The Wild Geese (1978)

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  • THE WILD GEESE

    DIRECTED BY ANDREW McLAGLEN
    PRODUCED BY CHRIS CHRISAFIS/ EUAN LLOYD/ DOUGLAS NETTER
    RICHMOND FILM PRODUCTIONS (West)
    VICTORY FILMS/ VARIUS ENTERTAINMENT TRADING A.G.
    RANK FILM ORGANIZATION


    Information from IMDb


    Plot Summary
    A British multinational seeks to overthrow a vicious dictator in central Africa.
    It hires a band of (largely aged) mercenaries in London and sends them in
    to save the virtuous but imprisoned opposition leader who is also critically ill and due for execution. J
    ust when the team has performed a perfect rescue, the multinational does a deal
    with the vicious dictator leaving the mercenary band to escape under their own steam
    and exact revenge.


    Written by Richard Young


    Full Cast
    Richard Burton ... Col. Allen Faulkner
    Roger Moore ... Lt. Shawn Fynn
    Richard Harris ... Capt. Rafer Janders
    Hardy Krüger ... Lt. Pieter Coetzee (as Hardy Kruger)
    Stewart Granger ... Matherson / Sir Edward Matherson
    Winston Ntshona ... President Limbani
    John Kani ... Sgt. Blake Jesse
    Jack Watson ... R.S.M. Sandy Young
    Frank Finlay ... Fr. Geoghagen - The Priest
    Kenneth Griffith ... Arthur Witty
    Barry Foster ... Thomas Balfour
    Ronald Fraser ... Jock McTaggart
    Ian Yule ... Tosh Donaldson
    Patrick Allen ... Rushton
    Rosalind Lloyd ... Heather
    David Ladd ... Sonny Martinelli
    Paul Spurrier ... Emile
    Jeff Corey ... Mr. Martin
    Brook Williams ... Samuels
    Percy Herbert ... Keith
    Glyn Baker ... Esposito
    Sydney Chama ... Clark
    Ken Gampu ... Alexander
    Jane Hylton ... Mrs. Marjorie Young
    Taks Senekal ... East German Officer
    Martin Grace ... East German Officer
    Terry Wells ... Cuban Officer
    Joe Cole ... Derek
    Fats Bookholane ... Tribal Elder
    John Alderson ... Randy
    Terence Longdon ... Anonymous Man
    Patrick Holt ... Skyjacker
    Robert Cunningham ... Man on Aircraft
    John Dennison ... Matherson's butler
    Thomas Baptiste ... Col. Mboya
    Jules Walters ... Mboya's ADC
    Fred Bryant ... Baronet Club manager
    Valerie Leon ... 1st Girl Dealer
    Anna Bergman ... Sonny's Girlfriend
    Jeannie Collings ... Sonny's Girlfriend (as Joanna Collings)
    George Lane Cooper ... Mercenary (uncredited)
    Clive Curtis ... Randolf (uncredited)
    Suzanne Danielle ... Girl at Party (uncredited)
    Bryan Davis ... Hercules Pilot (uncredited)
    Eddie Eddon ... Mercenary (uncredited)
    Susan Hunt ... Egyptian Girl Flirting with Faulkner (uncredited)
    Jazzer Jeyes ... Jones (uncredited)
    George Leech ... Stone (uncredited)
    Solly Marx ... Mercenary (uncredited)
    Tullio Moneta ... Tall Mercenary (uncredited)
    Maia Newley ... Girl at Party (uncredited)
    Greg Powell ... Mercenary (uncredited)
    Leslie Schofield ... Hitman at Club (uncredited)
    Bob Simmons ... Pilot (uncredited)
    Rocky Taylor ... Mercenary (uncredited)


    Writing Credits
    Reginald Rose (screenplay)
    Daniel Carney (novel "The Wild Geese")


    Original Music
    Roy Budd


    Cinematography
    Jack Hildyard


    Trivia
    This was the last movie released by Allied Artists.


    Before the film could be released in the US, Allied Artists, which had backed it, collapsed, so the film only had an extremely limited release in America. This accounts for the poor box office receipts in the US, compared to the large grosses it took in elsewhere, which resulted in it being the 14th highest-grossing film worldwide) of 1978. However, the film's performance in the United States may also have been due to the lack of an American star.


    Jeff Corey only worked one night on this.


    The film's European premiere, in London, was marred by demonstrations by anti-apartheid protesters angry that the film had been shot in South Africa with the cooperation of the then-white government there. They were also angry at the reported negative portrayal of black Africans, although none of the protesters had seen the film to verify this for themselves. The producers handed out to the crowds copies of favorable reviews in the Soweto Times, the largest circulation black newspaper in South Africa, but these were thrown away by the demonstrators.


    The producers originally wanted Burt Lancaster for the role of Rafer Janders, but when he began submitting alterations to the script to give his character the central role, he was replaced with Richard Harris.


    Producer Euan Lloyd desperately wanted to make the film after reading the novel "The Thin White Line" by Daniel Carney, on which it was based. However, funding was so tight that Lloyd had to sell his car, his wife's fur coat, some jewelry and mortgage his house in order to finance his sales pitches to the studios, and to cover other pre-production costs.


    Richard Harris was well known for bringing discord to film sets with his excessive drinking. To get insurance for the actor, producer Euan Lloyd made the Irishman deposit half his salary in escrow, with any costs of bad behavior subtracted, and not delivered until after the film was completed. Harris agreed on the condition the Lloyd did the same for himself, and this is what happened. Despite one lapse, Harris remained totally dry for the film's duration.


    A sub-plot contained in the novel and early screenplay drafts, in which Shawn Finn romances a local woman during the training sequence in Swaiziland, was eventually dropped by the production team, on the grounds that it added little to the story, and dragged the pace of the film.


    When Euan Lloyd tried to get United Artists to finance the film, they wanted Michael Winner to direct. Lloyd refused and instead chose Andrew V. McLaglen.


    American distributors wanted O.J. Simpson to play the Roger Moore part.


    Stewart Granger was cast on very short notice - he replaced Joseph Cotten.


    Stephen Boyd was considered for the role of Sandy but died before shooting began.


    Producer Euan Lloyd cast his daughter Rosalind Lloyd as Heather, and his wife Jane Hylton as Mrs Young, the two leading female characters in the film.


    Curd Jürgens was considered for the Hardy Krüger part.


    Despite the Apartheid laws being in force, all of the cast and crew of this film lived together in the mineral bath resort of Tschipise with no outside interference from the South African government.


    Richard Burton was reported to have stuck to drinking soft drinks throughout the three months of shooting in South Africa.


    The script was based on the novel "The Thin White Line" by Rhodesian Daniel Carney. It was not published until Euan Lloyd had bought the screen rights, and was then renamed "The Wild Geese".


    In the casino scene where Allen Faulkner flirts with a woman dressed as an Egyptian, the woman is actually Richard Burton's wife, Susan Hunt.


    Technical and military advisor on the film was former real life mercenary Colonel "Mad" Mike Hoare, who had led a band of European ex-servicemen in mercenary campaigns in the Belgian Congo in the 1960s and 1970s.


    Ex-mercenary Ian Yule, who was cast as Tosh in this film, had previously worked with Col. Mike Hoare, an Irish soldier of fortune whose exploits were allegedly the inspiration for this film. Yule introduced producer Euan Lloyd to Hoare, and eventually the latter was made an adviser on the film, in an attempt to boost the realism of the combat sequences.


    The school rugby scenes with Emile (Paul Spurrier), were shot over a period of two days at Marble Hill Park in Twickenham. The schoolboy extras were from Teddington Boys School, a comprehensive school. The badge on the Paul's blazer is that of the school. During the scene several boys were picked to pass ball with Paul. They were picked because they were the shortest and best matched his height.


    Roger Moore celebrated his 50th birthday while shooting in South Africa. An ex-serviceman, he helped some of the actors learn the military look (how to march, salute, etc.)


    The character Pieter Coetzee was originally supposed to be Rhodesian. When Hardy Krüger was cast, the character was made a Boer to explain Kruger's German accent.


    Percy Herbert, who played the role of 'Keith', was a World War II veteran, he had been wounded in the defense of Singapore, then captured by the Imperial Japanese Army and interned in a POW camp.


    First film of Suzanne Danielle.


    According to Roger Moore's memoirs Robert Mitchum was cast as Janders but pulled out and was replaced at late notice by Richard Harris.


    Roger Moore has said in his memoirs that Ronald Fraser give up Booze while making this film but Fraser decided to smoke the Local pot instead was mostly stoned when working on the project.


    Michael Caine turned down the role of Janders because he refused to work in South Africa during apartheid.


    The movie was widely condemned on release for funding the apartheid regime in South Africa.


    Jack Watson was initially reluctant to accept the role of the Regimental Sergeant Major because at 62 he felt he was much too old for the part.


    Richard Burton turned the film down at first, because he did not want to glorify mercenaries.


    Richard Burton hated the screenplay and the process of filming the actual movie. One day he told BBC correspondent John Simpson, "If Elizabeth would have me back, I'd leave this s----y film and this ghastly heat right now and charter a plane to go wherever she was. But it's the old thing: can't live with her, can't live without her. But I adore Elizabeth, and I always will."


    Future British minister Peter Hain helped organize protests at the London premiere.


    Roger Moore requested to have fewer lines in his scenes with Richard Burton and Richard Harris. This kind of request was almost unheard of from a major star.


    Despite being part of the racist Apartheid regime, the South African Film Board was keen to have genuine black South African actors playing key roles in the film rather than Afro-American or British Afro-Carribean actors taking the parts. Both John Kani who played Sgt Jesse and Winston Ntshona who played President Limbani were initially reluctant to star in a film which featured white mercenaries interfering in African affairs and portrayed a country with black majority rule so negatively. However, they were both impressed by the subplot of understanding and forgiveness developing between Kruger and Ntshona's characters and decided to participate in the film after all.


    Of the four lead characters Richard Burton, Roger Moore and Richard Harris all use Israeli Uzi submachine-guns and Hardy Krüger has a Belgian FN FAL assault rifle in addition to his crossbow. The RSM carries a Sterling submachine-gun, a standard British infantry weapon of the time whilst Moore, Harris and Burton all use Walther 9mm pistols at some point. Most of the other mercenaries also use FALs and Uzis although at least two have Czech CZ25 and Danish Masden submachine-guns. In the final shootout they also employ heavier weapons looted from the airport such as Bren light-machine guns, FN MAG general purpose machine guns, a Vicker's heavy machine gun and an American made World War Two era 3.5 inch bazooka.


    Having served as an Army officer during his National Service, Roger Moore helped to instruct the extras cast as mercenaries in drill and other military matters.


    There are only two women with speaking parts in the entire film and they have less than 10 lines.


    The mercenaries are recruited in London from various former members of different U.K Armed Forces Regiments/Units. Some of the mercenaries former units can be identified via their cap-badges: The Queens Royal Lancers, Parachute Regiment, Royal Welch Fusiliers, Black Watch, The Cheshire Regiment, Royal Green Jackets, Grenadier Guards, Royal Fusiliers, Royal Army Medical Corps, British Royal Fusiliers and Special Air Service.


    Of all the extras and actors that were present on the movie-set there were few that had actual military training and experience of real warfare. One of those was actor Hardy Kruger who played the character of "Pieter Coetze". Kruger was born in 1928, Germany and he was drafted into the German Army in late 1944. In March 1945 he saw action against US forces in the 38th SS Division "Nibelungen". During these late-war engagements he was captured by US troops.


    David Ladd, who played Sonny, is the son of actor Alan Ladd.


    Goofs
    Audio/visual unsynchronised
    During Witty's big action scene, at one point he calls out, "Come on you beauties, where are you?" Although that is the spoken line, the footage shows him, (partially concealed behind a bush), actually firing his weapon. The weapon sounds were removed from the brief footage and the dialogue inserted, but the gun-smoke and weapon shaking from the firing is visible.


    Flynn confronts the mobster over the bad drugs that Flynn has been inadvertently delivering for him, and tells him, "Now down on your knees and eat!" to force him to consume the deadly drugs. As the mobster does this he can be seen saying something, but nothing can be heard.
    Share this


    When the Geese take over the prison command post; the Cuban officer removes the cigar from his mouth when the camera changes angle he removes it again.


    During the mercenaries flight, Coetzee removes the dismantled crossbow from it's leather case and starts to assemble it. After his parachute-landing, however, he is seen carrying the leather-case containing his dissembled crossbow: Meaning the assembly-scene was overlooked in the final edit of the movie.


    Factual errors
    During the Medical Orderlys final scene he runs out of ammo for his Uzi. The weapon, however, doesn't click once but three times which is impossible with a real weapon. All of the three clicks were added post production to enhance the fact to the audience that Witty ran out of ammo.


    Memorable Quotes


    Filming Locations
    Tshipise, Northern Transvaal, South Africa
    Marble Hill Park, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK
    (School Rugby scenes)
    Messina Border Region, Transvaal, South Africa
    Twickenham Film Studios, St Margarets, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK
    (studio)

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 8 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • The Wild Geese is a British 1978 adventure film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen
    about a group of mercenaries in Africa.
    It stars Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris and Hardy Krüger.
    The film was the result of a long-held ambition of its producer Euan Lloyd
    to make an all-star adventure film similar to The Guns of Navarone or Where Eagles Dare.


    The film was based on an unpublished novel titled The Thin White Line by Daniel Carney.
    The film was named The Wild Geese after a 17th-century Irish mercenary army
    (see Flight of the Wild Geese). Carney's novel was subsequently published by Corgi Books
    under the same title as the film.


    The novel was based upon rumours and speculation following the 1968 landing
    of a mysterious aeroplane in Rhodesia, which was said to have been loaded with mercenaries
    and "an African President" believed to have been a dying Moise Tshombe.


    User Review

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

    Edited 2 times, last by ethanedwards ().

  • In browsing through the "Favorite War Movies" threads, I saw very brief mention of this film and I personally think it's one that deserves profiling, Keith. Not only did it star some of my favorite players but the storyline was very interesting.

    De gustibus non est disputandum

  • In browsing through the "Favorite War Movies" threads, I saw very brief mention of this film and I personally think it's one that deserves profiling, Keith. Not only did it star some of my favorite players but the storyline was very interesting.


    Thanks for this Jim,
    I'll profile it before I retire up the wooden steps!!

    Best Wishes
    Keith
    London- England

  • Loved this movie. Bought it on DVD about 10 yrs ago and was estatic to see it finally released. It's now available on Blu-ray. And did you all know there was a sequel, Wild Geese 2, which came out in 1985. Richard Burton was supposed to star in it and reprise his role of Allan Faulkner, but he died 1 week before filming began in late 1984. They ended up casting Edward Fox as Alex Faulkner, a brother, and in the movie it is mentioned that Burtons character has died. I remember seeing the film, it also starred Scott Glenn, Barbara Carrera, and Sir Laurence Olivier as Rudolph Hess and the plot had to do with a small force of mercenaries breaking Hess out of Spandau Prison so certain people could mine his brain for some Nazi secrets of some kind. It was more a cloak and dagger type of movie, rather than the big shoot em up from the first movie. I thought it was ok, but was very disappointed with the lower key action.

  • Loved this movie. Bought it on DVD about 10 yrs ago and was estatic to see it finally released. It's now available on Blu-ray. And did you all know there was a sequel, Wild Geese 2, which came out in 1985. Richard Burton was supposed to star in it and reprise his role of Allan Faulkner, but he died 1 week before filming began in late 1984. They ended up casting Edward Fox as Alex Faulkner, a brother, and in the movie it is mentioned that Burtons character has died. I remember seeing the film, it also starred Scott Glenn, Barbara Carrera, and Sir Laurence Olivier as Rudolph Hess and the plot had to do with a small force of mercenaries breaking Hess out of Spandau Prison so certain people could mine his brain for some Nazi secrets of some kind. It was more a cloak and dagger type of movie, rather than the big shoot em up from the first movie. I thought it was ok, but was very disappointed with the lower key action.



    I love the original movie and saw it when it was first released on VHS tape and rented for $20 for one rental--back in the day. I was surprised to see other names that could have been associated with the movie had they took part--like Robert Mitchum, Curt Jurgens (as janders) would have been way too old.


    Thanks for the run down on WG 2. Ive never seen it and wondered if it were watchable or not?

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..

  • My set of Wild Geese lobby cards. This image isnt of my set but I have the exact same pics. I coudnt get mine to work so borrowed these off the net:

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..

  • Always loved this movie for its story and its stars. I have always liked Jack Watson's work (he was the training sergeant). Stewart Grainger was in the role of a villain, unusual for him.

    Cheers - Jay:beer:
    "Not hardly!!!"

    Edited once, last by Jay J. Foraker ().

  • Always loved this movie for its story and its stars. I have always liked Jack Watkin's work (he was the training sergeant). Stewart Grainger was in the role of a villain, unusual for him.



    I always liked watching Jack Watson too. I loved his lines to the Colonel about the Rose Bushes :lol::lol::lol:

    Es Ist Verboten Mit Gefangenen In Einzelhaft Zu Sprechen..