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	...	Col. Salem
Angie Dickinson	...	Linda Benson
Georges Géret	...	Superintendent Roche (as Georges Geret)
Hugh Griffith	...	Salah Rahman Khan
Jack Hawkins	...	Gen. 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	...	Capt. Di Nonno
Anthony Quayle	...	Capt. 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.

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Plot Keywords:

heroin | champagne | brandy | poliziottesco | french poliziottesco | 

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Taglines:

From the JAMES BOND director...with 22 GREAT STARS

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Drama | Mystery

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Certificate:

GP

Did You Know?

Trivia

Finnish censorship visa # T-75652 (video).

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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?
[...]

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Connections

Referenced in Terence Young: Bond Vivant (2000)

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Soundtracks

Lemon Tree
Written by Will Holt
Performed by Trini López

User Reviews

My kind of film

I really don't care that the majority of people didn't enjoy this film. I thought it was a very watchable escapism film. Nothing complicated or confusing. I think the appeal is more for the 60+ crowd who grew up with the many international stars appearing. The sexy Angie Dickinson was in a featured role. I can't think of a better bad man than Harold Sakata (Goldfinger fame). The international locations and seeing Iran as it use to be.

The version I have runs a tad over 84 mins. The VHS picture quality is quite good. When I first saw this film on the big screen, it ran longer. From my fading memory, the original film had an excellent female mud wrestling scene, something I had never seen before. Well, that scene is gone, not fitting for TV around 1970. Much like the gypsy fight scene in From Russia With Love is mostly cut for TV.

During the film, the UN investigators spiked the opium with a radioactive dose to help follow the shipment. What happens to the ultimate users who ingest this cocktail? Never explained in the film.

At any rate, for us oldsters, seeing all of these stars in one film is a treasure. If you are too young to know these people, then take a pass. This is not a high brow boring film. Just check your brain at the door and enjoy.

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:

1.66 : 1