THE WILBY CONSPIRACY
UK, 1974, 105 minutes, Colour.
Sidney Poitier, Michael Caine, Nicol Williamson.
Directed by Ralph Nelson.
The Wilby Conspiracy is by director Ralph Nelson who has had a strong interest in racial tensions in his films (from Lilies of the Field to Soldier Blue). This time it is South Africa and its police state ideologies and tactics. The result is an exciting thriller on the pot-boiling side involving Sidney Poitier as a political black figure on the run, Michael Caine as an English tourist forced on the run and Nicol Williamson, most effective as the icily relentless police chief. While a message thriller, the film relies on the emotional response to the complications of incidents and characters. By the end these are quite strong.
1. What was the aim of the film? An adventure, a racial message film? What was the overall impact? How persuasive?
2. What were the stances of the film on black Africa on South African whites? Elaborate the point of view. Was it justified? How well communicated? Propaganda?
3. The establishing of the South African setting, atmosphere? So much of the film on the road from Cape town to Johannesburg? The portrayal of black Africa? The contrast of wealthy white Africa? The details of the town,, the countryside, the people?
4. The impact of the opening in court the change in celebration, the impossibility of passing the guard the sudden fight. suddenly people on the run? Involvement in this?
5. How credible a character was Shack? Sidney Poitier.. his personality and style? His background in prison? His links with revolution and groups? The values that he stood for? His single-mindedness in his task? How interesting.. how admirable?
6. The contrast with Keogh? Michael Caine's style? The contrast of the tourist Englishman with the dedicated black African?
7. Consider the development and interaction of the two? From mere acquaintance to flip comic remarks. comedy? The contrast in character? The bystander becoming involved? The audience meant to be involved via the bystander? The demands made on Keogh?
8. How real did the film make the dangers? The sympathiser and his help with the chains? His death? (The irony of the fact that the audience knew the Africans were pursuing Keogh and Shack did not?) The irony of the dangers?
9. How credible was the character of Horne? The ugliness of his assistant? Horne's relentlessness,, his manifestation of his principles, his belief in the fascist police state? As a spokesman for the white African minority? How credible was his point of view?
10. The contrast with the village life, the villagers hiding the car, their humiliation verbally? How telling as an illustration of the attitude of white towards black? The submission of black towards white?
11. The character of Rina? Her place in South Africa.. the law? Her attitude towards her husband? Her role in the flight? Her apartment? Her persuading her husband to fly them out? Her relationship with Keogh? A conventional kind of character for this adventure?
12. The dentist Mukerjee? His place in Johannesburg, his timidity,, and yet his involvement with Wilby? His involvement in the cause, his fearfulness? His helping of Keogh and Shack? His assistant and her relationship with Shack? Her greed and her death?
13. The detailed getting of the diamonds? The visualizing of this. by night. suspense and danger? The complication- with Mukerjee's assistance?
14. The irony of Horne's deal with Keogh? Keogh's confrontation with Shack? The implications of compromise and relentlessness?
15. The flight out of Africa? The suspense of the flight?
16. The revelation of the truth and the irony of the conspiracy? The supremacy of Horne? The disillusionment of Wilby?
17. The impact of the sudden violence at the end? Desperation? The fact that Keogh kills Horne? His willingness to go on trial?
18. The values of the film and its message about human nature, society, violence, the police state? Convincing moralising entertainment?
