The High Commissioner (1968) Nobody Runs Forever (original title)

Director:

Ralph Thomas

Writers:

Jon Cleary (based on the novel "The High Commissioner" by)
Wilfred Greatorex (screenplay)

Release Date:

19 September 1968 (Denmark)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

In A Moment He Could Be Dead! - and the only man who could save him was going to arrest him for murder!

Plot:

Rod Taylor plays a policeman sent to return a sensitive case; An Australian citizen, currently acting...

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Detective | Based On Novel | Independent Film

Cast

Rod Taylor	...	Scobie Malone
Christopher Plummer	...	Sir James Quentin
Lilli Palmer	...	Sheila Quentin
Camilla Sparv	...	Lisa Pretorius
Daliah Lavi	...	Maria Cholon
Clive Revill	...	Joseph
Lee Montague	...	Donzil
Calvin Lockhart	...	Jamaica
Derren Nesbitt	...	Pallain
Edric Connor	...	Julius
Burt Kwouk	...	Pham Chimh
Russell Napier	...	Leeds
Ken Wayne	...	Ferguson
Charles 'Bud' Tingwell	...	Jacko
Franchot Tone	...	Ambassador Townsend
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Vincent Ball	...	Australian policeman (uncredited)
Keith Bonnard	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
Peter Clay	...	Assailant in Jeans (uncredited)
Gerry Crampton	...	Rifleman (uncredited)
Shaun Curry	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Harry Fielder	...	Car Driver (uncredited)
Paul Grist	...	Coburn (uncredited)
Leo McKern	...	Flannery (uncredited)
Lionel Murton	...	Reporter on Steps (uncredited)
James Payne	...	Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Terence Plummer	...	Assailant in Black (uncredited)
Tony Selby	...	Cameraman (uncredited)
Gerald Sim	...	Airport Official (uncredited)

Directed by
Ralph Thomas

Writing credits
Jon Cleary		(based on the novel "The High Commissioner" by)
Wilfred Greatorex		(screenplay)

Produced by
Betty E. Box	....	producer
Selig J. Seligman	....	executive producer
James H. Ware	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Georges Delerue		(music composed and directed by)

Cinematography by
Ernest Steward

Film Editing by
Ernest Hosler

Production Design by
Tony Woollard		(as Anthony Woollard)

Makeup Department
Stella Hyers	....	hair stylist
W.T. Partleton	....	makeup artist
Geoffrey Rodway	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Donald Toms	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Simon Relph	....	assistant director
Nicolas Hippisley-Coxe	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Peter Young	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Gordon K. McCallum	....	sound recordist
Dudley Messenger	....	sound recordist
Don Sharpe	....	sound editor
Otto Snel	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
James Bawden	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yvonne Caffin	....	costume coordinator

Music Department
Georges Delerue	....	conductor

Other crew
Sidney Beckerman	....	production associate
Gladys Goldsmith	....	continuity
Gabriel Katzka	....	production associate

Production Companies

• Rank Organisation, The (presents)
• Katzka-Berne Productions (production associates)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (uncredited)
• Rodlor (uncredited)
• Selmur Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors (1968) (UK) (theatrical)
• Cinerama Releasing Corporation (1968) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Pictures (1995) (worldwide) (all media)
• Rank Video (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Strand Magnetics Ltd. (1986) (UK) (VHS)
• Video for Pleasure (VFP) (19??) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Pinewood Studios  made at (as Pinewood Studios, London, England)

Also Known As:

"Nobody Runs Forever" - USA (original title)

Runtime:

USA:101 min (DVD)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | Iceland:16 | UK:PG (video rating) | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Church Road, Wimbledon, London, England, UK

Company:

Rank Organisation, The

Trivia:

The first film of Michael Sheard.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Rod Taylor: Return to Oz (2005) (V)

The High Commissioner

An air of mystery permeates this Cold War thriller, set mostly in London. Rod Taylor plays Scobie Malone, a rough and tough, and slightly uncultured Australian security man. His assignment is to bring back to Sydney a VIP diplomat named Sir James Quentin (Christopher Plummer), charged with the murder of a young girl many years earlier, long before he became The High Commissioner.

Initially, the question the plot asks is: what kind of man would kill a young woman, then vanish, then later turn up as a government diplomat? Is there some twist here? Maybe the diplomat was not really the murderer. Or, maybe he did it, but his personality has changed.

Sir James agrees to return to Sydney with Malone, but first wants to wrap up an important peace conference, to which Sir James seems genuinely devoted. His work on behalf of world peace seems conspicuously inconsistent with the mindset of a murderer. Malone agrees to the delay, but quickly learns that someone, or some entity, is trying to kill Sir James. The plot then switches to the vexing question: who wants to bump off Sir James, a man intent on fostering world peace?

Less spy adventure than elegant mystery, "Nobody Runs Forever" keeps viewers guessing, both about Sir James' past and about the threat that now surrounds him.

My only real complaint is that the motivation of Sir James' enemy (or enemies) is glossed over. Very little is actually explained at the end, except for the specific question of whodunit.

Otherwise, this is a fine mystery. The haunting, vaguely depressing score by Georges Delerue enhances the cloak and dagger atmosphere. Casting and acting are above average. I especially like the performance of Lilli Palmer as Lady Quentin. And dazzling Daliah Lavi is quite beautiful. Costumes are expensive and regal.

I'm baffled as to why this film is so seemingly obscure. It's not that old. It certainly does not lack for star power. And it's a quality production, all the way. Maybe its because the IMDb title is inconsistent with what U.S. viewers remember as "The High Commissioner".