Title: Funeral for an Assassin Year: 1974 Director: Ivan Hall Writers: Walter Brough Producers: Ivan Hall, Walter Brough Cinematography: Koos Roets Editing: George B. Hively Runtime: 92 minutes Country: South Africa Language: English, Afrikaans Format: Color, Sound Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller --- Synopsis: Michael Cardiff, a highly trained revolutionary and professional assassin, escapes from a South African prison and fakes his death by placing identification on a decomposed body. Seeking revenge against the government that imprisoned him, Cardiff orchestrates a plan to assassinate high-ranking officials. He murders a prominent judge, making the death appear accidental, to set the stage for a state funeral. His ultimate goal is to detonate an explosive device at the funeral, targeting the nation's elite. Only Captain Evered Roos, a non-conformist police officer, suspects Cardiff's intentions and races against time to thwart the deadly plot. --- Cast: Vic Morrow as Michael Cardiff Peter van Dissel as Capt. Evered Roos Gaby Getz as Julia Ivens Stuart Parker as Commander Overbeek Sam Williams as Umzinga Gillian Garlick as Nurse Susan Schoenfeld Siegfried Mynhardt as Judge William Whitfield Norman Coombes as Fourie Chris Bezuidenhout as Karl Yates Albert Raphael as Claude Ormsby Johan Brewis as Reverend Martin Hemsley Bruce Anderson as Prime Minister --- Production Notes: Funeral for an Assassin was directed by Ivan Hall and co-produced with Walter Brough, who also penned the screenplay. The film's cinematography was handled by Koos Roets, with editing by George B. Hively. Shot in South Africa, the movie reflects the political tensions of the era, focusing on themes of revenge and political assassination. Despite its low budget, the film attempts to deliver a gripping narrative set against the backdrop of apartheid-era South Africa. --- Legacy: While not widely known internationally, Funeral for an Assassin holds a place in South African cinema as a notable action thriller from the 1970s. Its exploration of political themes and character-driven storytelling contribute to its enduring interest among film enthusiasts. The film's portrayal of a lone assassin targeting government officials offers a glimpse into the genre's evolution during a tumultuous period in South Africa's history. --- Trivia: The film was banned in South Africa in 1974 by the then all-powerful censors for no apparent reason and then unbanned just as quickly, again for no apparent reason. Vic Morrow's character uses blackface as a disguise in the film, a choice that has been criticized for its insensitivity and implausibility. The film has been compared to other political thrillers of the era, such as Hennessy (1975), due to its themes of revenge and assassination plots targeting high-profile political figures. --- Curated Hashtags: #FuneralForAnAssassin #1974Cinema #SouthAfricanFilm #VicMorrow #ActionThriller #IvanHall #PoliticalThriller #ClassicAction #ApartheidEraCinema #CultClassic