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
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Title: The Dogs of War (1980)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| 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 |
Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
See All (194) »
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 Keywords:
vietnam war veteran | african | mercenary | reconnaissance | prison |Taglines:
Cry 'Havoc!' And Let Slip The Dogs Of WarParents Guide:
View content advisory »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
UKLanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
13 February 1981 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Cães de Guerra See more »Company Credits
Show more on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
(TCM print) | (cut) (1988) (video release) | (cut) (1981) (cinema release)Sound Mix:
DolbyColor:
Color (Technicolor)Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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See more »
Sung by Gillian McPherson
Music by Geoffrey Burgon
Poem by A.E. Housman
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
During the dinner party in honor of Col. Bobi, the background music is Sor's "Variations on a Theme of Mozart" for solo guitar. See more »Goofs
When the team is discussing the weapons they will need for their attack, Shannon mentions their requirement for "9 Millimeter Quad" ammunition. "Quad" version of 9mm ammunition goes back to the development of a special 9mm Load by Speer ammunition Co. called the, "9mm +P Gold Dot JHP (Jacketed Hollow Point) 124 Gr". Which has a muzzle velocity of 400 Meters per second (1,300 Ft/s). It received its Nickname "9mm Quad", from its Major Parameter: (9mm @ 400 m/s). See more »Quotes
Shannon: [to Endean and Bobi, who have arrived after the fighting is over] You're late!See more »
Alternate Versions
There are several versions of this movie. In the UK a 118 min version was released, in the USA a version of 102 minutes. There are versions released in some countries that have a length in between those two. See more »Soundtracks
Epitaph on an Army of MercenariesSung by Gillian McPherson
Music by Geoffrey Burgon
Poem by A.E. Housman
See more »
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That is, not for those with child like tastes. If you require non-stop action ... move along. The characters are set up nicely and Walken is just too cool, I think it's his best performance. Most of his fans don't know about this movie but it's a gem. There are a few scenes I would have left on the cutting floor but they can be overlooked. There's a scene with his doctor that is worth watching the whole movie over. But there's plenty more. There's good dialog, nice scenery, some action and some characters you actually care about. This is not an assault on your senses; you will have to pay attention to enjoy it. But it will be worth your time. If you are a fan of Christopher Walken, then it will be well worth your time.