Main Cast: Senta Berger, Stephen Boyd, Yul Brynner, Angie Dickinson, Georges Géret
Release Year: 1966
Run Time: 100 minutes
Plot
This exciting adventure provides an interesting look into the manufacture and trafficking of opium and heroin. The original story was written by Ian Fleming who died shortly before he was to pen the screenplay. The story is set in Iran and opens as an American undercover agent is murdered in the desert while attempting to buy opium. Two more agents are sent to Teheran to investigate the death and stop the powerful drug ring behind the smuggling. Once there, they run into the dead agent's girlfriend, who soon after suddenly disappears. Unfortunately, they cannot find her and so focus on their other job. To figure out where the drugs are going (and hopefully get a lead on the missing girl) they steal a bunch of opium and lace it with radioactive tracers so they can track it with Geiger counters. They then follow the drugs as they are slowly dispersed throughout Europe. After many twists, turns and blind alleys, the agents eventually succeed. This film was originally made for TV and contains cameos from many stars who worked for little pay because they strongly supported its anti-drug message. Those stars include Grace Kelly (who introduces the film) Omar Sharif, E.G. Marshall, Eli Wallach, Marcello Mastrioanni, and many more. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
Tony Roman - Art Director, Maurice Colasson - Art Director, Terence Young - Director, Henry Richardson - Editor, Peter Thornton - Editor, Monique Bonnot - Editor, Georges Auric - Composer (Music Score), Henri Alékan - Cinematographer, Tony Brown - Cinematographer, Euan Lloyd - Producer, Freda Pearson - Set Designer, Paul Pollard - Special Effects, Joe Eisinger - Screenwriter, Ian Fleming - Short Story Author
In an attempt to stem the heroin trade from Afghanistan-Iran border, a group of narcotics agents working for the United Nations 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.
Part of the production of this film took place overseas. Iran was the main scene for many desert and border scenes. The crew spent several weeks on location and the local cinematographers joined the team to accomplish the production. Famous Iranian cinematographers cooperated with this project, including Maziyar Partow.
Backstory
The film is based on an idea by Ian Fleming, the James Bond creator. Funded in part by a grant from Xerox, it was produced by the United Nations and the stars received a salary of $1.[2]Terence Young left the direction of Thunderball to make the film.
The Poppy Is Also a Flower was the last of four television movies commissioned by the United Nations, to publicise its missions and roles in world peace and diplomacy. The film was originally 80 minutes in length for its ABC telecast (minus commercial time for the 90-minute slot), later expanded to 100 minutes for theatrical release. Interestingly, Astral Films released the theatrical version into American theaters in 1967.
