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Game for Vultures

  • 19791979
  • RR
  • 1h 53m
IMDb RATING
4.4/10
339
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Game for Vultures (1979)
  • Action
  • Drama
  • War
The South African businessman David Swansey (Richard Harris) is delivering illegal German helicopters to Rhodesia. That makes patriot Gideon Marunga (Richard Roundtree) an angry man.The South African businessman David Swansey (Richard Harris) is delivering illegal German helicopters to Rhodesia. That makes patriot Gideon Marunga (Richard Roundtree) an angry man.The South African businessman David Swansey (Richard Harris) is delivering illegal German helicopters to Rhodesia. That makes patriot Gideon Marunga (Richard Roundtree) an angry man.
IMDb RATING
4.4/10
339
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • James Fargo
  • Writers
    • Phillip Baird(screenplay)
    • Michael Hartmann(novel)
  • Stars
    • Richard Harris
    • Richard Roundtree
    • Joan Collins
Top credits
  • Director
    • James Fargo
  • Writers
    • Phillip Baird(screenplay)
    • Michael Hartmann(novel)
  • Stars
    • Richard Harris
    • Richard Roundtree
    • Joan Collins
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 9User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos25

    1 sheet
    Game for Vultures (1979)
    Game for Vultures (1979)
    Game for Vultures (1979)
    Ken Gampu and Richard Roundtree in Game for Vultures (1979)
    Ray Milland in Game for Vultures (1979)
    Joan Collins and Richard Harris in Game for Vultures (1979)
    Richard Roundtree in Game for Vultures (1979)
    Richard Harris in Game for Vultures (1979)
    Richard Harris in Game for Vultures (1979)
    Richard Harris in Game for Vultures (1979)
    Joan Collins in Game for Vultures (1979)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Richard Harris
    Richard Harris
    • David Swanseyas David Swansey
    Richard Roundtree
    Richard Roundtree
    • Gideon Marungaas Gideon Marunga
    Joan Collins
    Joan Collins
    • Nicolleas Nicolle
    Ray Milland
    Ray Milland
    • Col. Noel Brettleas Col. Noel Brettle
    Denholm Elliott
    Denholm Elliott
    • Raglan Thistleas Raglan Thistle
    Sven-Bertil Taube
    Sven-Bertil Taube
    • Larry Prescottas Larry Prescott
    • (as Sven Bertil Taube)
    Ken Gampu
    Ken Gampu
    • Sixpenceas Sixpence
    Tony Osoba
    Tony Osoba
    • Daniel Battenas Daniel Batten
    Neil Hallett
    Neil Hallett
    • Tony Knightas Tony Knight
    Mark Singleton
    • Sir Benjamin Peckoveras Sir Benjamin Peckover
    Alibe Parsons
    Alibe Parsons
    • Alice Kamoreas Alice Kamore
    Victor Melleney
    • Mallanas Mallan
    Jana Cilliers
    • Ruth Swanseyas Ruth Swansey
    John Parsonson
    John Parsonson
    • Peter Swanseyas Peter Swansey
    Elaine Proctor
    Elaine Proctor
    • Brigidas Brigid
    Christopher Chittell
    Christopher Chittell
    • McAllisteras McAllister
    • (as Chris Chittell)
    Graham Armitage
    Graham Armitage
    • Harkenas Harken
    Patrick Mynhardt
    • Hennie Mulleras Hennie Muller
    • Director
      • James Fargo
    • Writers
      • Phillip Baird(screenplay)
      • Michael Hartmann(novel)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Richard Harris (David Swansey) doesn't appear until the eighteen minute mark.

    User reviews9

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    The human cost of conflict
    I think this movie is far better than the ratings it has received here would suggest. Personally I did not find the plot overly complicated or hard to follow and the dialogue and action are well executed.

    However I can imagine many probably found a political slant to the movie which was distasteful, and that may have impacted their opinion of the movie and influenced the tone of their subsequent comments. I could not help but notice that the preponderance of nasty violent acts depicted were committed by the black freedom fighters / terrorists, rather than the white oppressors. So it lacked balance in that regard.

    But despite that, I think it builds up an unusually well rounded and nuanced picture of the suffering that it does depict, from the front line protagonists and guilty background conspirators, to predicament those who are only trying to get by and survive, yet are unable to avoid being dragged into the conflict, to the innocent children, with no choices to make, who are caught in the middle.

    Of the two protagonists, Richard Roundtree goes on the longer moral journey, his confidence and belief in his cause slowly undermined and eaten away each time he witnesses the death of a different category of collateral individual. While for Richard Harris the consequences of his actions remain largely abstract until the final big action scene of the movie, when he quickly catches up.

    Richard Harris' performance is more charming than usual and he manages to put off being conflicted until the final scenes. Richard Roundtree (Shaft) relishes a rare international outing. Joan Collins, Albe Parsons and Jana Cilliers all look good. Ray Milland, Denholm Elliott, Sven-Bertle Taube and Tony Osba (McLaren from Porridge) all add to the quality of the production, but I most enjoyed the performance of Ken Gampu as the fearsome "Sixpence".

    Both leads learn to give greater weight to the human cost of the war the more they come to experience it for themselves, but in the end does it make any difference?

    So in conclusion, I think it works well as a "general" anti-war movie, but not so well as a balanced view of the specific war it depicts. All people will fight to be free, unfortunately for the people of Zimbabwe so far they have only succeeded in replacing one oppressor with another.
    helpful•0
    0
    • seveb-25179
    • May 2, 2022

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 1980 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Sony Movie Channel (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • A Game for Vultures
    • Filming locations
      • London, England, UK
    • Production companies
      • Pyramid Films
      • Caris Enterprises
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 53 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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