now granted Poitier had been in prison for 10 years and he was understandably ready to go, still I found it a bit much. The steamy sex scene definitely sold a lot movie tickets, but it was awkwardly planted into the story.

Acting honors in this film go to Nicol Williamson as the South African Security Police Chief Horne. He is a chillingly evil man, resolute in defense of the apartheid society and a bigoted product of that same society. Williamson is living proof of what Martin Luther King said about racism being as toxic to the perpetrator as to the victim.

The Wilby in the Wilby Conspiracy is a Nelson Mandela like figure who is in exile in neighboring Botswana. He only enters the film at the very end and in a surprising way.

The Wilby Conspiracy other than that tacked on sex scene done for box office dollars is a great portrait of the last days of the apartheid society of South Africa. It should be seen for Nicol Williamson's portrayal alone.

Black anti-apartheid activist , a "Kaffir" (in South Africa , the term is regarded as highly racially offensive) from African National Congress ("Black Congress") , called Shack Twala (Sidney Poitier) and an Englishman named Jim Keogh (Michael Caine) on the wrong side of the law are forced to run from South African secret police . As they escape from Cape Town to Johannesburg , across 900 miles or 1,448 kilometers . They team up to getaway the clutches of a prejudiced law agent (Nicol Williamson) , a violent cop and other underlings in Apartheid Africa . Meanwhile they pursue some smuggled diamonds along the veld and are themselves relentlessly pursued by the AfriKaner Police . The film's closing credits declare: "This motion picture is fictional and any resemblance to actual persons or events in South Africa is purely coincidental".

The focus of the movie is on the moving pursuit with bigotry creaming the surface , not the political uprising taking place around it , though in the course of entertaining and amusement may also make people think about racism and other thought-provoking themes . Well-done chase movie that contains thrills , emotion , interracial screwing , crossfire , profound racial issues are overseen and action as well as thriller is maintained throughout . The flick is more an action movie than a racism yarn , it is about man's humanity to man . Based on a story by Peter Driscoll and released three years after its source novel that first published in 1972 and screen-written by Rod Amateu who provides an agreeable script . The film is pretty well , but some moments results to be unpleasant , extremely violent , and invidious . Over-the-range performances from Sidney Poitier as the hand-cuffed African and Michael Caine as a British engineer who is served with some amusing deadpan sentences . Support cast is frankly good , as Prunella Gee , Saeed Jaffrey , Persis Khambatta , Rutger Hauer , Patrick Allen and shinning Nicol Williamson as a leering security cop . Stanley Myers's musical score is characteristically cool , with an attractive initial song and plenty of Indian sounds . Colorful cinematography by John Coquillon , most of the film is set in Johannesburg and Cape Town , but due to the political sensitivity of anti-apartheid , no attempt was made to film there , in fact it was shot in Kenya and Pinewood Studios, Buckinghamshire, England, UK .

The motion picture was compellingly made by Ralph Nelson . He has got himself a ¨South African Soldier Blue¨ . Being the third collaboration between Nelson and Poitier and final film together, after previously collaborating on Duel at Devil (1966) and The lilies of the field (1963) . Director Ralph was expert on all kinds of genres as Western : ¨Soldier Blue¨, ¨Duel at Diablo¨; Sci-Fi : ¨Embryo¨ ; Wartime : ¨Soldier in the rain¨ , ¨Father goose¨ ; and Drama : ¨Charly , ¨A hero ain't nothing' but a Sandwich¨ , ¨lady of the house¨ and his greatest hit ¨Lilies of the field¨ who had an inferior sequel titled ¨Christmas lilies of the field¨.

This little movie is a combination of political thriller , comedy and adventure movie. Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine have really good chemistry together . It's a well working duo which has to overcome their differences to survive. The way how they begin to trust and care about each other is believable.

The story is simple and moves quite fast , which isn't usual for 70's movies. The movie is mostly entertainment with apartheid being an issue in the background. The people who are expecting something deep might be disappointed . Personally I think that this movie sends a clear anti-apartheid message without being preachy or sappy. There is also a reflection about human greed and sacrifice .

Watch out for Rutger Hauer in small episode of pilot Blane . I also have to compliment the performances of Prunella Gee , Saeed Jaffrey and Persis Khambatta . The movie is both funny and dramatic and there are some beautiful landscapes here.

I give it 6/10.

This is a real gem of a chase thriller.I think this film isn't well known.Oscar winners Michael Caine and Sidney Poitier are well matched together.Nicol Williamson is quite a scene stealer and a wonderful actor.Available from MGM.and also stars Persis Khambatta from "Star Trek original movie" and Rutger Hauer,known for "Blade Runner". This film reminded me of the film "Defiant Ones" 1958.Pairing Tony Curtis and Poitier together. Sidney Poitier won Oscar for Lillies in the field 1963. Michael Caine won supporting actor for Cider House Rules 1999. So watch this movie and see if you agree with me that it is a gem! If you liked this film you might watch Shoot to Kill 1988.