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The Wild Geese [1978]


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The best movie about modern mercenaries made until now
Review date: 2007-10-13 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is a great movie, the kind of "oldie but goldie" which is worth to be rediscovered many years after the first viewing. It has a good and smart story, very good action scenes which impress even today, 30 years after and last but not least, a STELLAR casting. Just count - Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, Stewart Granger and Harry Kruger, in all five stars. And then Jack Watson, a less known actor, who plays sergeant master Sandy Young - and with his size and his face he is simply the perfect incarnation of sergeant masterdom. The story descibes a rescue operation in a fictif African country - a major mining company want to save a imprisoned African leader, hoping that once he seizes the power, he will give them favourable terms on mining concession. The story is very similar to the archifamous Frederick Forsythe's novel "Dogs of War". This movie is however much much better that the adaptation of "Dogs of war" with Christopher Walken, especially because, although quite tragic, this movie has also quite a lot of hilarious moments and one-liners, many of them delivered by the gay medic serving in the unit. A very good British war movie, to discover or rediscover.

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Reviews


THIS IS NO GOOSE
Review date: 2007-09-26 Rating: 10 out of 10

A classic film with a wonderful cast.

Retired, mainly British, soldiers are recruited as mercenary troops to enter an African republic and rescue a political leader. Richard Burton, Richard Harris and Roger Moore star.

The group are double crossed by their employers and left in the middle of a hostile African country, who's army are swiftly descending. The group make their escape, fighting all the way to get home and repay their employer's deceipt.

REVIEW OF THE WILD GEESE
Review date: 2007-09-23 Rating: 10 out of 10

A top-notch no nonsense piece of film-making brought to the screen by Euan Lloyd and directed by Andrew V. Mclarglen. Based on Daniel Carney's book the screenplay is beautifully crafted and written by the magnificent Reginald Rose who has accurately portrayed elements of the life and drama that accompany a mercenary crack assault team sent into
South Africa captained by Colonel Faulkner (Richard Burton) to free a man who could change the apartheid laws of the nation.
The film was made in 1978 and we have that 'Master of the Main Title'
Maurice Binder to thank for his gorgeous title's artwork.
Photography by Jack Hildyard who's dedication and work on location
never leaves this viewer unsatisfied!
Music by Roy Bud, it is a true work of composition and doesn't distract
from the wholesome sound and perfect end product of this magnificent film in which everyone plays a perfect part.
Joan Amatrading wrote and performed her own song
Flight of the wild Gees for this important motion picture.
At 134mins this is stunningly shot film in a wide-screen ratio in 'panavision'
with Panaflex cameras and expert continuity.

Richard.A.J.Henson

Not just another Freddie Forsyth thriller
Review date: 2006-10-12 Rating: 10 out of 10

This is indeed a hugely enjoyable movie in the action thriller mode. What gives it an emotional/interesting edge is the extraordinary theme tune by Joan Armatrading with its desperate question asking "what more can we do" to prevent the excesses of the post colonial treatment of Africa by black africans; the triangulation between Janders, Coetzee and Limbani and the fires being burned by white Rhodesian farmers to guide the crippled plane back to safety.

Some comments have been made about the accuracy of the movie in terms of representing combat. Certainly it seems more realistic than many Hollywood movies but I do remember a comment made by Daniel Carney of how he had kept telling the director during filming that "this is not how people die in reality".

highly entertaining "dad's army" war heroics.
Review date: 2006-08-15 Rating: 8 out of 10

despite the fact that most of the cast are too old for this sort of caper, this is still one of my favourite films.
it is a tragic sight to observe poor old richard burton struggling along, making the most of it when it came to the fighting and running. scene highlight; roger moore trying to practice the parachute jump. his attempt and jack watson's response make for highly amusing viewing.
stewart granger is cast against type as the evil, manipulative and greedy sir edward matheson. he plays it well.
i think it's true to say that in a real life situation like this, most of the so-called soldiers would not be up for the job in hand. it reminds me of the walmington-on-sea platoon in "dad's army." they couldn't do any better or worse after all.
buy this one and enjoy.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Richard Burton
Hardy Krüger
Stewart Granger
Roger Moore
Richard Harris

Creators:
Richard Burton (Primary Contributor)
Roger Moore (Primary Contributor)
Jack Hildyard (Cinematographer)
John Glen (Editor)
Chris Chrisafis (Producer)
Douglas Netter (Producer)
Euan Lloyd (Producer)
Daniel Carney (Writer)
Reginald Rose (Writer)

Director(s):

Recording label: Mosaic Movies
Manufacturer: Mosaic Movies
EAN: 7321900938679
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-05-31
Number of discs: 1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 129 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1978-11-11
Language: English (Original Language)

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