The Wild Geese

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

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.