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The Wild Geese (1978)

 -  Drama | Action | War  -  11 November 1978 (USA)
6.6
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Ratings: 6.6/10 from 6,282 users  
Reviews: 105 user | 47 critic

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 ... See full summary »

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(screenplay), (novel)
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Title: The Wild Geese (1978)

The Wild Geese (1978) on IMDb 6.6/10

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Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
...
...
...
...
Lt. Pieter Coetzee (as Hardy Kruger)
...
Matherson / Sir Edward Matherson
Winston Ntshona ...
President Limbani
...
Sgt. Blake Jesse
Jack Watson ...
R.S.M. Sandy Young
...
Kenneth Griffith ...
Arthur Witty
Barry Foster ...
Thomas Balfour
Ronald Fraser ...
Jock McTaggart
Ian Yule ...
Tosh Donaldson
Patrick Allen ...
Rushton
Rosalind Lloyd ...
Heather
Edit

Storyline

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. Just 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 <richy@vnu.co.uk>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

mercenary | rescue | revenge | escape | mission | See more »

Taglines:

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

Genres:

Drama | Action | War | Adventure

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
Edit

Details

Country:

|

Language:

Release Date:

11 November 1978 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Agries hines  »

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SEK 4,765,658 (Sweden)
 »

Company Credits

Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(London premiere print)|

Color:

(Eastmancolor) (uncredited)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See  »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

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. See more »

Goofs

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. See more »

Quotes

Fr. Geoghagen, the Priest: Good luck to you, you Godless murderers.
See more »


Soundtracks

"Sammy's Theme"
"Dance of Death"
Written and Performed by Jerry Donahue & Marc Donahue (as Jerry and Marc Donahue)
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Last Hurrah
3 July 2007 | by (Ireland) – See all my reviews

A splendid old-fashioned action film, with all concerned giving it their best shot.

A few people have objected to the average age of the actors in this film, from Burton to Kenneth Griffiths - but they don't seem to realise that the age of these mercernaries is the point. The Wild Geese is about a generation of men who demobbed from the Army after the Second World War, were unable to make peace work, and who sold their services as soldiers in the world's troublespots to the highest bidder. The late 1970's would have been the time of life that their age at last compromised their work, and the film is a recognition of the last of them.

For me this film is like a beloved childhood toy, kept and never forgotten - when it aired recently on television I just didn't want it to end.

Brilliant, gloriously sentimental and the anti-thesis of PC. 10/10


41 of 46 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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