The Wilby Conspiracy

1975

The Wilby Conspiracy

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46%
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Audience Score

User Ratings: 999

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Average Rating: N/A
Reviews Count: 0
Fresh: 0
Rotten: 0

Average Rating: 3.2/5

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Movie Info

The Wilby Conspiracy is set in South Africa, at a time when Apartheid was the order of the day. Political activist Shack Twala (Sidney Poitier) finds an unlikely -- and reluctant -- ally in the form of the British Keogh (Michael Caine). Both Twala and Keogh are scrutinized by racist police official Horn (Nicol Williamson), who hopes that they'll lead him to the hideout of chief activist Wilby (Joe De Graft). Based on the novel by Peter Driscoll, The Wilby Conspiracy abandons its sociological overtones early on in favor of an extended chase. The film reteams Poitier and director Ralph Nelson, who, 12 years earlier, had collaborated on Lilies of the Field.

Rating:

PG (adult situations/language, violence)
Genre:

Art House & International, Drama, Mystery & Suspense
Directed By:

Ralph Nelson
Written By:

Rod Amateau, Rodney Amateau, Harold Nebenzal
In Theaters:

Feb 13, 1975 wide
On Disc/Streaming:

Jan 20, 2004
Runtime:

101 minutes
Studio:

MGM Home Entertainment

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Cast

Sidney Poitier
as Shack Twala

Michael Caine
as Jim Keogh

Nicol Williamson
as Major Horn

Prunella Gee
as Rina Van Niekirk

Persis Khambatta
as Dr. Persis Ray

Saeed Jaffrey
as Dr. Anil Mukerjee

Ryjk De Gooyer
as Van Heerden

Rutger Hauer
as Blaine Van Niekirk

Ryk de Cosyer
as Van Heerden

Joseph De Graf
as Wilby

Helmut Dantine
as Prosecutor

Brian Epsom
as Judge

Abdullah Sunado
as Head Man in Masai Village

Freddy Achiang
as Shepherd Boy

Patrick Allen
as District commissioner

Archie Duncan
as Gordon

Peter Pearce
as Highway Policeman

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Critic Reviews for The Wilby Conspiracy

All Critics (3) | Fresh (2) | Rotten (1)

An adventure yarn with enough odd flourishes to earn itself a cult audience

Jan 1, 2000

Shane Burridge
rec.arts.movies.reviews

View All Critic Reviews (3)

Audience Reviews for The Wilby Conspiracy

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 Earnest

Super Reviewer

(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

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.