Plot
Based on Charles McCarry's 1979 novel The Better Angels, Wrong is Right is set in a near future in which violence has become something of a national sport and television news has fallen to tabloid depths (a significantly bigger stretch in 1982, when the film was released.) Star Sean Connery plays Patrick Hale, a globe-trotting reporter with access to a staggering array of world leaders. As the film opens, he has ventured to the Arab country of Hegreb to interview his old acquaintance, King Ibn Awad (Ron Moody). Awad has learned that the President of the United States (George Grizzard) may have issued orders for his removal; as a result, Awad is apparently making arrangements to deliver two mini-nuclear devices -- each about the size of a small suitcase -- to a terrorist, with the intention of detonating them in Israel and the United States, unless the President resigns. In the intricate plot that unfolds, nothing is quite the way it seems, and Hale finds himself caught between political leaders, revolutionaries, CIA agents and other figures, trying to get to the bottom of it all. ~ Craig Butler, RoviReview
The next-to-last film from Richard Brooks was not a success when originally released but has built a cult following over the years. If viewed through a cult-movie mindset, it's easy to see why Wrong Is Right is appealing to that group of viewers. The script has a scathing, darkly funny take on international politics that one wouldn't expect from a well-funded Hollywood project of the early 1980's and also mixes up offbeat humor and message-oriented drama in a way that keeps the film from affecting a comfortable Hollywood style. Wrong Is Right is also packed to the rafters with a bevy of character actors who revel in getting such gutsy material to work with: Sean Connery shows a sly sense of humor in the lead role but many scenes are stolen by G.D. Spradlin as a non-nonsense intelligence agency chief, Rosalind Cash as a fiery female vice-president and Horst Buchholz as a wily arms dealer playing both sides of the fence. Behind the camera, Richard Brooks gives the film a swift pace and plays out the film's odd mix of messages and absurdist humor with a straight-faced approach that keeps the narrative from sliding off the rails. The end result is probably still too eccentric for mainstream audiences but cult movie fans with a yen for unusual Hollywood films are likely to consider Wrong Is Right a hidden treasure. ~ Donald Guarisco, RoviCast
- Sean Connery - Patrick Hale
- George Grizzard - President Lockwood
- Robert Conrad - Gen. Wombat
- Katharine Ross - Sally Blake
- G.D. Spradlin - Philandros
- Leslie Nielsen - Mallory
Credit
George Grenville - Associate Producer, Ray Summers - Costume Designer, Alan Hopkins - First Assistant Director, Richard Brooks - Director, George Grenville - Editor, Artie Kane - Composer (Music Score), Edward C. Carfagno - Production Designer, Fred Koenekamp - Cinematographer, Richard Brooks - Producer, Andrew Fogelson - Producer, Arthur Jeph Parker - Set Designer, Richard W. Pitman - Set Designer, Richard Brooks - Screenwriter, Charles McCarry - Book Author, Gene S. Cantamessa - Production Sound Mixer| Wrong Door (1916 Film), Wrong Box (1910 Film) | |
| Wrong Mr. Wright (1927 Film), Wrong Number (1959 Film) |
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