Displaying items by tag: June Ritchie

THE SYNDICATE

UK, 1968, 63 minutes, Colour.

William Sylvester, June Ritchie, Robert Urquhart, Christian Doermer, John Bennett.

Directed by Frederic Goode.

A small-budget action adventure film, shot on location in Kenya. The release was delayed and the initial version, over 100 minutes, was edited to 63 minutes for general release.

A team go to Kenya for uranium exploration. The leader is alcoholic, Robert Urquhart overacting, travelling with his wife and very suspicious of her, June Ritchie perhaps under acting. The principal character is a failed American pilot, William Sylvester, in with the British team, falling in love with the wife, having to take final action. There is a young German entrepreneur explorer, Kristian Dermer.

Most of the action takes place in travelling to the uranium site, the locals digging, suspicions and a whole range of suspicious accidents. Perhaps it is the editing that makes this rather confused. Clashes, personality fights, the husband suspicious of his wife, her wanting out of the marriage.

At the end, the young German goes to Nairobi, teams up with various business interests, guns produced, attacks and violence, the threat to the uranium – and the pilot and the wife making their escape by plane.

Not necessary viewing.