The Wild Geese

1978 2h 14m EN

👍

6.8

SOLID

★6.8TMDB · 296

ActionAdventureThrillerWar

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A British multinational company seeks to overthrow a vicious dictator in central Africa. It hires a band of (largely aged) mercenaries in London and sends them in to save the virtuous but imprisoned opposition leader who is also critically ill and due for execution. Just when the team has performed a perfect rescue, the multinational does a deal with the vicious dictator leaving the mercenary band to escape under their own steam and exact revenge.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

WhatsApp X Facebook Telegram

Where to watch · US

Amazon Prime VideoSubscription

FlixFlingSubscription

Midnight PulpSubscription

Amazon Prime Video with AdsSubscription

Midnight Pulp Amazon ChannelSubscription

BloodstreamSubscription

Cineverse Amazon ChannelSubscription

Cast

Richard Burton
Col. Allen Faulkner
Richard Harris
Capt. Rafer Janders
Roger Moore
Lt. Shawn Fynn
Hardy Krüger
Lt. Pieter Coetze
Stewart Granger
Sir Edward Matherson
John Kani
Sgt. Jesse Blake
Jack Watson
RSM Sandy Young
Frank Finlay
Fr. Geoghagen

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Andrew V. McLaglen
Writers: Reginald Rose
Languages: English
Countries: United Kingdom, Switzerland

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 85% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

48 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, Switzerland.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "The Wild Geese Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, shot by Jack Hildyard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Roy Budd. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor John Glen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Richard Burton and Richard Harris and Roger Moore carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Andrew V. McLaglen directs. Jack Hildyard behind the camera. Roy Budd scores. John Glen cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United Kingdom, Switzerland. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 85% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
248 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3International production across 2 countries: United Kingdom, Switzerland.
4Part of the "The Wild Geese Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
5Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, shot by Jack Hildyard. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Roy Budd. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor John Glen shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Richard Burton and Richard Harris and Roger Moore carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0078492 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Released under 12 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jack Hildyard
Original score: Roy Budd
Editing: John Glen
Runtime: 134 min · 2h 14m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Budget: $11,600,000
Box office: $9,900,000
Return: 85% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: The Wild Geese (1978)

Part of

The Wild Geese Collection

The Wild Geese is a British 1978 adventure film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen about a group of mercenaries in Africa. Euan Lloyd produced a sequel Wild Geese II (1985), based on the novel Square Circle, also by Daniel Carney.

Also by

Andrew V. McLaglen

Stills · wallpapers

Selected frames

Full-resolution frames — open one to save it as a wallpaper.

Wallpaper

Trailers & featurettes

Watch the pieces

Community reviews

What people are saying

Dark Jedi2013-03-17
★ 6/10
Yesterday we sat down to watch another oldie that I had seen when I was younger quite some years ago. I remember this movie being quite high on my list of movies that I appreciated as a kid so when I saw it coming it on Blu-ray I had to get it. It is still a decent film but I remembered it as better. The story is a fairly old a frequently reused one. Band of mercenary gets a mission by some person or entity of debatable reputation. Said person or entity double-crosses them, usually in a way which leaves them stranded and with a very short life expectancy. One or more of the mercenaries did not have his or hers imminent demise written into the script and thus ruins the plans, and usually the life, of one or more persons on the double-crossing side. Nothing wrong with a trusted and tried story as long as it is well done. In 1978 when this film was made I guess the actions scenes were considered fairly good. Today they are rather mediocre though. The mercenaries that are supposed to be experts are behaving in a fairly amateurish manner. The bridge attack scene is especially annoying in that these people just sit there waiting for the plane to make pass after pass instead of getting their behinds under cover. In a later scene Richard Harris is seen shooting at the bad guys together with a bunch of his fellow mercenaries but his gun is pointing in a 30 degree angle upwards. He might have hit some real geese but sure as hell not any of the bad guys. As so many films from the 70’s it also tries to make a political statement but that particular part is just boringly old today. A South African running around and calling the guy they are supposed to rescue for “kaffer” all the time because he is black is at best a historical curiosity, and a fairly boring one at that, today. Naturally a 5 minute, equally boring, speech from the black guy turns the South African guy. Boring and silly. That is not to say that the movie is a bad one. It is still worth watching. The first parts of the movie, when the main characters are introduced, is quite enjoyable. I especially liked the bad attitude of Col. Faulkner. I have always liked Richard Burton as an actor and he doesn’t disappoint in this movie. Roger Moore is of course always Roger Moore. Whether or not you like him is another story. Also, even though it is not up to today’s standards there are plenty of watchable action in the later parts of the movie. So I did enjoy my oldie movie evening but the movie was not as good as I remembered. But then that is maybe not too surprising when you re-watch a move that you first saw as a kid.
John Chard2019-03-15
★ 8/10
The man is dead, Mr. Faulkner. Now only the spirit remains. Marvellously macho, a men on a mission movie proudly proclaiming that the old adage is indeed true, there is life in the old dog(s) yet. A notable cast of British and Irish thespians were rounded up and unleashed into a plot that required a band of mercenaries sent to extract an African President from some prison in the darkest part of Africa. The formula is tried and tested, the leader is a man made of stern stuff but carrying emotional baggage, his band of men assembled are a mixture of ex soldiers who have either fell on hard times or just haven't been able to let go of the army life that they feel was their calling in life. The latter of which causes great consternation amongst spouses and immediate family members. Director Andrew V. McLaglen lets it unfold in steady and unfussy time, structuring it in three stages. Stage one is getting to know the principal players, their fears, pet peeves and psychological make up, stage 2 is the re-training programme, where the good old boys wait to see who keels over from a heart attack first, then stage 3 is the mission, where blood will be shed, bodies will fall, treachery and racism are big irritants, and of course big sacrifices will have to be made during a whirl of explosions and politico pummelling. The screenplay, much like the actors playing the key roles, is very self aware to not take itself too seriously, it's also very funny at times, there is some absolute cracker-jack slices of dialogue here. The PC brigade and political historians beat themselves around their heads trying to flatten the appeal of The Wild Geese, it didn't work. Most action movie fans understood fully just what was going on, and it's the reason why today it still holds up as a perennial favourite on the British TV schedules. Richard Burton, Richard Harris, Roger Moore, Hardy Kruger, Jack Watson, Kenneth Griffith, Ronald Fraser and Percy Herbert, I salute you all. 8/10
CinemaSerf2023-06-04
★ 7/10
Stewart Granger hires Richard Burton's "Col. Faulkner" to put together a crack team, money no object, to fly to southern Africa and rescue the deposed president "Limbani" (Winston Ntshona). Meantime, his erstwhile colleague, poor old Roger Moore ("Flynn") in on the run from the London mob after he persuaded the nephew of one of their number to overdose on strychnine-laden heroine; and Richard Harris ("Janders") is trying to stay connected with his young son from his recent divorce. He recruits them and that's the nub of the team. Next, he turns to the strict disciplinarian RSM "Sandy" (Jack Watson) and wily South African "Coetzee" (Hardy Kruger) before a slew of their former associates (including a wonderfully camp Kenneth Griffith - the "proctologist's friend") from the British Army and their mission is on. The undertaking itself goes well enough, but their evacuation doesn't quite go to plan - they have been betrayed. The remainder of the storyline is dedicated to them fighting their way to an airfield where they can still get themselves, and their freed captive, out safely. It's a film that has dated significantly, but as a piece of action-adventure cinema, it still works well. The cast are certainly not a bunch an amateur would want to go drinking with (I have previously had the real privilege of drinking with the late Mr. Harris in London's "Coal Hole" pub - and can speak from some experience on that front) and that is what helps it gel - there is a camaraderie, a fun team spirit with a little humour, plenty of shooting and explosions, and a short little tune from Joan Armatrading. The ending isn't the best (though way, way, better than the shocking 1985 sequel) but if you're up for some politically incorrect, gung-ho jungle escapades then this does that job nicely.