The Poppy Is Also a Flower (1966)

United Nations narcotics agents attempt to trace heroin shipments from the Afghanistan-Iran border to the main European distributor.

Director:

Terence Young

Writers:

Jo Eisinger (screenplay), Ian Fleming (story)

Stars:

Senta Berger, Stephen Boyd, Yul Brynner

Won 1 Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Senta Berger	...	Maxine
Stephen Boyd	...	Benson
Yul Brynner	...	Colonel Salem
Angie Dickinson	...	Linda Benson
Georges Géret	...	Superintendent Roche (as Georges Geret)
Hugh Griffith	...	Salah Rahman Khan
Jack Hawkins	...	General Bahar
Rita Hayworth	...	Monique Marko
Trevor Howard	...	Sam Lincoln
Trini López	...	Trini Lopez (as Trini Lopez)
E.G. Marshall	...	Coley Jones
Marcello Mastroianni	...	Inspector Mosca
Amedeo Nazzari	...	Captain Di Nonno
Anthony Quayle	...	Captain Vanderbilt
Gilbert Roland	...	Serge Marko

Storyline

In an attempt to stem the heroin trade from Iran, a group of narcotics agents working for the UN inject a radioactive compound into a seized shipment of opium, in the hopes that it will lead them to the main heroin distributor in Europe. Along the way, they encounter a mysterious woman doing her own investigating of the smuggling operation. Together, they follow the trail as it leads them through the back alleys and luxury resorts of Europe.

---

Plot Keywords:

heroin | champagne | brandy | poliziottesco | french poliziottesco | 

---

Taglines:

Under United Nations direction special agents crack down on a ring of opium smugglers

---

Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

France Austria USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 October 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Opium Connection

Filming Locations:

Isfahan, Iran

Company Credits

Production Co:

Comet, Telsun Foundation Inc., United Nations

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Optiphone)

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

E.G. Marshall and Trevor Howard appeared in Superman II (1980).

---

Quotes

Coley Jones: Is this place taken?
[he sits down]
Coley Jones: Madame, would you mind if I smoked?
Coley Jones: I noticed you took a pill. I thought perhaps...
[he waves his packet of cigars at her]
Monique Marko: huh? Nothing. Small headache.
Coley Jones: Are you sure the smoke won't distress you?
Monique Marko: I'm never distressed by smoke. Surely not. But thank you.
Coley Jones: Not at all. I have a headache myself. I wonder if it would be too much to ask if, eh...
Monique Marko: The aspirin?
[...]

---

Connections

Referenced in Terence Young: Bond Vivant (2000)

---

Soundtracks

Lemon Tree
Written by Will Holt
Performed by Trini López

User Reviews

"It doesn't make sense! Not any of it!"

Hilariously awful star-studded turkey, an apparent do-gooder drama concocted by Ian Fleming, sponsored by Xerox and directed by Bond-filmmaker Terence Young, details the United Nations' efforts to stop the trafficking of opium out of the Middle East. Bungled ingredients include star-cameos, an introduction by Grace Kelly (!), and Yul Brynner (misspelled in the credits) as a fez-topped Colonel who rides out to meet his enemies on horseback as if this were a Samurai western. The curious, sloppy over-dubbing leaves some of the actors looking like foreigners in a spaghetti spy-drama, while Kelly implores us to remember that...yes...Poppy flowers are attractive and innocent-looking, but their seeds are producing drugs that are destroying our young people! Not as fast as films like this. E. G. Marshall's somewhat bemused performance is the only asset the picture has to offer. Also known as "The Poppy Is Also a Flower", "The Opium Connection" and (my favorite) "Danger Grows Wild". NO STARS from ****