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The Human Factor (1979 film)
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Wikipedia article
'The Human Factor' is a 1979 British neo noir thriller film directed and produced by Otto Preminger and starring Richard Attenborough, Nicol Williamson, Derek Jacobi and John Gielgud. It is based on the 1978 novel 'The Human Factor' by Graham Greene, with the screenplay written by Tom Stoppard.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090114071305/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/122957 BFI.org] It examines British espionage, and the West's relationship with apartheid South Africa.
This was Preminger's last film.
Plot
Maurice Castle (Nicol Williamson) is a mid-level bureaucrat in MI6 whose life seems unremarkable, apart from the fact that he has an African wife, Sarah (Iman), and son, Sam (Gary Forbes). The company regime, represented by Dr. Percival (Robert Morley), an expert in assassinations and biological toxins, and minence grise Sir John Hargreaves (Richard Vernon), advise newly appointed security chief Daintry (Richard Attenborough) that they believe they have a leak in Castle's department. The duo determine the mole must be quietly killed, rather than be allowed publicity in a trial or a flight to Moscow. They quickly decide the most likely candidate for the traitor is Arthur Davis (Derek Jacobi), Castle's red brickeducated playboy office partner.
Castle is actually the mole, but the information he leaks is mostly unimportant. He became involved in leaking to the Soviets when he was an MI6 agent in apartheid South Africa, seven years earlier: he met and fell in love with Sarah; when their affair was discovered by the authorities, Castle was thrown out of the country, and Sarah was smuggled out with the help of Matthew Connolly (Tony Vogel), whose Communist network Castle was originally assigned to spy upon. Ever since, Castle has been repaying the favor by passing information on via a contact in London. However, Castle is not a communist. His only interest is in his wife and son, who are ultimately left in Londonwhere they remain separated from him.
Cast
Production
The film was shot in Kenya and at Shepperton and Pinewood Studios near London as well as on location at Berkhamsted. As with the book, much of the theme about alleged treason and suspicion is based on the defection of Kim Philby, a friend of Graham Greene's, to the Soviets. The film also included Iman, who was working as a model before she began to work in films.
Preminger had trouble securing funding for the film and had to partially fund it with his own money.Nat Segaloff, 'Final Cuts: The Last Films of 50 Great Directors', Bear Manor Media 2013 p 234-235 According to 'The Daily Telegraph' obituary of casting director Rose Tobias Shaw, Preminger wanted to cast the novelist Jeffrey Archer in the role eventually played by Nicol Williamson. Archer, much shorter than Iman, failed his audition.
Release
The film was the first acquisition by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in six years for distribution in the United States and Canada, through United Artists. The film was released for an Academy Awards qualifying run in Los Angeles, as well in New York City.
References
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