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The Wild Geese

  • 1978
  • R
  • 2h 14m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
15K
YOUR RATING
Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, and Hardy Krüger in The Wild Geese (1978)
A British banker hires a group of British mercenaries to rescue a deposed African President from the hands of a corrupt African dictator.
Play trailer3:47
4 Videos
81 Photos
ActionAdventureDramaThrillerWar

A British banker hires a former British Army colonel turned mercenary to parachute into Africa with his team and rescue a deposed president of a southern African nation from the hands of a c... Read allA British banker hires a former British Army colonel turned mercenary to parachute into Africa with his team and rescue a deposed president of a southern African nation from the hands of a corrupt dictator.A British banker hires a former British Army colonel turned mercenary to parachute into Africa with his team and rescue a deposed president of a southern African nation from the hands of a corrupt dictator.

  • Director
    • Andrew V. McLaglen
  • Writers
    • Reginald Rose
    • Daniel Carney
  • Stars
    • Richard Burton
    • Roger Moore
    • Richard Harris
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    15K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Andrew V. McLaglen
    • Writers
      • Reginald Rose
      • Daniel Carney
    • Stars
      • Richard Burton
      • Roger Moore
      • Richard Harris
    • 159User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Videos4

    Trailer
    Trailer 3:47
    Trailer
    The Wild Geese: Where Are You
    Clip 0:52
    The Wild Geese: Where Are You
    The Wild Geese: Where Are You
    Clip 0:52
    The Wild Geese: Where Are You
    The Wild Geese: Take Cover
    Clip 1:01
    The Wild Geese: Take Cover
    The Wild Geese: We Have Been Doublecrossed
    Clip 1:55
    The Wild Geese: We Have Been Doublecrossed

    Photos81

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    + 74
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    Top cast77

    Edit
    Richard Burton
    Richard Burton
    • Colonel Allen Faulkner
    Roger Moore
    Roger Moore
    • Lt. Shawn Fynn
    Richard Harris
    Richard Harris
    • Capt. Rafer Janders
    Hardy Krüger
    Hardy Krüger
    • Lt. Pieter Coetzee
    • (as Hardy Kruger)
    Stewart Granger
    Stewart Granger
    • Sir Edward Matherson
    Winston Ntshona
    Winston Ntshona
    • President Julius Limbani
    John Kani
    John Kani
    • Sgt. Jesse Link
    Jack Watson
    Jack Watson
    • R.S.M. Sandy Young
    Frank Finlay
    Frank Finlay
    • Father Geoghagen
    Kenneth Griffith
    Kenneth Griffith
    • Arthur Witty
    Barry Foster
    Barry Foster
    • Thomas Balfour
    Ronald Fraser
    Ronald Fraser
    • Jock McTaggart
    Ian Yule
    Ian Yule
    • Tosh Donaldson
    Patrick Allen
    Patrick Allen
    • Rushton
    Rosalind Lloyd
    Rosalind Lloyd
    • Heather
    David Ladd
    David Ladd
    • Sonny Martinelli
    Paul Spurrier
    Paul Spurrier
    • Emile Janders
    Jeff Corey
    Jeff Corey
    • Mr. Martin
    • Director
      • Andrew V. McLaglen
    • Writers
      • Reginald Rose
      • Daniel Carney
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sir Roger Moore requested to have fewer lines in his scenes with Richard Burton and Richard Harris. This kind of request was almost unheard of from a major star. His reasoning was, "You don't seriously expect me to act against these guys?"
    • Goofs
      After the plane bombs the bridge, splitting up the men to opposite sides of the river, they shout across to each other to make their way alone and meet up later after Burton's group crosses somewhere down river. But the river bed is dry (as Richard Harris explained earlier) - they could easily have walked across right there.
    • Quotes

      RSM Sandy Young: Sir! With respect, you can stick the money up your arse that's all I can offer you sir. - I love what I do, I also love these grubby, thickheaded men I trained - you most of all and I expect to be with them and with you because I'm needed. You want to see a REAL revolution? Try and stop me.

    • Alternate versions
      NBC edited 12 minutes from this film for its 1982 network television premiere.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sneak Previews: The Wild Geese/A Dream of Passion/Goin' Coconuts/Slow Dancing in the Big City/Violette (1978)
    • Soundtracks
      Flight of the Wild Geese
      Written and Performed by Joan Armatrading

    User reviews159

    Featured review
    10/10

    Last Hurrah

    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
    • blacknorth
    • Jul 2, 2007
    • Permalink

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    FAQ21

    • How long is The Wild Geese?Powered by Alexa
    • How much are the mercenaries paid for rescuing Limbani?
    • Why does Sir Edward Matherson abandon the mercenaries in Africa?
    • How realistic is this film?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 11, 1978 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Divlje guske
    • Filming locations
      • Tshipise, Limpopo, South Africa
    • Production companies
      • Euan Lloyd Productions
      • Richmond Film Productions (West)
      • Varius Entertainment Trading A.G.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $10,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 14 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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