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Les chiens de guerre

Original title: The Dogs of War
  • 1980
  • 12
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
Christopher Walken in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:46
1 Video
19 Photos
ActionAdventureDrama

Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup.Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup.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
    • George Malko
    • Frederick Forsyth
  • Stars
    • Christopher Walken
    • Tom Berenger
    • Colin Blakely
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    9.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Irvin
    • Writers
      • Gary DeVore
      • George Malko
      • Frederick Forsyth
    • Stars
      • Christopher Walken
      • Tom Berenger
      • Colin Blakely
    • 77User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Dogs of War
    Trailer 1:46
    Watch The Dogs of War

    Photos19

    Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Colin Blakely in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Christopher Walken in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Tom Berenger, Christopher Walken, Paul Freeman, and Jean-François Stévenin in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Christopher Walken in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Christopher Walken and Ed O'Neill in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Tom Berenger and Christopher Walken in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Tom Berenger in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Tom Berenger, Christopher Walken, Paul Freeman, and Jean-François Stévenin in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Tom Berenger in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
    Tom Berenger, Christopher Walken, Paul Freeman, Ed O'Neill, and Jean-François Stévenin in Les chiens de guerre (1980)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Christopher Walken
    Christopher Walken
    • Jamie Shannon
    Tom Berenger
    Tom Berenger
    • Drew
    Colin Blakely
    Colin Blakely
    • North
    Hugh Millais
    • Endean
    Paul Freeman
    Paul Freeman
    • Derek
    Jean-François Stévenin
    Jean-François Stévenin
    • Michel
    • (as Jean François Stevenin)
    JoBeth Williams
    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
    • Richard
    Ed O'Neill
    Ed O'Neill
    • Terry
    Isabel Grandin
    • Evelyn
    Ernest Graves
    • Warner
    Kelvin Thomas
    • The Black Boy
    Shane Rimmer
    Shane Rimmer
    • Dr. Oaks
    Joseph Konrad
    • Priest
    • (as Father Joseph Konrad)
    Bruce McLane
    Bruce McLane
    • Shop Manager
    • Director
      • John Irvin
    • Writers
      • Gary DeVore
      • George Malko
      • Frederick Forsyth
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While researching the novel in the early 1970s, author Frederick Forsyth pretended he was actually financing a coup d'etat in Equatorial Guinea. The pretense allowed Forsyth access to a number of underworld figures, including mercenaries and arms dealers. Forsyth has since commented that the arms dealers were the most frightening people he has ever met.
    • Goofs
      Derek wears his former SAS beret incorrectly. He wears it with the flash/peak in the center of his forehead and the sides sloped down to the right and left. Military personnel wear the beret with the flash/crest and corresponding peak over the left eye, and the beret sloping down to the right.

      The character portrayed is a mercenary and not "military personnel," thus not subject to any military regulations. Also see Ian Yule's character in Les oies sauvages (1978), another mercenary wearing an SAS beret "incorrectly" (and Yule is an actual SAS veteran).
    • Quotes

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

    • Alternate versions
      Although the cinema version was uncut the 1986 UK video was cut by 5 secs by the BBFC to remove shots of broken glass being forced into the mouth of Endean's man before being beaten up by Shannon. The 2001 MGM DVD restored the film to its original 119 minute UK length, which had additional character development, including an early scene of Shannon attending the baptism of a fellow mercenary's child, a bed scene between Shannon and Jessie, a scene of the raiding party being delayed by a closed drawbridge, Shannon pressuring Hackett to deliver the Valencia shipment, and extensive footage between Shannon and Lockhart where the latter persuades Spanish officials to allow the cargo on to the boat.
    • Connections
      Edited into Mercenaires (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries
      Sung by Gillian McPherson

      Music by Geoffrey Burgon

      Poem by A.E. Housman

    User reviews77

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Anybody want to buy a Coup'?
    The best of the "hired killers takes out a bassackwards third world African nation in ten minutes or less" genre. Christopher Walken fans will love this one as he occupies the camera for about 98% of the film and does an admirable job playing ringleader to a small band of mercenaries hired by London's Enron branch to take down some dude with a Gucci sword named Kimba, the benevolent ruler of Okka Bokka Boo. The pace is a little slow for my tastes but they threw in my favorite girl next door, JoBeth Williams, as Walkens ex-wife just to keep me occupied while the guns were being shipped in from Switzerland or somewhere. All I can tell you is the climax is worth waiting for. It's outstanding actually. The DVD is a little disappointing. 2ch sound and no widescreen. See if you can spot Ed O'Neill from Married With Children fame. 7 hand grenades/10
    helpful•26
    10
    • Ghenghy
    • Sep 5, 2002

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    FAQ22

    • How long is The Dogs of War?Powered by Alexa
    • What military units do the mercenaries belong to?
    • What weapons do the mercenaries use?
    • Is any of this based on real events?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 28, 1981 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • The Dogs of War
    • Filming locations
      • Belize City, Belize(Central America)
    • Production company
      • Juniper Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,484,132
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,484,132
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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