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The Dogs of War (1980)

R  118 min  -  Action | Adventure | Drama   -  13 February 1981 (USA)
6.2
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Ratings: 6.2/10 from 3,511 users  
Reviews: 41 user | 10 critic

Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup.

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

Gary DeVore (screenplay), George Malko (screenplay), and 1 more credit »
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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Walken ...
Tom Berenger ...
Colin Blakely Colin Blakely ...
North
Hugh Millais Hugh Millais ...
Endean
Paul Freeman ...
Derek
Jean-François Stévenin Jean-François Stévenin ...
Michel (as Jean François Stevenin)
JoBeth Williams ...
Jessie
Robert Urquhart Robert Urquhart ...
Capt. Lockhart
Winston Ntshona Winston Ntshona ...
Dr. Okoye
Pedro Armendáriz Jr. Pedro Armendáriz Jr. ...
The Captain (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
Harlan Cary Poe Harlan Cary Poe ...
Richard
Ed O'Neill ...
Terry
Isabel Grandin Isabel Grandin ...
Evelyn
Ernest Graves Ernest Graves ...
Warner
Kelvin Thomas Kelvin Thomas ...
The Black Boy
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Storyline

Jamie Shannon is a soldier of fortune -- a mercenary who will stage a coup or a revolution for the right price. He is hired by British mining interests to scout out Zangaro, a small African nation with rich mineral deposits but a brutal and xenophobic dictatorship. Arrested soon after his arrival, Shannon is imprisoned as a spy, badly beaten, and tortured. While in prison he meets one of the country's leading intellectuals, Dr. Okoye, also imprisoned by the regime. Eventually released, he returns to London and is subsequently offered to opportunity to secretly invade Zangaro's capital and lead a military coup. Shannon accepts, but quietly has his own agenda to pursue. Written by garykmcd  

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

African | Mercenary | Soldier | Soldier Of Fortune | Revolution  | See more »

Taglines:

Cry 'Havoc!' And Let Slip The Dogs Of War

Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

(USA) See more »

Also Known As:

Cães de Guerra See more »

Filming Locations:

Belize City, Belize See more »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Juniper Films See more »
Show detailed company contact information on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

UK:  | USA:  | USA: (TCM print)  | Finland: (cut) (1988) (video release)  | Finland: (cut) (1981) (cinema release)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie's major battle sequence was directed by director John Irvin and not the Second Unit Director. See more »

Goofs

Errors in geography: The scene at the railway station is set at London's Liverpool Street, made obvious by the Great Eastern Hotel prominently in the background. However, the station announcement says the train is for Rugby, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and Sheffield. Trains do not go from Liverpool Street station to these destinations and did not at the time the film was set. A likelier station for such departure would have been St Pancras. See more »

Quotes

Endean: Shannon, get him out of here! This whole country's bought and paid for!
Shannon: You're gonna have to buy it all over again.
[shoots Col. Bobi]
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (2004) See more »

Soundtracks

"Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries"
Sung by Gillian McPherson
Music composed by Geoffrey Burgon
Poem by A.E. Housman See more »