The Dogs of War (1980)

Director:

John Irvin

Writers:

Gary DeVore (screenplay) and
George Malko (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 February 1981 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | War

Tagline:

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

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

African | Mercenary | Soldier | Soldier Of Fortune | Revolution

Cast

Christopher Walken	...	Jamie Shannon
Tom Berenger	...	Drew
Colin Blakely	...	North
Hugh Millais	...	Endean
Paul Freeman	...	Derek
Jean-François Stévenin	...	Michel (as Jean François Stevenin)
JoBeth Williams	...	Jessie
Robert Urquhart	...	Capt. Lockhart
Winston Ntshona	...	Dr. Okoye
Pedro Armendáriz Jr.	...	The Captain (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
Harlan Cary Poe	...	Richard
Ed O'Neill	...	Terry
Isabel Grandin	...	Evelyn
Ernest Graves	...	Warner
Kelvin Thomas	...	The Black Boy
Shane Rimmer	...	Dr. Oaks
Joseph Konrad	...	Priest (as Father Joseph Konrad)
Bruce McLane	...	Shop Manager
George Harris	...	Col. Bobi (as George W. Harris)
David Schofield	...	Endean's Man
Terence Rigby	...	Hackett
Tony Mathews	...	Bank Vice President
John Quentin	...	Party Guest
Jean-Pierre Kalfon	...	Benny Lambert
Christopher Malcolm	...	Baker
Jack Lenoir	...	Boucher
André Penvern	...	Policeman (as Andre Penvern)
Lawrence Davidson	...	Policeman
Martin LaSalle	...	Customs Officer (as Martin La Salle)
Maggie Scott	...	Gabrielle
Hugh Quarshie	...	Zangaron Officer
Olu Jacobs	...	Customs Officer
Gyearbuor Asante	...	Geoffrey (as Christopher Asante)
Thomas Baptiste	...	Dexter
Eddie Tagoe	...	Jinja
Kenny Ireland	...	Film Crew
Jim Broadbent	...	Film Crew
André Toffel	...	Priest (as Andre Toffel)
Diana Bracho	...	Nun
Ilario Bisi-Pedro	...	Kimba (as Ilarrio Bisi Pedro)
Joanne Flanagan	...	Godmother
Robert Berger	...	Poker Player
William Cain	...	Poker Player (as William B. Cain)
Russell T. Carr	...	Poker Player
José Rabelo	...	Hotel Clerk (as Jose Rabelo)
Victoria Tennant	...	Dinner Party Guest
Erica Creer	...	Dinner Party Guest
Sheila Ruskin	...	Dinner Party Guest
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alan Beckwith	...	Mercenary (uncredited)

Directed by
John Irvin

Writing credits
Gary DeVore		(screenplay) and
George Malko		(screenplay)
Frederick Forsyth		(novel)

Produced by
Larry DeWaay	....	producer
Norman Jewison	....	executive producer
Patrick J. Palmer	....	executive producer (as Patrick Palmer)

Original Music by
Geoffrey Burgon

Cinematography by
Jack Cardiff		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Antony Gibbs

Production Design by
Peter Mullins

Art Direction by
Bert Davey
John Siddall

Costume Design by
Emma Porteus		(as Emma Porteous)

Makeup Department
Ramon Gow	....	hairdresser
Richard Mills	....	makeup artist
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Lois Kramer Hartwick	....	unit production manager: New York (as Lois Hartwick)
Ted Lloyd	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gerry Gavigan	....	second assistant director
Lewis Gould	....	second assistant director: New York
Terry Madden	....	second assistant director
Michelle Marx	....	first assistant director: Miami
John Robertson	....	second assistant director: Miami
Candace Suerstedt	....	first assistant director: New York (as Candace Suerstedt-Rehmet)
Anthony Waye	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Roy Carnon	....	illustrator
Fred Carter	....	set dresser
Harry Cordwell	....	set dresser
Tony Graysmark	....	construction manager
Dave Jordan	....	property master
Tom Jung	....	poster artist (uncredited)
Tom Jung	....	poster designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Don Banks	....	sound camera
Graham V. Hartstone	....	dubbing mixer
Nicolas Le Messurier	....	dubbing mixer
Archie Ludski	....	dubbing editor
Gordon K. McCallum	....	chief dubbing mixer
Ivan Sharrock	....	sound mixer
Lionel Strutt	....	adr mixer
Ken Weston	....	boom operator
Les Wiggins	....	dubbing editor

Special Effects by
Lawrence J. Cavanaugh	....	special effects (as Larry Cavanaugh)
Michael Collins	....	special effects (as Mike Collins)
Rudy Liszczak	....	special effects (as Rudi Liszczak)
Joe Lombardi	....	special effects coordinator
Steve Lombardi	....	special effects

Stunts
Jay Amor	....	utility stunts
John Ashby	....	stunts
Alex Brown	....	stunts
Lincoln McSweeney	....	stunts
Roy Scammell	....	stunts
Eddie Smith	....	stunts
Eddie Stacey	....	stunt coordinator: Europe
Marvin Walters	....	stunt coordinator: Africa
Ray Woodfork	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Blanshard	....	still photographer
John Cardiff	....	additional photographer
Irving Deutch	....	director of photography: New York
John Elton	....	director of photography: Miami
Frank Heeney	....	gaffer
David James	....	still photographer
Colin Manning	....	camera grip
Peter Norman	....	camera operator: New York (as Peter D. Norman)
Bill Pochetty	....	best boy
Danny Shelmerdine	....	second assistant camera
Robin Vidgeon	....	first assistant camera
Chic Waterson	....	camera operator
Ron Zarilla	....	first assistant camera: New York

Casting Department
Jane Feinberg	....	casting: USA
Mike Fenton	....	casting: USA
Susie Figgis	....	casting: Europe
Julia Pascal	....	location casting
Dee Miller	....	extras casting: local (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Keith Denny	....	wardrobe master

Editorial Department
Terry Busby	....	assistant editor
Peter Honess	....	assistant editor

Other crew
Barbara Allen	....	production coordinator
Pamela Allen	....	assistant to producer
Yvonne Axeworthy	....	script supervisor (as Yvonne Axworthy)
Peter Bennett	....	location manager (as Peter D. Bennett)
Charles Cannon	....	production accountant
John Downes	....	location manager
Cassian Elwes	....	production assistant
Terry Needham	....	location manager
Gregory Palmer	....	production assistant
Mike Russell	....	unit publicist
Alan Beckwith	....	stand-in: Christopher Walken (uncredited)
Jeremy Coote	....	production runner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Juniper Films

Distributors

• United Artists (1981) (USA) (theatrical)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1981) (Austria) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Distribution Company (video)
• Warner Home Video (198?) (Netherlands) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Lee Lighting  grip and lighting equipment
• Mayflower Recording  adr recording

Also Known As:

Runtime:

UK:118 min | USA:102 min | USA:104 min (TCM print) | Finland:114 min (cut) (1988) (video release) | Finland:105 min (cut) (1981) (cinema release)

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1988) | Finland:K-16 (heavily cut) (1980) | Finland:K-16 (heavily cut) (1981) | Brazil:16 | Sweden:15 | South Korea:18 | Australia:M | France:-12 | Norway:16 (1981) | Singapore:PG | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Belize City, Belize

Company:

Juniper Films

Trivia:

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

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.

Quotes:

Michel:[raising his glass in a toast] Vive la mort ! Vive la guerre ! Vive le sacré mercenaire !

Movie Connections:

Edited into Stealth Fighter (1999)

Soundtrack:

When It's Springtime in the Rockies

" This guy is so paranoid, he rations the bullets of his guards "

Around the world there are countries which rise and fall to the sound of bullets and bombs. Some countries are so unstable they are called LP records as their countries have a revolution every 33 and a 1/3 minutes. Thus the work of the mercenary is never finished. This movie is called " The Dogs of War " and stars one of the best dramatic actors to date. Many recall his work in ' The Deer Hunter.' In this story Christopher Walken is James Shannon an experienced soldier of fortune and Mercenary for hire. Although he is visibly disenchanted with his work, he takes his doctor's medical advice seriously. The doctor has warned him after his last torturous encounter with the enemy, he has taken a lot of years off his life. To that end, he hopes to take on one more job which may give him enough money to retire. This film tells the story of a group of greedy but traitorous wealthy financiers who hope to stage a Coup d'etat to overthrow president Kimba (Illario Bisi Pedro) of Zangora and replace him with Col Bobi (George Harris) an equally despicable character. Entrusted with the job, Shannon assembles his elite mercenary team which includes Tom Berenger as Drew, a moderate candidate called Dr. Okoye (Winston Ntshona) and a well trained Cuban force of Zangora rebels. If they fail and be captured, they will all be shot and killed. The film is well directed by John Irvin and written by Frederic Forsyth. There is a well charged atmosphere and Walken gives a most stirring performance, together the end result is nothing short of a war Classic. Well done! ****