The Internecine Project

British Lion Films

Industry	Film production
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Key people	Michael Deeley (manager)
Products	Films

The Internecine Project is a 1974 British espionage thriller film scripted by Mort W. Elkind, Barry Levinson, and Jonathan Lynn, directed by Ken Hughes, and featuring performances by James Coburn and Lee Grant.

Plot

Robert Elliot (portrayed by James Coburn), an American economist on the verge of becoming a government advisor, clandestinely operates a corporate espionage network in London. His team comprises four agents: Alex Hellman (Ian Hendry), a compromised Foreign Office official; Bert Parsons (Harry Andrews), a masseur; Christina Larsson (Christiane Kruger), a sex worker; and David Baker (Michael Jayston), a scientist. E.J. Farnsworth (Keenan Wynn), a businessman instrumental in securing Elliot's appointment, pressures him to eliminate the operatives to conceal Elliot’s unlawful dealings.

Elliot orchestrates a scheme in which each member is manipulated into assassinating another on the same evening, each believing their target poses a threat of exposure. Monitoring their actions through telephone signals, Elliot sequences the killings: David administers poison to Alex’s insulin; Christina sets up a timed sonic device that kills David; Bert strangles Christina; Alex bludgeons Bert with a hammer but hesitates before finishing him off. After confirming Bert’s death, Alex dies from the poisoned insulin.

Shortly before leaving for Washington, D.C., Elliot receives a package containing David’s notebook. The enclosed message reveals David’s mistrust and discloses that the notebook is laced with a lethal skin-absorbed poison, which causes Elliot’s death within minutes during his trip to the airport.

Cast

• James Coburn as Robert Elliot
• Lee Grant as Jean Robertson
• Harry Andrews as Albert Parsons
• Ian Hendry as Alex Hellman
• Michael Jayston as David Baker
• Christiane Krüger as Christina Larsson
• Keenan Wynn as E.J. Farnsworth
• Terence Alexander as Business tycoon
• Philip Anthony as Elliot’s secretary
• Julian Glover as Arnold Pryce-Jones
• Mary Larkin as Jean’s secretary

Production

Produced by British Lion Films, under the management of Michael Deeley, the film was financed through a combination of sources: half of its budget came from an American agreement with Allied Artists, while the remainder was raised via a German tax shelter. Deeley reflected in his memoirs that although neither this film nor Who? held major cinematic significance, the financing approach was critical for British Lion’s financial stability.

Actress Lee Grant described the project as "a rather insubstantial film," noting that only a sixteen-page script outline was available. She accepted the role due to attractive compensation and the chance to work with James Coburn, whom she admired. Grant acknowledged that this part diverged from her usual roles and partly chose it because she and her husband were in the process of adopting children. She also appreciated the relaxed atmosphere on set but expressed some regret that portraying a "sexy lady" challenged her established screen persona.

Reception

The Los Angeles Times characterized the movie as "sardonic and engaging." Conversely, Filmink criticized its execution despite an intriguing premise, describing it as "a great idea shoddily done." According to TV Guide, although The Internecine Project featured a solid thriller narrative, it ultimately fell short in its delivery.

External links

• The Internecine Project at the British Film Institute