Synopsis
Having spent 10 years in prison for nationalist activities, Shack Twala is finally ordered released by the South African Supreme Court but he finds himself almost immediately on the run after a run-in with the police. Assisted by his lawyer Rina Van Niekirk and visiting British engineer Jim Keogh, he heads for Capetown where he hopes to recover a stash of diamonds, meant to finance revolutionary activities, that he had entrusted to a dentist before his incarceration. Along the way, they are followed by Major Horn of the South African State security bureau and it becomes apparent that he has no intention of arresting them until they reach their final destination
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Cast
- Sidney PoitierShack Twala
- Michael CaineJim Keogh
- Nicol WilliamsonMajor Horn
- Prunella GeeRina Van Niekirk
- Saeed JaffreyMukarjee
- Persis KhambattaPersis Ray
- Rijk de GooyerVan Heerden
- Rutger HauerBlane Van Niekirk
- Patrick AllenDistrict Commissioner
- Joe De GraftWilby Xaba
Recommendations
- 70
Variety
The Wilby Conspiracy [from Peter Driscoll’s novel] is a good action melodrama about apartheid in South Africa. It was made in Kenya. The stars Sidney Poitier and Michael Caine are relentlessly stalked by Nicol Williamson, superb as a coldly dedicated and brutal policeman out after racial agitators. - 70
The New Yorker
This Anglo-American production doesn't go in for romance or comedy; it sticks to suspense, and it's really good at what it does (except for a rather tacky escape by air). - 60
The New York Times
The best thing about the movie, flimed mostly in Kenya, is its performances, funny and hip and self-assured in the manner of television personalities working in front of loving audiences. Mr. Caine and Mr. Poitier are never unaware that their material may not be the greatest, but that doesn't spoil their good spirits, and when a good line comes along they get maximum results without stomping on it or us. - 50
TV Guide Magazine
The direction is routine action filmmaking with no originality. The film, therefore, is both exciting and flat all at once. - 40
Time Out
Assets there are: Caine is served with some nice deadpan lines by Rod Amateau, and John Coquillon's photography is characteristically cool. But this is an unpleasant and invidious film, like Soldier Blue creaming the surface off profound racial issues to ease the killing along.
