The Wild Geese (1978)

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

Daniel Carney (novel)
Reginald Rose (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 November 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Action | War | Adventure

Tagline:

The Dogs of War. The Best D*** Mercenaries in the Business!

Plot:

A British multinational seeks to overthrow a vicious dictator in central Africa. It hires a band of...

Plot Keywords:

Mercenary | Africa | Rescue | Escape | Airfield

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Richard Burton	...	Col. Allen Faulkner
Roger Moore	...	Lt. Shawn Fynn
Richard Harris	...	Capt. Rafer Janders
Hardy Krüger	...	Lt. Pieter Coetze (as Hardy Kruger)
Stewart Granger	...	Sir Edward Matherson
Winston Ntshona	...	Julius Limbani
John Kani	...	Sgt. Jesse Blake
Jack Watson	...	RSM Sandy Young
Frank Finlay	...	Fr. Geoghagen, the Priest
Kenneth Griffith	...	Medical Orderly Arthur Witty
Barry Foster	...	Thomas Balfour
Ronald Fraser	...	Sgt. Jock McTaggart
Ian Yule	...	Sgt. Tosh Donaldson
Patrick Allen	...	Rushton
Rosalind Lloyd	...	Heather

Runtime:

134 min

Country:

UK | Switzerland

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (London premiere print) | Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2005) (DVD) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1978) (theatrical) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1989) (video) | Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 (original rating) | Norway:15 | Norway:16 (1978) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Marble Hill Park, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK

Company:

Richmond Productions

Trivia:

The characters wore the cap badges of different regiments on their berets. Notably, Ian Yules character, 'Tosh', wore the cap badge of the (then almost unknown) British SAS, whilst Richard Burtons character appears to wear the badge of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Quotes:

[after womanizer Sean Finn fails at a simulated parachute drop]
RSM Sandy Young: That was LUDICROUS, sir. You're jumping from an aeroplane, not a whorehouse window. Do it again.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Cinemania (2002)

Soundtrack:

Dance with Death

Thanks to all who enjoyed my film

It is not often a producer has the chance to thank his critics in this form. I do so now. The blood-sweat and tears that went into the making of THE WILD GEESE is all forgotten. Appreciation of one's endeavors of some 25 years ago, thanks to DVD, is gratefully received. The Zone 1 version is yet to appear, the lateness due to sloppy distribution. To answer questions about the film's very limited theatrical release in the United States and Canada in 1978, this was due solely to the financial collapse of its distributor, Allied Artists. Chapter II was applied and, to my disgust, it failed to reach many theaters. However, the NBC Network and HBO aired the movie with great success. Euan Lloyd.