The Poppy Is Also a Flower

The Poppy Is Also a Flower is a 1966 ABC made-for-television spy and anti-drug film. The film was directed by Terence Young and starred Senta Berger, Stephen Boyd, Trevor Howard, Rita Hayworth, Angie Dickinson, Yul Brynner, and Marcello Mastroianni. Grace Kelly (as Princess Grace of Monaco) narrates.

The film was also known by alternate titles Poppies Are Also Flowers, The Opium Connection and ''Danger Grows Wild (in the UK).

Plot summary
In an attempt to stem the heroin trade at the Afghanistan-Iran border, a group of narcotics agents working for the United Nations inject a radioactive compound into a seized shipment of opium, in the hopes that it will lead them to the main heroin distributor in Europe.

Cast

 * Senta Berger - Nightclub Wrestler
 * Stephen Boyd - Benson
 * Yul Brynner - Col. Salem
 * Angie Dickinson - Linda Benson
 * Georges Géret - Supt. Roche
 * Hugh Griffith - Tribal chief
 * Jack Hawkins - Gen. Bahar
 * Rita Hayworth - Monique Markos
 * Trevor Howard - Sam Lincoln
 * Trini López - Himself
 * E. G. Marshall - Coley
 * Marcello Mastroianni - Insp. Mosca
 * Amedeo Nazzari - Capt. Dinonnio
 * Anthony Quayle - Capt. Vanderbilt
 * Gilbert Roland - Serge Markos

The International Crew
Part of the production of this film took place overseas. Iran was the main scene for many desert and border scenes. The crew spent several weeks on location and the local cinematographers joined the team to accomplish the production. Famous Iranian cinematographers cooperated with this project, including Maziyar Partow.

Backstory
The film is based on an idea by Ian Fleming, the James Bond creator. Funded in part by a grant from Xerox, it was produced by the United Nations and the stars received a salary of $1. Terence Young left the direction of Thunderball to make the film.

The Poppy Is Also a Flower was the last of four television movies commissioned by the United Nations, to publicise its missions and roles in world peace and diplomacy. The film was originally 80 minutes in length for its ABC telecast (minus commercial time for the 90-minute slot), later expanded to 100 minutes for theatrical release. Interestingly, Astral Films released the theatrical version into American theaters in 1967.