The Human Factor (1975)
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33% of critics liked it
(6 reviews) -
25% of users liked it
(80 ratings)
This routine espionage drama is based on a novel by Graham Greene about a low-level British informant who is caught in a trap. Castle (Nicol Williamson) has a desk job in British intelligence. Around him are heavyweights like Col. Daintry (Richard Attenborough), Sir John Hargreaves (Richard Vernon),… More This routine espionage drama is based on a novel by Graham Greene about a low-level British informant who is caught in a trap. Castle (Nicol Williamson) has a desk job in British intelligence. Around him are heavyweights like Col. Daintry (Richard Attenborough), Sir John Hargreaves (Richard Vernon), and Percival (Robert Morley) who will cold-bloodedly stop at nothing to do their jobs as they see fit. And Castle certainly is a nobody compared to them. One day when a friend of his in Africa needs some help, Castle is conned into supplying the Eastern block countries with info on demand. No one suspects him because of his low position, but when his office partner is hauled off, Castle begins to rethink his situation. This was director Otto Preminger's last film. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi
- Directed By
- Otto Preminger, Edward Dmytryk
- Written By
- Tom Stoppard, Graham Greene (I)
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Classics
R,
- In Theaters
- Dec 18, 1979 Wide
- Studio
- Live Home Video
Critic Reviews
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
This rigorous, compelling, radically stylized film represents the end point in a line of development that Otto Preminger had been pursuing since the late 60s.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Director Preminger was handed his first project in five years, a great cast, and good material (based on a Graham Greene novel), and he came up with this anemic little thriller.
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A pointless film that valued computers more than it does people.
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Chuck O'Leary, FulvueDrive-in.com
An OK revenge thriller that's helped immensely by George Kennedy's sympathetic lead performance. However, there's too much talk and not enough action.
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, Film4
The film is a triumph of missed opportunities, miscasting and misdirection, excused, if at all, by the fact that money ran out and Otto had to hock some paintings to finish it.
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Cast
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George Kennedy
as John Kinsdale
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John Mills
as Mike McAllister
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Raf Vallone
as Dr. Lupo
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Arthur Franz
as Gen. Fuller
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Rita Tushingham
as Janice
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Frank Avianca
as Kamal
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Haydee Politoff
as Pidgeon
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Tom Hunter
as Taylor
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Barry Sullivan
as Edmonds
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West Buchanan
as Aldo
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Lewis Charles
as Mr. Gerardi
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Robert Lowell
as Eddy Fonseca
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Shane Rimmer
as Carter CIA
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Conchita Airoldi
as Sandra Pallavicini
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Vincenzo Crocitti
as Lupo's Driver
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Richard Attenborough
as Col. John Daintry
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John Gielgud
as Brigadier Tomlinson
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Joop Doderer
as Cornelius Muller
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Derek Jacobi
as Arthur Davis
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Robert Morley
as Doctor Percival
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Ann Todd
as Castle's Mother
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Nicol Williamson
as Maurice Castle
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Richard Vernon
as Sir John Hargreaves
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Iman
as Sarah
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Martin Benson
as Borls
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Sean Caffrey
as Policeman
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Tom Chatto
as General Phipps
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Sylvia Coleridge
as Mrs. Halliday
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Adrienne Corri
as Sylvia
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Robert Dorning
as Jameson
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Clifford Earl
as Ferguson
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Gary Forbes
as Sam
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Fiona Fullerton
as Elizabeth
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Leon Greene
as Tall Man
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Denys Hawthorne
as Inspector Butler
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Anthony Haygarth
as Buffy
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Cyd Hayman
as Cunthia
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Boris Isarov
as Agent
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Ken Jones
as Messenger
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Keith Marsh
as Porter
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Patrick O'Connell
as Reader
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Marianne Stone
as Matron
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Angela Thorne
as Mary Hargreaves
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Tony Vogel
as Matthew Connolly
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Frank Williams
as Bellamy
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Anthony Woodruff
as Dr. Barker
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Paul Seed
as Shop Assistant
- Glenna Forster-Jones
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Paul Curran
as Halliday
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Edward Dentith
as Edward
- Brian Epsom
