The Wilby Conspiracy
| The Wilby Conspiracy | |
|---|---|
Original film poster
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| Directed by | Ralph Nelson |
| Produced by |
Martin Baum Paul M. Heller Helmut Dantine |
| Written by |
Rodney Amateau Harold Nebenzal |
| Based on |
The Wilby Conspiracy 1972 novel by Peter Driscoll |
| Starring |
Michael Caine Sidney Poitier Nicol Williamson |
| Music by | Stanley Myers |
| Cinematography | John Coquillon |
| Edited by | Ernest Walter |
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Production
company |
Baum/Dantine Productions
Optimus Productions Ltd. |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
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Release date
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Running time
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102 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
The Wilby Conspiracy is a 1975 DeLuxe Color thriller film directed by Ralph Nelson and filmed in Kenya. It was written by Rodney Amateau, based on the 1972 novel by Peter Driscoll. It had a limited release in the US. This is the third film teaming Sidney Poitier with director Ralph Nelson. The first time they worked together was in 1963 on Lilies of the Field, the film for which Poitier received an Academy Award. Nelson also directed Poitier in Duel at Diablo in 1966.
In apartheid-era South Africa, Shack Twala (played by Sidney Poitier), a black revolutionary who had served time on Robben Island, is freed by Rina van Niekerk (Prunella Gee), his Afrikaner defence attorney, because he would be a victim of retroactive legislation. Rina, estranged from her husband Blane (Rutger Hauer), is having a relationship with an English mining engineer, Jim Keogh (Michael Caine), who has attended Shack's trial. Surprised by the verdict, Rina, Jim and Shack go off to celebrate at her house. They are stopped by the South African Police who are conducting identity document checks and arresting everyone who does not have their papers on them. As Shack has only just been released from prison he will not receive his papers until the next day. The police Constable and Shack antagonise each other leading to Shack being handcuffed and arrested. When Rina attempts to pull the Constable off Shack, the policeman hits her, knocking her to the ground. Jim assaults and knocks out the Constable making all three fugitives.
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