THE WILBY CONSPIRACY (1975)

[The Burgomaster]

I recently bought this DVD during a "I must buy a bunch of Michael Caine movies" binge (the binge also included purchases of GET CARTER, THE SWARM, and THE HOLCROFT COVENANT). 

This is actually a good, but mostly forgotten movie.  Caine plays an engineer in South Africa who comes to the aid of ex-political prisoner Sidney Poitier when he is being harassed by the police.  Caine and Poitier head for Johannesburg with a relentless police detective (Nicol Williamson) and his partner hot on their trail.  Rutger Hauer even appears in a supporting role.

This movie has a PG rating, but would likely get at least a PG-13 under today's rating system because of the racial overtones, violence, and a steamy sex scene in a closet (they don't show much, but it's pretty racy for a PG movie) between Poitier and Persis Khambatta.

I was pleasantly surprised by this movie.  Especially the well-placed instances of humor (mostly between Poitier and Caine).  Not a great movie, but a very good one and I recommend it.

[AndyC]

Persis Khambatta at her most respectable, before anyone outside of India knew who she was.

[lester1/2jr]

another great poitier film is "brother john".   he plays this mysterious drifter and there are weird biblical overtones that has given it a bit of a cult following.  very unique