The Wilby Conspiracy 1975

The Wilby Conspiracy

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Other Movies

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer
Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified.
Fandango

AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.
Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

Awesome!

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)
How did you buy your ticket?
- Fandango
- AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew
  
  Enter your Ticket Confirmation# located in your email.More Info
- Cinemark Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Regal Coming Soon
  
  We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.
- Theater box office or somewhere else
By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.
You haven’t finished your review yet, want to submit as-is?

You can always edit your review after.
Are you sure?

Verified reviews are considered more trustworthy by fellow moviegoers.
Want to submit changes to your review before closing?

The Wilby Conspiracy Photos

View All Photos (10)

Movie Info

English engineer Jim Keogh (Michael Caine) and black anti-apartheid activist Shack Twala (Sidney Poitier) go on the run together in 1970s South Africa after falling foul of the police. Aided by Shack's lawyer, Rina (Prunella Gee), the two attempt to make their way to Cape Town where Shack hopes to return a diamond stash to the African National Congress and in turn seek help from the Congress' leader, Wilby (Joe De Graft). Unbeknownst to the pair, they are being followed.

Rating:

PG
Genre:

adventure, action
Original Language:

English
Director:

Ralph Nelson
Producer:

Martin Baum
Release Date (Streaming):

Jan 17, 2017
Runtime:

1h 41m
Production Co:

Baum/Dantine Productions

Cast & Crew

Sidney Poitier
Shack Twala

Michael Caine
Jim Keogh

Nicol Williamson
Major Horn

Prunella Gee
Rina Van Niekirk

Persis Khambatta
Persis Ray

Saeed Jaffrey
Mukarjee

Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for The Wilby Conspiracy

All Critics (5) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (2)

The film is a confused mishmash of genres and inexplicable character moments that fail to coalesce into something greater.

January 9, 2020 | Rating: 5/10 | Full Review…

Nathanael Hood
The Retro Set
Fortunately the actors, direction, dialogue and scenic photography carry the film over some confusing moments in the plot.

November 27, 2019 | Full Review…

Ruth Batchelor
Los Angeles Free Press
Quote not available.

July 24, 2005 | Rating: 2/5

Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Quote not available.

January 1, 2000 | Rating: 6/10 | Full Review…

Dragan Antulov
rec.arts.movies.reviews
An adventure yarn with enough odd flourishes to earn itself a cult audience

January 1, 2000

Shane Burridge
rec.arts.movies.reviews

View All Critic Reviews (5)

Audience Reviews for The Wilby Conspiracy

Oct 16, 2012

As you would expect, "The Wilby Conspiracy" is unsurprisingly lean when it comes to storytelling, but that doesn't make it any less fun. It's an adventurous caper that's set in an interesting part of the world, which makes for some spectacular scenery, and overall, it works as good, mindless entertainment. There are some entirely irrelevant sequences (such as Shack's passionate exchange with Dr. Ray), which seem to be the result of 70s film making, but "The Wilby Conspiracy" is great in its own way. Generally, I prefer to be genuinely amused by a film than blown away by its artistic merit. Oh, and Nicol Williamson is great.

Stephen E Super Reviewer
May 24, 2010

(1975 Director: Ralph Nelson) An interesting movie which co-stars Sidney Potier and Michael Caine and an all-star cast. Aoartheid? S Africa? Hmmm... perhaps a little idealistic though I would actually say the cliche stereotypical characters offered quite a bit of satire throughout.

Teresa S Super Reviewer
Feb 15, 2008

A darker performance by Sidney Poitier. A performance that requires Michael Caine to get a bit dirty. Williamson is persistent as the detective chasing these two. The other supporting roles are good. There are some surprises in this political thriller, but it is not very action packed or fast paced. This is not a culture or part of history that I am very familiar with, so I was confused at times, but I was intrigued to keep watching.

Byron B Super Reviewer