On W List of Movie Reviews
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The Wilby Conspiracy (1975)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
4/19
4/19:
Come with me, my friends, as we take a trip to the heart of racism in South Africa with Michael Caine and
Sidney Poitier for The Wilby Conspiracy.
It's a solid action-adventure picture with a great ending, especially when the natives anchored themselves on
the helicopter, but I wish it was more serious. The weird mix of apartheid and humor gives me an ill feeling
which takes away some of the message the film tries to send out about race relations.
No matter what, I think things got better over time, thanks to Michael Caine. In his third collaboration with
director Ralph Nelson that saw him win Best Actor for
Lilies of the Field, Sidney Poitier isn't bad, but his acting ability
looks somewhat eroded this time around. The true star of the show is Nicol Williamson who once bore an uncanny
resemblance to Sherlock Holmes in The Seven-Per-Cent Solution.
As the racist Afrikaner special agent, he's a bad, cold-hearted motherfucker.
On the other hand, the English-speaking audience is finally introduced to Rutger Hauer who would make his mark
in action pictures during the 80's. He was once a good-looking Dutch guy. The Indian actress is Persis Khambatta
who's well known for playing Lieutenant Ilia with her head shaved, and she passed away from a heart attack at
the age of 49 in 1997.
All in all, if comedic aspects could be altogether removed, The Wilby Conspiracy would make for a better
movie.