Review of The Wilby Conspiracy

Earlier in his career, Mr. Poitier made "The Defiant Ones" about a black man and a white man on the run together and "Something of Value" about the strife between Great Britain and its colonies in Africa. Here he takes part in a sort of cross between the two, a story about a South African rebel who is thrust together with a British playboy, both of whom have to fight for their survival on a 900 mile trek to Johannesburg. Having just been released from prison on prior rebellion-related charges, Poitier is immediately targeted and mistreated, causing Caine (the boyfriend of Poitier's attorney) to step in and help. Thanks to oppressive law enforcement officials, the pair must flee the area and attempt to escape the country entirely. There's more to the story, however, as British Major Williamson locates them, yet allows them to keep traveling, perhaps having a grander scheme in mind. When Caine and Poitier reach Johannesburg, they become embroiled in a plot to unearth some decade-long buried diamonds with the aid of Caine's girlfriend Gee, shifty Indian dentist Jaffrey and his attractive assistant Khambatta. The story continues to turn and develop, eventually involving Gee's estranged husband Hauer, until Williamson's intentions are finally made clear. Poitier is intense and committed but not without a hint of humor. He also plays a scrappier character than he often was permitted to play rather than the immaculately tailored and clean ones he frequently portrayed. Caine does an excellent job and has good chemistry with Poitier. He's given more sarcastic or otherwise funny lines to deliver and does so adeptly. His ne'er do well character begins to display some deeper sense of feeling as the film progresses. Gee is, at times, unbearable. Sporting an unflattering shaggy wig (in all but one scene) and overemphasizing her lines obnoxiously, she comes close to messing up the film several times. Fortunately, she has a few lower key scenes that help somewhat. Williamson is excellent and provides plenty of interest as well as menace. De Gooyer makes for a very nasty little sidekick. Jaffrey is amusing and sad all at once while Khambatta is sultry and surprisingly dangerous. Hauer, looking impossibly young and blonde, plays a perfect jerk. Possessing a decidedly blunt point of view, some viewers may find it unpalatable at times, but it remains fascinating nonetheless. Some of the broader comedy aspects might have been better left out or toned down as they sometimes spoil the tension. Some technical ineptitude (including a heavy reliance on questionable rear projection and a downright ridiculous use of speeding up the film) mars the production slightly. There is a wince-inducing sequence involving a power saw in a machine shop. Another impressive scene includes an entire section of a town working together to smuggle supplies onto a bus. The film is at its best when it focuses on the relationships between Poitier and Caine and that duo against Williamson. It falters a little when shoddy effects and the inappropriate acting of Gee take center stage. Filming took place in Kenya rather than in South Africa itself. Khambatta, a former Miss India, would soon appear (with shaved head) in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."