The Internecine Project - 1974

Director(s)
Ken Hughes 

Writer(s)
Mort W. Elkind  novel Internecine
Barry Levinson 
Jonathan Lynn 

Producer(s)
Andrew Donally co-producer
Barry Levinson producer

Cast
James Coburn - Robert Elliot
Lee Grant - Jean Robertson
Harry Andrews - Albert Parsons
Ian Hendry - Alex Hellman
Michael Jayston - David Baker
Christiane Krüger - Christina Larsson
Keenan Wynn - E.J. Farnsworth
Terence Alexander - Business tycoon
Philip Anthony - Eliott's secretary
Julian Glover - Arnold Pryce-Jones
Mary Larkin - Jean's secretary
Ewan Roberts - Lab technician
David Swift - Chester Drake
Rolf Wanka - Art dealer
Ray Callaghan - TV producer
Ralph Ball - Boyfriend
Susan Majolier - Lab assistant
Brian Tully - Businessman #1
Michael Nightingale - Businessman #2
Carrie Kirstein - Air hostess
Richard Cornish - Co-pilot
Geoffrey Burridge - Floor manager
Robert Tayman - Mixer
Judy Robinson - Production assistant
Kevin Scott - Maxwell

Review by Theo Robertson

The Internecine Project (1974)
Clever Movie With A Stand Out Character Played By Harry Andrews,

I'm amazed that THE INTERNECINE PROJECT has not received the recognition it deserves. I saw it a couple of times in the early 1980s and despite not seeing it for almost 25 years it's still lodged in my mind as being a clever thriller . Perhaps I shall never watch it in case it's not as good as I remember . The plot centres around former secret agent Robert Elliot ( Played suavely by James Coburn in one of his best roles) gaining a White House promotion , just the first step in a long and successful political career . There's just one thing and that is there's several people who know about Elliot's past and Elliot can't allow his dirty secrets to be revealed by anyone

I won't reveal the plot but it's smart and there's a twist at the end . But for me the best part of the movie is where Elliot visits the home of military veteran Albert Parsons played by Harry Andrews . Parsons and his collection of cats warmly greet Elliot , but it's obvious by his mannerism that Elliot has something on his mind :

" We've got a problem "

" A problem sir ? " asks Parsons

" It's to do with a woman "

Parsons is shocked " A WOMAN SIR ? "

Elliot rubs his chin and studies Albert " She's a sort of high class whore "

By now Parsons is having convulsions and spitting his hatred " THEY'RE ALL WHORES THE WHOLE LOT OF THEM , YOU CAN'T TRUST ANY THEM SIR , NOT ANY OF THEM "

Hmmm I wonder if Albert Parsons is a repressed homosexual ?