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The Wild Geese | Roger Moore, Richard Burton & Richard Harris in an 'Expendables' Prototype | Review
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- čas přidán 12. 08. 2024
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The sixties we had Where Eagles Dare, the seventies we got The Wild Geese... and both are up there as pure unadulterated pleasures on a regular basis. Absolute Classic
Some Scenes are Deleted when Shown on TV
Where Eagles Dare & The Wild Geese ....... My Action Men re-enacted those films so often.
I would add The Guns of Navarone to the list.
@@TheTerryGene AND, The Dirty Dozen, Kelly's Heroes.....
The Dogs of War. Just about anything with Pam Grier. Alien. When Taekwondo Strikes. The Getaway.
As much as I like The Expendables franchise, they could have learned a lot from this film. It still holds up today and is one of my favorites to watch frequently, would love a 4K release of this someday.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Arrow video release a 4k version next year
Yeah, I don't agree with Calvin's criticism of the first half build up. I found it delightful and it make the action parts later far more meaningful.
Went to the cinema to see the Wild Geese. Loved it.
The theme tune by Joan Armatrading in one of my favourite. Up there with Goldfinger.
It's a great song.@@meeshker
The expendables is rubbish, sorry.
This film in part was based on exploits of Colonel Mike Hoare a famous mercenary who fought in 1960’s Belgian Congo. His unit was 5 Commando and their badge was a goose in flight.
A truly great and underrated film. Yes it has an Action Man aesthetic to it… granted it at least its better than its unofficial sequel. But the film also has a moving story between Faulkner and Rafer… “Alan! Shoot Me” still brings me to tears, followed by that ending when Faulkner goes to Emile and says “Come on. Let’s talk about your father”. Roger Moore is amazing in the film and the cherry on top of the cake is Joan Armatring’s title song “The Flight of The Wild Geese” A brilliant film, despite its wonkiness.
Did you know Action Man brought out a Jesse Stone figure?
This movie and Where Eagles Dare have real Action Man vibes and aesthetic.
Could you recommend some of others?
To see Burton in younger form acting in an actioner then watch "Where Eagles Dare" - a WW2 classic in which which he teams up with Clint Eastwood. One of the the best war films based on entirely fictional events you'll see. It was made 10 years earlier than this movie.
Ian Yule who played Tosh was actually a mercenary and an adviser to the film also an ex Para and the custom weapon he uses in the film is one of his own 'set ups'
I think Harry Enfield did a parody of this back in the day, with the running joke that the cast were all hardcore alcoholics…starring “Peter O’Pissed” 😂
He did, it was hilarious! Obviously a homage to old actors who can barely run upstairs but can abseil down a castle. Pissed.
Richard Burton character is based on legendary mercenary Mad Mike Hoare I believe?
He was "technical advisor" on the film.
The wild geese was a huge influence on me as a young American boy, I was already a jingo, but seriously entertained the idea of joining a sof group after my service was over, of which I was in touch with 2. Because of this film I was buying every soldier of Fortune magazine I could find. Thanks for your take on it.
Moore actually turned 50 in 1976 when filming The Spy Who Loved Me. I have the newspaper clipping!
Love the Wild Geese! I’m old enough to remember seeing it in the theater and still love to watch it today.
As a relatively active skydiver, the scenes of them jumping are a special delight to watch!
The South African Army's parachute display team, couldn't resist the temptation to show off!
2nd best parachute scene after a bridge too far.
@@MrLorenzovanmatterhoNot showing off. This technique is done to counter one of the common hazards of dropping a team of people. Having them scatter all over the place.Of course, it only works in free fall.
Mate from years ago knew those jumpsers. They were told no link ups but they did anyway. Good to see that secene left in the movie. Going out the back on a ramp is great fun. From the side they look like lemmings.
Brilliant film, I still have the free DVD copy given away in The Sun decades ago. And I still get emotional when Sandy gets killed at the end.
I've seen this 🇬🇧 film several times. Great war movie. It's like 2 action films. 1 where they do the mission, get screwed & have to fight their way out.
That was sad, seeing Sandy get killed, especially in light of the fact that Falkner didn't want anything to happen to him, but Sandy insisted on joining the mission. Not to mention Janders not making it out.
One of my favourite war films. The music, the script, the actors….all awesome. And that ending…doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen it, I always hope he’ll make the plane
Great review. Many of the team that made this film made ‘Who Dares Wins’ four years later. That SAS siege movie starred the Bond who never was, Lewis Collins. Might be worth a look if you haven’t seen it.
The young actor who played the son is now a director.
And a USC Film School alumnus! ✌️✌️🎥🎬
In 1984 a rip-off called Codename: Wild Geese was released. It starred Lewis Collins (greatest Bond that never was), Lee Van Cleef and Klaus Kinski. It had some decent action scenes and completely lifted the Richard Burton/Stewart Granger confrontation from the original.
Never heard of that but looking it up it also featured Ernest Borgnine!. Maybe that inspired making an 'official' sequel the following year.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Lewis Collins would have made a brilliant Bond. He would have been the right mixture of suave and brutal.
Love Lewis but no, not for Bond
@@TheDukeofMadness Love Lewis but no, not for Bond
I always thought Lewis Collins was very wooden. He does have that "almost Sean Connery" look at a particular age, but he has the charisma of brick.
Another Bond connection you could have mentioned is having a fantastic theme song, Flight of the Wild Geese, sung by Joan Armatrading, which is rare for most movies that aren't Bond movies...
I'm a big fan of Wild Geese although I do agree that the 1st half does drag and is not without is issues. I like that is give us a little look of what a darker Moore Bond could have looked liked, Its a great last hurrah film for several of the supporting cast who you always saw pop up in 50/60s war films as well, Even features a real mercenary as well.
Seen this movie more than 30 times. A classic.
Watching a video about The Wild Geese on a Sunday while having a beer just feels so right.
I rate this as RMs greatest role in a Movie inc 007. He looks great, he's rum as hell and fits in so well with Harris and Burton. One thing to watch out for is the way Burton walks, it looks like the ale had taken a toll on his mobility. Interesting note is the small role of Brook Williams as one of the soldiers, he's also in Where Eagles Dare and was employed by RB as a drinking partner, he appears in WED and is the first to di, he's the one who questions why the team are actually going on the mission.
Roger Moore's other noteworthy action film that I loved as a kid was "Ffolkes" a.k.a. "North Sea Hijack"
Have you thought about reviewing "The Sea Wolves" from 1980? It's got two Bonds if you count David Niven.
Same Director as Geese, same Producers, Moore playing a more Bond like character, he seduces a sultry enemy spy, and Sir Godfrey Tibbett/John Steed is also in it.
It's also got Patrick MacNee from 'View to a Kill'.
Around this time there was also 'Escape from Athena' with Moore, Niven and Telly Savalas [OHMSS]. The director went on to direct Rambo 2 and helped Kurt Russell direct Tombstone.
Every time I watch this I still think Richard Harris is going to make it onto the plane...
The movie will always be special to me. When i was a kid , my father let me and my brothers stay up late to watch it on tv. And we all love it. I still watch it, maybe once a year.
The prequel to “The Wild Geese Holiday Special”.
9:16 The mission is to rescue Winston Ntshona's character who feels very much a stand in for the then in-prisoned Nelson Mandela. The two Peter Hunt-Roger Moore film collaborations [the previously reviewed 'Gold' and 'Shout at the Devil'] were also filmed in South Africa which was a very controversial move at the time given Apartheid.
He was based on Congolese Prime Minister Tshombe, and the villain, General Ndofa, on Mobutu Seko, the man who overthrew him.
Hello Calvin. John Kani, who played the young black mercenary, played Black Panther's father in the MCU. Also if want to see Richard Burton in a great action film, that's even better than this one, check out 1968's Where Eagles Dare, where his co-star is no less than Clint Eastwood. They have surprising chemistry together.
John Kani Plays Samuel in the Ghost and the Darkness
One of my favorite movies of all time. Love the cast and the action. Reminded me of Dogs of War another awesome movie but the book is really good.
Dogs of war. Where Walken has a pistol hidden in every corner of his apartment. 😂
@@playedout148 Yeah smart man haha
Dogs of War is a more realistic film. The cast in Wild Geese are just a bit long in the tooth. whereas Walken more accurately captures the career mercenary vibe. Still, I find Dogs' a bit slow compared to Geese's meat and potatoes.
@@playedout148Try it, you'll like it. And bare handed roach squashing.
@@garrick3727 Dogs was directed by the man who did the 'Tinker, Taylor Solider Spy' mini series which might account for the slower pacing
I haven't seen The Wild Geese for a decade or so, but I'd call myself a fan, even though that is mostly down to the actors involved and some of the scenes in the first hour. Once the action shifts to Africa I think it's a bit hit and miss. Being a South African it's nice to see a couple of our top actors on screen in their prime (John Kani and Winston Ntshona), although the policital dialogue probably doesn't sound great these days. It's probably time for a rewatch for me, but I hope I will enjoy it as much as I remember.
One thing to note here is that it was also the same stunt team working under Co Ordinator Bob Simmons that also arranged and performed in the Bond films that worked on The Wild Geese. With a lot of cameo's of many sadly stunt men no longer with us. RIP chaps. Although some gratefully still are - Greg Powell , Rocky Taylor and Clive Curtis.
God help me, but I'm a Yank who finds this movie addictive. (Nice haircut, by the by.) I share most of your kindness to this movie, but I think you're wrong about the message being unnecessary. Many an adventure needs what Hitchcock called a macguffin, a handy object of great value which is nothing but an excuse to go have an adventure. Winston Ntshona's Julius Limbani is the living macguffin of this particular adventure. Burton and Harris don't even need to be lectured about African politics because they already know that Limbani is someone special. (Burton is able to lure in Harris, not by Limbani, but by appealing to Harris's love of the game.) Making your macguffin a living person is a bit risky for a movie, because you only need a glimpse of some superweapon or giant treasure to "sell" it, but a person's worth takes some work to convey. Kruger comes in handy as an excuse for Limbani to prove himself while Burton and Harris listen in and approve. Come the double cross, the mercs help Limbani, not out of altruism, but because he provides a way to get an interesting kind of revenge. The stakes of a human macguffin are raised even higher when Limbani dies in the air. Finally, the message even legitimizes the unusual but still very good and moving Joan Armatrading theme song at the beginning and end -- and let's not kid ourselves that a movie about mercs in foreign lands was not going to be about politics one way or the other. I found the message to be compact and serviceable, requiring a bit of exposition but not overstaying its welcome. As for the drug-gulping scene, it has some interesting details. First Moore says that the dealer is not simply pushing stuff but "bad" stuff, presumably drugs even more dangerous than usual. Later, he says that, oh, by the way, he laced it with strychnine. (Notice that "messaging" is a relative thing -- Moore went with this out of his own genuine conviction that dealers are evil wretched bastards who deserve anything coming to them.) I'm a fan of the old show UFO, by the way, and I understand there was one script they discarded with pretty much no aliens, involving SHADO in African politics -- now that WOULD have been terrible messaging. The thing is, Calvin, that this remains my favorite movie about mercenaries, more accessible and enjoyable than Tears of the Sun starring Bruce Willis, or even The Dogs of War, based on a Frederick Forsyth novel (and I've loved The Day of the Jackal and The Odessa File), starring Christopher Walken. Plus, yes, I'm a sucker for Moore, just sit me down with this, along with ffolkes (known to you as North Sea Hijack) and I can be one happy camper. In any case, thanks for getting around to this. So long for now.
Roger also did a couple of other all star films, both featuring David Niven and includes some Bond alumni-'Escape to Athena [Telly Savalas] and Sea Wolves [Patrick MacNee] which he enjoyed making, mostly as a lot of his friends were in the cast but also the ensemble nature made it a very different from Bond.
7:21 That does underline my view that Moore viewed his version of Bond as more of a traditional 'white Knight hero' who loves his lifestyle+job compared to the other portrayals [especially ones' closer to the books].
like I think you said once before its kinda strange that Roger was ok with the whole "wheres Feckish?" with the baldy guy in TSWLM. But maybe maybe his reservation with not kicking the car off the cliff was sort of post MOONRAKER era where he and lots of people really felt Bond movies were for children and he certanly felt comfortable doing that film.
Oh I do love escape to Athena. Great helicopter shots at the beging. James, did you get the links by the way ???
@@DafyddBrooks I agree its odd that the FYEO car kicking was something Roger objected to but the 'Feckish' scene didn't seem to have the same issues despite it being fundamentally the same [killing in cold blood]. He had made a lot of progress in getting the writers to tailor Bond to suit him more [after disliking the writing in 'Golden Gun'] so maybe that was one fight too many, but I think your onto something there-'Moonraker' was certainly very popular with family audiences which lead to Moore changing his view.
@@DafyddBrooks I must have missed it sorry but I'll check them out thanks.
@@jamesatkinsonja Thats fine mate. just tell me youve got them as youtube really doesnt want links in attachments, but hope you got them . YT doesnt want bloody adblock now either :(
@@jamesatkinsonja I mean all my 4 older brothers and there freinds who are 70's and 80's kids have fond memories of TSWLM and ofcourse MOONRAKER and MR is the most wonderful family film of all time so hahaha. but knowing that RM wasnt contracted to FYEO, you can see the early stages of perhaps changing the character and stuff. OH just found out and hope its ok to say, Rest in Peace Mathew perry :( Chandler will be missed and will always be funny :)
That shot of the Leicester sq theatre brought back memories. I went there as a 13 year old to see it with my mum dad and brother on the same night the Grease premiere was happening at the odeon leicester sq opposite and my brother John wandered off causing my mum to walk round shouting out “John John “ just as Mr Travolta arrived causing everyone to think she was a mad middle aged John travolta fan ! 😂
In addition to the James Bond crew members, there are two Wild Geese crew members who worked on Matt Helm films. Producer Euan Lloyd was associate producer on Murderers' Row. I forget his Wild Geese title but Douglas Netter was associate producer on The Ambushers. Separately, screenwriter Reginald Rose wrote the original 1954 live TV production of 12 Angry Men (made into the 1957 feature film). Director Andrew V. McLagen was the son of character actor Victor McLagen. The younger McLagen directed many episodes of Western television series. In an episode of Have Gun-Will Travel, he worked with his father.
My Dad and I saw The Wild Geese in the theatre back in 1978 and we both absolutely loved it. My Dad's favorite scene was the parachute jump and he was still talking about it years later.
We also both went to see North Sea Hijack (called ffolkes here in Canada) and loved that also.
I believe too many reviewers spend far too much time tearing apart movies looking for deep meanings to them instead of just relaxing and enjoying them, which is why most films are made.
And, I personally loved The Wild Geese soundtrack and rushed out to buy the LP, which I still have today.
I was always a Roger Moore fan. He was never a great actor but he had presence and was fun to watch.
Agree with you about Roger Moore. Liked him as an actor, and he was my favorite as James Bond.
One of my favourite movies.
It may be a little cheesy now but it has real heart and isn't afraid to have characters you love meet their sad end.
The movie is fun, funny and also has that lovely 70's dark, hard edge.
An interesting film indeed when Dumbledore racks up a higher body count than James Bond.
Roger Moore's character is supposed to be Irish. His Irish accent is about as convincing as Sean Connery's Russian accent in The Hunt For Red October. Anyway, I enjoyed all of Moore's in-between Bond films.
Moore said he enquired about the part as the 'Black Irish' Fynn but was told OJ Simpson had been earmarked for the role as the produces thought the phrase meant it was written for a black actor. After he pointed out it didn't mean that, he got the part.
Ffolkes was another in between Bond movie that Moore starred in as a misogynist action hero that has to take down villian Anthony Perkins on an oil rig.
@@kevinmalone3210 If you've missed it, Calvin did a review of that film [with the video using the alternative title 'North Sea Hijack].
Yet another great review. There was a sequel 7 years later with Richard Burton set to return [Roger having declined] but he sadly died shortly before filming and was replaced by Edward Fox [M in Never Say Never Again]. Other Bond alumni involved are Barbara Carrera [Fatima Blush from NSNA], John Terry [Felix in 'Living Daylights'] and director Peter Hunt [OHMSS]. But despite the presence of Lawrence Olivier and Patrick Stewart, the less said about it the better [according to wiki, Stewart called it 'the biggest embarrassment of my career'].
There's a funny clip on CZcams of Patrick Stewart talking about Wild Geese II which is worth seeking out.
@@BenCol I found it and it was very funny thanks! I think most people were only there for the pay cheque-According to IMDB Edward Fox only did it as he wanted to add another wing to his house!
Scott Glenn was chosen ahead of Lewis Collins for the American market.
A sequel with Burton, Moore, Fox & Lewis Collins could have worked. Make it into an action fest.
If you want more of Burton being a splendid action hero, I’d strongly suggest Where Eagles Dare (if you’ve not already seen it) with Clint Eastwood mowing down Nazis in a snow-covered castle! Technically an espionage film too, so possibly worth a video for a Christmas-themed channel upload (hint hint) ;)
It does make me think of OHMSS.
More than a hint of having the 'infinite ammo' cheat code in that film, love it 😂
Where Eagles Dare is brilliant
This movie and Dark of the Sun are two of my favorites. Mercenaries and Africa-you can’t go wrong!
Christ, now I’m scared that Roger Moore’s ghost is gonna put some snakes in my shoes for all the times I’ve made fun of his age.
That's why you should always take a Mongoose into the Bathroom.
Ome of the timeless ones,,and very up to date plot it also has .
In the film, music from Borodin's String Quartet in D major is associated with Richard Harris' Rafer. It is first heard in his house with his son. That is the same piece of music that Kara rehearses in Vienna with Bond in the audience which he later says is exquisite. There is obviously a John Glen connection between the two movies.
my mind has been blown away, thanks for the trivia :)
It sure beats a jump scare pigeon.
I think the "aerobatics" in the parachute sequence was just because parachuting from such a high altitude and high speed can so easily result in the parachutists dispersed over a vast area. Dispersion would be a far greater problem landing at night where you had to maintain blackout conditions. By grouping up in the air and falling together it's far easier to land together and also land in the appropriate spot.
The director of this film-journeyman Andrew V. McLaglen-directed the Dirty Harry clone 'Mitchell' [with Martin Balsam as part of the cast] which was later mocked on 'Mystery Science Theatre 3000' but is noticeable for Bond fans as Mitchell is played by Joe Don Baker!
Joe Don Baker *is* Mittens!
Mitchell, the slobbiest and worst PI of all time.
wasn't John Saxon in this film?
also Ian Yule (who played Tosh) was the uncredited screenwriter for Space Mutiny too and lets not forget Frank Finlay who was in the Deadly Bees
I love Moore performance in the Wild Geese .
Moore proved he could do hard characters with the opening of him making the drug dealer eat his drugs .
I still wonder what would have happen if Moore had tone down the comedy in his Bond films .
Shades of his Bond from Golden Gun.
@@davidjames579 Golden Gun shows a 'harder' version of his Bond...which was something Moore wasn't keen on and the success of his next two films showed it was the right call [FYEO is darker but he still makes it work better than 'Golden Gun'].
While 'The Saint' and 'Persuaders' were hardly 'dark' shows, I do believe they are more serious than most of Moore's Bond films [not seen enough of either show to know if that's true though].
Roger Moore be like "So you try to prank me, Harris? You have chosen poorly." and then he's like "I'd like to force drug dealers to eat a whole block of cocaine and make the bastards suffer!"
I guess it's true. You DON'T fuck with Roger Moore
Harris regretted leaving his Dandruff on Roger's bedside dresser.
I feel like Moore was cool with playing Bond-esque roles outside of 007. Connery seemed like he took parts that were as far as they could be from Bond.
Thanks, Calvin. I've been waiting for this one. It's still my favourite Roger Moore performance outside of Bond.
Great Moore impression, very entertaining videos, keep up the good work!
I recorded this off of HBO right after we got our first VCR back in 1982 or so. Still have the tape! Love the review, and you've gained a subscriber!
Making him eat that Coke was hilarious 😂
Wild geese is an absolute classic. And he should have mentioned the theme 'flight of the wild geese' by Joan Armatrading. Top tune. Gives you goosebumps
Allegedly based somewhat on a true story mad Mike hoares 5th commando aka the wild geese also col. Hoare was advisor on the film and is in the credits
I've always had a soft spot for this film, and for The Sea Wolves, which is very much a semi companion to it in my mind, given the presence of not just Moore, but Kenneth Griffith, Patrick Allen, Jack Watson and Percy Herbert in both, as well as Moore again being the 'young' hero in an 'older' cast of actors. The Sea Wolves also of course scores slightly hire on the 'Bond-o-meter' due to Patrick Mcnee being in it as well. It also generally seems to have a higher profile in cinematic terms. Regardless, Wild Geese has always been, in my eyes, the slightly neglected step-brother of The Sea Wolves, and I am glad for any love thrown it's way
One of my favorite movies. My grandfather and I watched it a long, long time ago. Zulu was another of our favorites.
Honestly 10x better than Expendables since this movie is not just cash-grab "hey recognise these actors??" with shitty lame action setpieces, here they actually have unique characters, an interesting story, a pretty damn exciting war movie, and some actual emotional stakes. It's more like Heat, in the way that it does unite famous actors and is marketed as such, but thats grounded by an original story & characters. I mean one of the most memorable parts of this movie for me was the sort of arc that Hardy Kruger's character went through, and that really tragic ending with the plane. This movie feels harsh, like real mercenaries not being romanticised to all hell where there is no stakes, or risk of death (like any expendables movies), instead they get screwed over midway through and have to escape through hazardous environments, kind of like how Predator pulls the rug out from under the characters. Also structurally I guess the way Untouchables and Where Eagles Dare, Guns of Navarone set up a fun action match-up of heroes and then start killing people off.
Also just have to say that its movies like this that remind you how starkly different British cinema is to Hollywood and always irks me when they're bunched under the same umbrella as both being seen as these 'Anglo-Saxon Western' films. British war movies were in their own category entirely, god knows how many British WW2 movies I've seen that just never tire, or the historical epics, often imperial ones, or the colonial adventure/expedition films, these films age politically but by sheer entertainment and excitement they never do.
Interesting you should mention real mercenaries, as the actor who played Tosh fought under ‘mad’ Mike Hoare and was instrumental in bringing Hoare on to this film to serve as technical advisor.
Have to give a shout out to Witty, he went out like a badass! It’s a fun film, of its time, and I like the darker ending. Moore is smooth as ever.
Plus a Valerie Leon cameo.
I never would've guessed Witty would become heroic in this movie and show the kind of bravery he did when he singlehandedly takes on about a dozen Simbas, and kills more than one of them. You can't judge a book by its cover. 😅
“Get your lovely arses out of here!”
Euan Lloyd was shy about offering Kenneth Griffith the role. But when he did, the response he got was… "Some of my dearest friends are homosexuals. I would be delighted!"
Excellent look back at a Meat & Potatoes movie. I have probably watched about 15 times. You made me feel old when you mentioned Roger had his 50th birthday when filming Wild Geese. (I’m now a couple of years older). There are at least 4 support actors in the Geese squad that bring a lot too the film as well.
I watched The Wild Geese so many times when I was younger that I can't help but have a fondness for it.
The scene with the big ostrich was always good. As a Army veteran later, 1990s it seems like something that could occur in combat.
Excellent review, thanks. I've not seen the film for about forty years, but the three scenes firmly fixed in my memory are the cocaine eating, the final Burton/Harris sequence, and the kid's, "Yahoo!" moment.
As others have mentioned, Sir Calvin, you should do a review of another superb film by the same team, “The Sea Wolves.” That, and “The Wild Geese,” remain two of my all-time favourites. In each, Roger Moore is part of an ensemble, and strikes the right balance between his suave, womanizer image and a character with some depth of feeling. (The only time he achieved this balance as Bond was “For Your Eyes Only.”)
Moore sets my teeth on edge with his gripes about killing, whether playing Bond or not. If Old Rog were still with us, I would say to him, “Hello? You are an ACTOR, paid a pretty penny to play a CHARACTER, for whom KILLING is supposed to be necessary! Your personal views are as irrelevant as your concerns about your charming image. Now piss off and do your job!” Ironically, it is Moore’s character who reminds Hardy Kruger’s why they are there, killing people. Moore has one of the best lines: “Morals amongst mercenaries! Whoever thought we’d live to see the day?” His confrontation with the young drug lord is excellent.
“The Wild Geese” is a superb piece of filmmaking, beginning with a tight, well-structured screenplay by Reginald Rose. The stretches of dialogue about race and mercenaries are kept short and offer the necessary subtext. Director Andrew V McLaglen keeps everything moving while eliciting solid performances from his cast. He had to deal with the logistics of location shooting (including climate), while keeping his hard-drinking stars (Burton and Harris, especially) in check. Stewart Granger, too, was known to be temperamental. It is certainly one of McLaglen’s best works.
I was also going to suggest that Calvin have a look at "The Sea Wolves." There are a lot of similarities between that film and "Wild Geese."
What gives added depth to the Drug eating scene is Moore's character has witnessed a young woman OD from this guy's drugs. Her death was apparently horrible, prolonged and it's clearly pushed him somewhat over the edge. Making the man who sold these to her endure that too is a suitable see how you like it. The dealer is clearly terrified because he knows exactly what it'll do to him.
@@masarujishinswriter8038 It's very much a 'spiritual successor' with the same director and cast & crew.
Andrew McLaglen movies tend to be strictly no frills just and boots affairs. That said The Wild Geese and especially the later The Sea Wolves (also with Roger Moore) are entertaining romps. Now I'm kind of hoping you watch Escape to Athena.
Rog in his Autobiography said he didn't think McLaglen was a suitable director for Geese as he just made it like the many Westerns he'd done prior. McL to his credit was a protégé of John Ford.
@@davidjames579 I was quite surprised to read in his book Robert Mitchum [who was 61 at the time] was originally going to play the Richard Harris part.
Thanks for reviewing this a much requested choice ; a great film, featuring such a stellar cast ; one of my favourites ; hopefully you might like to add a review of The Sea Wolves ; another similar action role for Moore where he costars amongst others with Patrick Macnee pre A View at A Kill
I love this film!! Great actors and fascinating characters, a true British Gem, love Burton, Moore and Harris, 3 of our greatest actors 👍
I love films where you-know-who doesn’t save the day.
Although the actors could have been military trained for this. They hold a gun like they’re playing lazer quest
The actor playing the drug dealer is David Ladd, son of ‘40s icon Alan Ladd.
John Kani is one of the few actors from this film who is still alive and he continues to receive worldwide acclaim. Joan Armatrading continues to be a great singer-songwriter. This film is interesting for the depth of its cast with even small roles taken by well known actors such as Barry Foster or Valerie Leon or Frank Finlay. It was one of the last films to feature a golden generation of post war actors in active roles. The casting is often odd with Roger Moore as an Irishman and Richard Harris as possibly a Dutchman. The gangster and drugs bits at the beginning should have been cut out as they are poorly made and pointless compared to the tension of the African scenes or confrontations with Stewart Grainger. It is a commendable but clunky attempt to put the troubles of seventies Africa in blockbuster format. Based on a real legend about a shot up aircraft containing dying mercenaries and a valued African leader that landed unexpectedly at an airport in southern Africa.
Allegedly there were private armies of restless ex SAS types in the 60's and 70's organised in Mayfair Gentlemen's Clubs, with the intention of doing things the government wouldn't, and often more for the business interests of wealthy British industrialists than political ideology.
While the gangster stuff is designed to establish the characters I can see your point as at 2 hours 10 mins the movie is too long and could have lost a good 20 mins.
@@davidjames579 Fredrick Forsyth's 'Dogs of War' was based on his research into those sorts of groups [there is a great story in his autobiography where he was undercover shadowing a 'fixer' and got a message to get out by an undercover agent as the 'fixer' had passed a book shop where 'Day of the Jackal's author photograph on the back was visible in the window!]. The infamous attempted coup of Equatorial Guinea in 2004 involving Margaret Thatchers Son was allegedly inspired by the book.
Richard Harris character was supposed to be American with Burt Lancaster playing him, but Burt wanted the script to be rewritten to make him the lead character so the producers dropped him.
I met a Rhodesian ex-customs officer in Zimbabwe around 2006 and he mentioned that he impounded that plane when it arrived. Said it was full of blood, and onboard had stolen money and African women the mercs had brought back with them. I think it was something to do with Patrice Lumumba, but I may have got that from somewhere else. Anyway, the guy only mentioned it in passing because his son and I had recently watched the film and were discussing it. I never heard him bring it up again. Wish I'd asked for more details now.
First place I heard about this movie was, of all things, the Rifftrax to the STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL.
“Richard Burton, He’s Grizzled. Roger Moore, He’s Fancy. Richard Harris, He’s Surprisingly Fancy Too.”
I have such a soft spot or this film.
I have loved this movie since I first saw it. Thank you for recognizing it!!!
Thanks for the review
I remember seeing a "making of..." video about this film in which Richard Harris described Roger Moore as "Double-Oh-Three-And-A-Half". A friend of mine described this film as the "Uzi Sales Pitch." As an interesting aside, this movie came about because in the late 70s interest in the idea of mercenaries was spiked by the failed attampt of a group of real-life mercenaries led by Irish Major "Mad Mike" Hoare to knock over the government of the Seychelles. For a very brief period, the world went "mercenary mad" and films like this, and a few Lewis Collins B-movies, resulted.
‘Mad Mike’ Hoare was the technical advisor on this movie, the actor that plays Tosh had served under him and brought him on board
Half the cast starred in Sea wolves with Gregory peck Patrick Mcgnee
The footage of the Leicester Square theater at the front of the video is from the premiere there. I was in the crowd outside watching the stars arrive - hoping to see Roger Moore. But when Dorothy Squires showed up as a guest (the former Mrs Roger Moore) we knew he would be a no show 😢
I loved watching this as a kid. It wasn't easy to catch on TV. When DVD copies became available, I snapped one up. The Wild Geese, 55 Days at Peking, and Uncommon Valor were staples for me growing up.
A great film. Have watched this many times. The setting and story still hold up today. Its just a shame that Richard Burton died before they could do the sequel. A classic in my eyes
Shout at the Devil is on TV tonight. Channel 42, Freeview. Always gets shown at Xmas. Looks like it's the extended version.
70s classic with solid acting and a great Budd soundtrack.
Great action film ,as a complete gun nut i loved seeing the sterling smg and a bunch of great Actors
I'm happy to say you've still got one more Roger Moore, Andrew V McLaglen collaboration left to watch, The Sea Wolves
Lots in common with this movie -aging middle age (and senior) men train for a mission. Many of the same supporting cast also.
Just found out Michael Reed did the cinematography for Shout at the Devil.
That is 5 Bond connections - Moore, Peter Hunt, Maurice Binder, John Glen & Reed.
Worth a review.
If that stunning shot of them all jumping out of the aeroplane had featured naked ladies rather than mercenaries it would have been the ultimate Maurice Binder sequence..!
Happy to have come across this video, I thought I was the last dinosaur to have watched this movie in a theater when I was a kid and still remember it... Really enjoyed it, btw
One of those classic action films from the 70s/80s where all explosions are huge, everyone fires from the hip and no one reloads except Hardy Kruger with his R1 rifle.
Add Daniel Craig & The Power of One to your JB actors in films about South Africa playlist.
Glad you did this film. I remember being really shocked by the cocaine eating scene when I saw this film as a kid. It’s bonkers looking at it again now
Just watched this on Prime quality movie last time i watched it was at least 40 years ago it still holds up today.
My go-to phrase for this is _It Does What It Says On The Tin_ which comes from the old 90s Ronseal ads, with a little guy uttering the words in an unmistakably Southern accent.
As a kid growing up in the 70/80s I think this along with Who Dares Wins and Scum were firm favourites for conversation in the playground.
I loved the Wild Geese when I was a kid! I loved it so much I saw it twice, the first time on it's regular theatrical run, and then a few months later when they showed it at the discount theater near my house. Home video was not thing yet back then so the only place you could see it was in the movie theater.
The last scene with Moore in the car was Burton's idea. Said Moore was too big a star for the audience to not know if he had lived.
Moore was quite unhappy he wasn't included in the Stewart Granger confrontation as was keen to work with an actor he respected. He was grateful for Burton for suggesting the 'car' scene as otherwise he would have just disappeared from the film.
Apparently, they have been planning to do a remake for a few years now. Heard a few casting rumors ,but nothing concrete.
Loved renting this out on VHS as a kid. It comes across as a Burton/Harris film as Moore’s screen time does feel less. He has an interesting character with that surprisingly brutal scene. I’ve always liked the pacing and how the action beats don’t come at you like the Bond films of that time. Theres something organic about it as the unexpected turns, mayhem and desperation keep coming. The main theme is memorable, I’ve always found it to underline the mournful ending…once again, unexpected if you have Where Eagles Dare in mind but the tone is more The Dirty Dozen. It’s also very well made as you can imagine.
Derek Meddins also worked on Shout at the Devil. No Bond film in 76, but a lot of the Bond crew still had bills to pay.
Moore’s Flynn forcing the dealer to eat a bag of cocaine recalls Michael Caine’s Carter forcing Ian Hendry’s character to down a bottle of scotch at the end of “Get Carter”.
Heroin, not cocaine, FYI.
@@christianorr1059Calvin said it was cocaine, so I assumed he was right…
@@explorer806 Fair enough. But in the actual dialogue of the film scene, the characters clearly refer to it as heroin. Just FYI.
13:53 .. The most badass Cessna 310 ever ... loved that particular scene
Great vid Calvin. Can I put in a request for a review of The Matador (2005) with Pierce Brosnan. It’s a fun quirky movie that actually gets surprisingly emotional in the last act. Brosnan is absolutely wonderful as a neurotic and pathetic middle aged hit man and you can really see Brosnan’s range in it as his character couldn’t be more un-Bond like.
I love, love, love this move.