The Poppy Is Also A Flower (1966)

A narcotics agent (Stephen Boyd) is on a mission to track down who is buying huge shipments of opium from a nomadic tribal chief (Hugh Griffith). After he is killed in the Iranian desert, two United Nation investigators (Trevor Howard, E.G. Marshall) attempt to complete the investigation. The trail leads them to the lowest dives and the most glamorous arenas. Based on a story by Bond creator Ian Fleming and directed by Terence Young, who directed three Bond films. The film was produced by the United Nations and its star studded cast were all paid a dollar, yes a dollar! The film was a public service effort more than anything but surprisingly, it's not preachy nor is it heavy handed in its execution. While not a great movie thriller, it's serviceable and its fun spotting the star laden cast. It debuted as a television special in the U.S. but played as a theatrical feature through out the rest of the world. The massive cast includes Marcello Mastroianni, Rita Hayworth, Yul Brynner, Omar Sharif, Eli Wallach (who won an Emmy for his performance), Angie Dickinson, Gilbert Roland, Senta Berger, Jack Hawkins, Barry Sullivan, Anthony Quayle, Trini Lopez, Nadja Tiller, Harold Sakata (GOLDFINGER), Jocelyn Lane, Laya Raki and Marilu Tolo.