Nobody Runs Forever
| Nobody Runs Forever | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ralph Thomas |
| Produced by | Betty E. Box |
| Written by | Wilfred Greatorex Rod Taylor (uncredited) |
| Based on | novel by Jon Cleary |
| Starring | Rod Taylor Christopher Plummer Daliah Lavi Burt Kwouk |
| Music by | Georges Delerue |
| Cinematography | Ernest Steward |
| Distributed by | Rank Film Distributors |
| Release date(s) | 22 August 1968 |
| Running time | 101 minutes |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Nobody Runs Forever also called The High Commissioner is a 1968 film directed by Ralph Thomas based on Jon Cleary's 1966 novel The High Commissioner. It stars Rod Taylor as Australian policeman Scobie Malone and Christopher Plummer as the Australian High Commissioner in England caught up in corrupt dealings, during delicate negotiations.[1] Taylor's production company was involved in making the film[2] as was the American Selmur Productions.
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[edit] Plot
New South Wales Police Sergeant Scobie Malone (Taylor) is summoned to Sydney by the Premier of New South Wales (Leo McKern) who at the time was the controversial Sir Robert Askin. The Australian High Commissioner in London, Sir James Quentin (Christopher Plummer) is wanted for a 25 year old murder charge, that the Premier, Quentin's gruff political rival, has discovered.
Upon arrival in London, Malone meets Lady Quentin (Lilli Palmer) and her husband the sophisticated Sir James, as well as Sir James's secretary (Camilla Sparv). Sir James offers no objection to the murder charges but demands several days before departure as he is conducting delicate peace negotiations. As Malone waits as a guest of the High Commissioner, he prevents assassination attempts against Quentin by a dangerous spy ring headed by Maria Cholon (Daliah Lavi).
Filmed in Australia and London, the film was the last big screen appearance of Franchot Tone who plays the American ambassador. Rod Taylor is memorable in one of the few roles where he played an Australian. He plays Malone as a tough single Outback policeman unlike the married Sydney Detective Sergeant of the original books[3] Taylor's unsophisticated integrity is contrasted with the London diplomatic scene throughout the film.
[edit] Production
Rod Taylor accepted the role on the proviso he could rewrite some of the script. In particular, the opening scene where Scobie Malone arrests Jacko (Charles Tingwell) is Rod's work.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063067/
- ^ http://www.rodtaylorsite.com/highcommissioner.shtml
- ^ http://www.epinions.com/review/High_Commissioner/content_165491019396
- ^ Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media, 2010 p 139
[edit] External links
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