The Human Factor

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The Human Factor

R

Released Dec 18, 1979

1h 55m

Mystery & Thriller

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33%

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6 Reviews

29%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

An English spy (Nicol Williamson) must leave his family and defect to Moscow.

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

This rigorous, compelling, radically stylized film represents the end point in a line of development that Otto Preminger had been pursuing since the late 60s.

Jan 1, 2000

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Jesús Fernández Santos

El Pais (Spain)

The first part is the best aspect of the film. The second seems colder and more mundane. [Full Review in Spanish]

Aug 14, 2019

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TV Guide

Director Preminger was handed his first project in five years, a great cast, and good material (based on a Graham Greene novel), and he came up with this anemic little thriller.

Rated: 2/4

Oct 23, 2007

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

It remains a well-crafted but rather tedious effort, with only the sparkling performances from its outstanding cast giving the film some spark.

Rated: C

Feb 26, 2007

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

Rated: 2/5

Jul 5, 2005

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Film4 Staff

Film4

The film is a triumph of missed opportunities, miscasting and misdirection, excused, if at all, by the fact that money ran out and Otto had to hock some paintings to finish it.

May 24, 2003

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delysid d

stuffy old british movie that features some of the ugliest people ever allowed to become actors

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/06/22

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ashley h

The Human Factor is a disappointing. It is about Daintry who is brought in to investigate an information leak at the African British Intelligence. Richard Attenborough, George Kennedy, and John Mills give horrible performances. The screenplay is badly written. Edward Dmytryk did a terrible job directing this movie. I was not impressed with this motion picture.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

This rating is for the 1975 Ed Dmytryk-Big George Kennedy revenge flick with the kickass final scene.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

02/12/23

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Audience Member

Convoluted spy drama that is continually downbeat.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/06/23

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Audience Member

A slow but ultimately intriguing story. Some of the acting's wooden, but Preminger's direction overcomes that.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/27/23

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Audience Member

Not enough enraged George Kennedy killing in cold blood, and too much staring at 70s computer screens. The bloody climax is good, but it's a long time coming. Not to be confused (as this entry has done) with the 1979 Otto Preminger film. This one is from 1975, and does not star Richard Attenborough.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Otto Preminger

Director

Nicol Williamson

Maurice Castle

Richard Attenborough

Colonel John Daintry

Derek Jacobi

Arthur Davis

Iman

Sarah

Robert Morley

Doctor Percival

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Synopsis

An English spy (Nicol Williamson) must leave his family and defect to Moscow.

Director: Otto Preminger
Producer: Otto Preminger
Screenwriter: Tom Stoppard
Production Co: The Rank Organisation, Sigma Production, Wheel Productions
Rating: R
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 18, 1979, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 1, 2009
Runtime: 1h 55m

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