It's one of those hidden gems a person finds where he least expects it, a film you've never heard of before, not sure if it's a good film, but worth trying out and realizing you invested well. Coming across a DVD copy of it last November at a dollar store, and never having heard of it before, I found such a gem, the 1968 film The High Commissioner.
An Australian policeman is given an assignment to go to London and arrest a man for a long ago murder, yet this is no ordinary man he must arrest; the man is one of Australia's leading diplomats. Complicating the policeman's job are two things: the diplomat is in the middle of an important conference, and he is the target of unknown assassins, forcing the policeman to go the extra mile if he is to carry out his assignment.
An international thriller filled with mystery, intrigue, action and suspicious characters, The High Commissioner unfolds at a fairly fast pace, with twists and turns abounding, plenty of moments of comic relief and an ending I didn't expect. It doesn't stand out in any way among thrillers; at times, in fact, it's pretty predictable, but remains enjoyable throughout.
Both Rod Taylor and Christopher Plummer gave good, intriguing performances; Taylor as the policeman conflicted over the details of the case and doing his duty, and Plummer as the diplomat determined to continue with the conference despite knowing he has to go back to Australia, and even at the risk of his own life. It's fascinating to watch the two in character as they engage in a battle of wills, both determined to accomplish what they set out to do.
In addition, The High Commissioner also features a number of familiar faces, such as Lilli Palmer (The Boys From Brazil), Clive Revill (Robin Hood: Men In Tights), Bert Kwouk (the Pink Panther series) and, surprisingly to me, Leo McKern (The Adventure Of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother) in an unbilled appearance as the Premier of New South Wales. A worthwhile investment of my time and money (I only paid a dollar, but it's more than worth it), I give The High Commissioner three (of four) stars.
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