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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 3,508 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 »

Stars:

Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger and Colin Blakely
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19 photos | 1 video | 2 news articles | full cast and crew »

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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
Full cast and crew »
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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

Tom Berenger has said in interviews that around half of his role was omitted from the final release print. See more »

Goofs

Factual errors: The original Manville Gun was designed in 1935 by Charles Manville as a 12gauge multi-barrel shotgun (24 shot capacity). However, the XM-18 in DOW is based on an updated 1936 design as a 25mm grenade launcher with an 18 shot capacity (hence the "18" in XM-18). The movie version was still considerably more powerful than WWII era 25mm grenades were capable of. Unable to interest the military in his design, Manville's company stopped making the weapon. Ironically, in the early 1980's, the movie Dogs of War served to generate some interest from the military. Utilizing updated manufacturing processes and materials, the XM-18 type grenade launcher has actually seen some military service as a 25mm (18 shot) or 40mm (12 shot) grenade launcher. It is used by US Special Forces as well as some South American and African countries. With a range of between 150-350 meters, and with modern explosive technology, the 25mm grenade is fully capable of causing as much or more damage as was portrayed in the film. The 40mm grenade version uses the same projectile as is used in the Mk 19 grenade launcher which is widely used in the US Army. The current manufacturer is the Hawk Engineering Company who makes it under the designation MM-1. See more »

Quotes

Shannon: [about his mercenaries] Everybody comes with me, goes home.
See more »

Connections

Referenced in Beauty (1981) 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 »