Act of Reprisal
1965
Role: Harvey Freeman

This movie is a love story set against the backdrop of Cyprus' struggle for independence from the British in the 1950s.

The action is set on Cyprus in 1958 and deals with the relationship between a British commissioner (Jeremy), a Cypriote girl named Maria (actress Ina Balin), a Turk and a Greek priest.

"It is basically an anti-war film in that these people, who have ethnic and historic hates for each other, discover that this hatred is dissipated as they are brought together in a time of stress," producer Wilbur Stark said in a July 18, 1965, New York Times article.

The movie was filmed in November and December 1964 in Greece, in part to give it an authentic backdrop, and also, Stark said, "There are local actors, who speak English, and who are drawn into this theme because they feel and understand it better than foreigners."

The Greek title is Antekdhikissi.

Hal Erickson, of All Movie Guide, noted:

Despite major differences in political ideology, Maria and Freeman fall in love. The film's resemblance to Romeo and Juliet is especially pronounced in the final reels, as tragedy seems unavoidable.

The Brettish Empire calls this movie "a forgotten treasure" and says that "Jeremy Brett gives a fine performance, skillfully tracing the development of the passive, shallow Freeman into a courageous, caring human being."

IMDb page // BFI page