Operation Leopard (1980)
"La légion saute sur Kolwezi" (original title)

May 1978 The mining town of Kolwezi in Katanga, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Belgian Congo) is under attack from a group of communist guerillas coming from nearby ... See full synopsis »

Director:

Raoul Coutard

Writer:

André G. Brunelin

Stars:

Bruno Cremer, Mimsy Farmer, Giuliano Gemma

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruno Cremer	...	Pierre Delbart
Mimsy Farmer	...	Annie
Giuliano Gemma	...	Adjudant-chef Federico
Laurent Malet	...	Damrémont
Jacques Perrin	...	L'ambassadeur Berthier
Pierre Vaneck	...	Colonel Grasser
Jean-Claude Bouillon	...	Maurois
Gérard Essomba	...	Bia Kombo
Robert Etcheverry	...	Le colonel Dubourg
Laure Moutoussamy	...	Elodie
Patricia Lavidange	...	Angélique
Jean-Paul Richepin	...	Singer
Pierre Rousseau	...	Debruyn
Yan Brian	...	Loubet
Eric Sergent	...	Murat

Storyline

May 1978 The mining town of Kolwezi in Katanga, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo, the former Belgian Congo) is under attack from a group of communist guerillas coming from nearby Angola... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

beret | firearm | congo | french foreign legion | elite team | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | War

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Details

Country:

France

Language:

French

Release Date:

9 January 1980 (France)

Also Known As:

Military Coup in Kolwezi

Company Credits

Production Co:

BELA, France 3 (FR 3), Société Nouvelle de Cinématographie (SNC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

User Reviews

Pretty good film about a famous operation by the French Foreign Legion

This film was made right after the French Foreign Legion proved its valor (once again) in a military operation in Congo.

The Legion saved hundreds of Europeans taken hostages by rebels and managed to drive them away after losing only 5 of its men.

The film is very low budget, but very accurate and most of the legionnaires on the screen were actual legionnaires involved in the fights. Very interesting for the ethnic variety of these guys.

It's really not Black Hawk Down. It's a simple and efficient film with a very straight story line, and it depicts the facts and only the facts, with a few composite characters among the civilians.

I would only recommend it if you want to learn about the even or about how the Legion operates.