Directed by:
Stanley DonenCinematography:
Christopher ChallisComposer:
Henry ManciniCast:
Gregory Peck, Sophia Loren, Alan Badel, Kieron Moore, George Coulouris, John Merivale, Duncan Lamont, Harold Kasket, Carl Duering, Windsor Davies (more)VOD (1)
Plots(1)
Because of his knowledge of ancient languages, David Pollock, an American professor visiting Oxford, becomes the key figure in deciphering a secret message written in hieroglyphics. First, he is kidnaped by the prime minister of a Middle Eastern nation who asks him to spy on oil magnate Beshraavi in the interest of world peace. Then, while visiting Beshraavi's home, Pollock meets Yasmin Azir, Beshraavi's mistress, who warns him that his life is in danger and helps him escape through the London zoo. Pollock hides the secret message before being captured by Yussef, another conspirator who seems to have a proprietary interest in Yasmin. Once more eluding his captors, Pollock runs into Yasmin, but, unable to figure out which group of spies she is with, he refuses to trust her. However, when both of them are attacked by Yussef and his henchmen, Pollock decides to work with her against Beshraavi. They decipher the cryptogram and learn that the prime minister is about to be assassinated while making a speech at the London airport. Despite their frantic efforts to save him, the man is shot down by Beshraavi. Yasmin then reveals that she is a spy for the real prime minister and that the murdered man was merely one of Beshraavi's employees. The real minister has been kidnaped to prevent him from making a speech denouncing Beshraavi's oil interests. Pollock and Yasmin succeed in rescuing the minister; but as they flee across the open countryside, Beshraavi pursues them in a helicopter. Pollock outwits him by hurling a steel ladder into the aircraft's propeller blades, and Beshraavi crashes to his death. Yasmin decides to retire from international intrigue and follow Pollock back to the peaceful life at Oxford. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Cast
Gregory Peck
USA
Best movies:
Roman Holiday (1953)
The Big Country (1958)
The Scarlet and the Black (1983) (TV movie)
Sophia Loren
Italy
Best movies:
A Special Day (1977)
Two Women (1960)
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (1963)
Alan Badel
UK
Best movies:
The Day of the Jackal (1973)
Shogun (1980) (series)
The Medusa Touch (1978)
Kieron Moore
Ireland
Best movies:
The League of Gentlemen (1960)
Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)
Anna Karenina (1948)
George Coulouris
UK
Best movies:
Papillon (1973)
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
Citizen Kane (1941)
John Merivale
Canada
Best movies:
The Invisible Man (1933)
King Rat (1965)
A Night to Remember (1958)
Duncan Lamont
Portugal
Best movies:
Battle of Britain (1969)
Murder at the Gallop (1963)
Mutiny on the Bounty (1962)
Harold Kasket
UK
Best movies:
Moulin Rouge (1952)
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
The Mouse That Roared (1959)
Carl Duering
German Empire
Best movies:
A Clockwork Orange (1971)
The Guns of Navarone (1961)
The Boys from Brazil (1978)
Windsor Davies
UK
Best movies:
Gormenghast (2000) (series)
Murder Most Foul (1964)
Arabesque (1966)
Victor Harrington
Malta
Best movies:
Juba Kennerley
UK
Best movies:
The Omen (1976)
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
The V.I.P.s (1963)
Jimmy Gardner (a.f.)
UK
Best movies:
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) - a.f.
Finding Neverland (2004)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) - a.f.
Aileen Lewis
UK
Best movies:
Anne of the Thousand Days (1969)
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
From Russia with Love (1963)
John Tatum
UK
Best movies:
Gandhi (1982)
The Dirty Dozen (1967)
Battle of Britain (1969)
Ernest Clark
UK
Best movies:
Gandhi (1982)
A Stitch in Time (1963)
The Dam Busters (1955)
Michael Bilton
UK
Best movies:
The Early Bird (1965)
Press for Time (1966)
Frenzy (1972) - a.f.
Harry Locke
UK
Best movies:
The Early Bird (1965)
Reach for the Sky (1956)
Sink the Bismarck! (1960)
George Curtis
Best movies:
Trouble in Store (1953)
The Password is Courage (1962)
Battle of Britain (1969)