I’ve never heard of The Wild Geese. Apparently it was a late 70’s war movie about a group of British mercenaries who are contracted to free an African leader. Sounds like a pretty cool plot and then when you see that Richard Burton, Richard Harris and Roger Moore led the film, then I wonder what I’m waiting for typing this up… and why I’m not out hunting down the original.
Hollywood Gang Productions are the shingle behind the remake and they are currently in talks with Warner Brothers, where producer Gianna Nunnari worked on 300. The remake of this rather forgotten movie came about when Nunnari spoke to director Rupert Sanders, who both remarkably said it was their favourite film.
So of course, they want to remake it just for their own pleasure of doing so and leaving us with a product that is probably half as good as the original. Well, that’s usually the way these things go anyway, I can’t really say for sure because I haven’t seen how good the original is.
Sanders said this to Variety….
“It has it all: great characters, action, plot twists and revenge…We are making a tough film, taking ex-British soldiers from the murky London underworld to the battlefields in Africa.”
I do like the idea of it and with The Dirty Dozen remake and Inglorious Bastards there does seem to be a movement on bringing this mercenary/war team movies back to the big screen. Who for the cast then?
Well Jason Statham seems a must. Vinnie Jones perhaps?
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The film was certainly not an unheard of it though its release on British Television was bigger than it’s cinema release. Backed by the biggest campaign of advertising ever seen up to that time. The film was a financial sucess in every format.
As action films go, this one has always been one of my favourites, partly because it had two of my favourite British Actors of all time in it, Richard Burton and Richard Harris and it seems a great shame that we can’t make more like it these days, but also a superb supporting cast.While the film does have some real cringe worthy dialogue (Rosalind Lloyds ‘Isn’t he a love’ is a classic example) and the scenes between Harris and his son Emil can produce some vomit inducing runs for the bathroom, the film is still filled with some classic moments and sequences.I know some people gripe about the sterotype portrayal of the gay doctor and some will say it is racist (though my Ugandan wife tells me it was hugely popular in Africa at the time and still is, and I would disagree on the racist issue) but at the time it was made, 1976, the world was something of a different place and the character of Julius Limbani (Winston Ntshona) was extremely well portayed, as was the part of Jesse, played by John Kani, both of whom have recently worked together several times at the National Theatre, John Kani went on to become an award winning playwright, tackling several issues of South Africa (His own younger brother was shot by the SA Police in 1985)Hardy Krugers character was also interesting, a white South African racist who thinks he has all the answers but gradually comes to change his mind – a brave character considering the climate at the time.The film sports a number of tightly directed and taught action sequences, notably the long tracking crane shot in the final action sequence as the remaining mercenaries make a dash for the plane. The film’s premier on ITV was subject to the most expensive advertising campaign in television history and feature a huge billboard poster along the South Bank of the Thames. The television screening suffered from a number of cuts, though at the time I didnt realise this until I saw it on video some years later.I find it is one of those films that always has you hoping the ending will be different on each ocasion you watch it as you pray for Rafer to make it on board the plane. The Wild Geese also has a number of well known British regulars in the supporting cast, including Ronald Fraser, Jack Watson, Stewart Granger (A legend in his own right and a very nasty portrayal in the role of Matherson) Patrick Allen, Jeff Corey, Kenneth Griffith among others. Euan Lloyd, the producer, still outlives most of the cast, with Roger Moore, Kani and Ntshona being the only surviving lead cast members still living.A sequel was made to the film with a third planned to be set in Africa, however the second film performed poorly and the third film was cancelled. The death of Richard Burton around the time of pre-production as filming was due to commence is often seen as the reason for the failure of the second film, though the script itself is pretty dire. Edward Fox replaced Burton and became his characters brother.Great British action films that stand up well to Hollywood blockbusters are few and far between, but this stands up to most. This is essentially a boys own movie, though a recent screening I organised at a hired cinema went down really well with several younger members of the female audience who had never seen it (Several gasps were heard when Harris got shot in the leg, along with crys of ‘Oh no…get on the plane!’) so Andrew V Mcgaglen has had something of a mixed career though I have enjoyed many of this films, but I always thought this was by far the best, it may just be a Saturday Night no brainer, but its a great one at that. We haven’t got many classic British action films, but this is one of them.Some of my favourite lines are:’There is a clause in my contract that says my liver is to be buried seperately with honours…’ Richard Burton.’The man is dead Mr Faulkner, now only the spirit remains..’ Winston Ntshona’I have a lady barber who charges by the inch, sir..’ John Kani’Well I suppose you’d better kill me…’ Stewart Granger’You’re an incredible man too Sir Edward, so I suppose I’d better had….’ Burton
I agree, probably one of the best British action films ever made, together with Who Dares Wins. I would say the cast members did a fantastic job, and so did Euan Lloyd.
“The last gentleman” -as Lloyd used to be called, was the man behind this success. He brought the classic “smell” of British para-military -mercenaries- into the cinema…
If a sequel were to be made, I would say the best location would be Sierra Leone, back in 2000, when the SAS and SBS pulled a fantastic operation, against the West Side Boys.
American war-action films are cheap, full of american propaganda, aimed at nothing. Yet, British films bring a different touch, a different view, with characters addressing issues such as morality and their own concerns….
Let us hope British films in this special genre, get back to the cinemas….
it is ironic that you made the comment about the WSB incident with the SAS, Or Operation Certain Death, as it came to be known. I wrote the screenplay based on the book by Damian Lewis, we do not know if it will get made yet, we can only hope.
Great! I am currently in Angola, 3 weeks so far, doing some work and also researching for a new novel I am writing (my first one), about the clash between capitalism and marxism. The story moves around a cuban guy who went to Angola, and his family to the US,..and how their lives changed. kind of a new Scarface…but african style…
As for the WSB….SAS and SBS rock! I believe the book you mention was “Operation Barras: the SAS in Sierra Leone 2000″. Is it?
Ignacio great to make your aquaitance, send me an email azanti0029@yahoo.co.uk not my regular email but I will get it.
No that book is actually considered to the weaker of the three about the operation.
Operation Certain Death is written by Damian Lewis, buy it, its a very very good read. I wrote the screenplay in conjunction with Damian, having his permission from the get go.
A present for all fans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt4jfL-BNRY&feature=related
I was too young to remember TWG during its initial theatrical run, but I do remember it premiering on a Sunday night on NBC! Still remember the commericals!! I own it on DVD and watch it regularly.
A remake of TWG isn’t necessary. The original, while dated, is still great. Hollywood’s just ran out of original ideas. Heck, they’re redoing the Wild Bunch, too!!
If the plan to remake TWG does take place, I see a lot of ex-SAS, Para and SBS types with experience in Afghanistan and Iraq filling the ranks.
This was a very popular movie on its release and Roger Moore had the choice of doing this film or The Dogs of War and chose this one because in his own words “it had a better story”. You can buy the dvd and you will not be sorry as it is a well plotted and scripted story. I will guarantee you the remake we be lucky to last one week at the cinemas before vanishing forever. How can you compete with actors, such as Burton, Harris, Moore and even the likes of Ronnie Fraser who plays Tosh and others. You can’t and i only wish instead of ploughing good money into remakes the powers that be would look for an original script about mercinaries or whatever……
If the re-make goes ahead (& Im not too sure how I feel about it),I hope it pays huge respect to the original & those currently in the same role as the guys portrayed in the 1978 movie.Had to search Amazon & purchase the book & re-read it (again)…
Stratham,Jones,Craig & even Clive Owen in the old Rog part as Lt Flynn.Put Rog in as Matherson… make it hard,believable & with a gallows humour type script.Dated kit & weapons.Kick ass action with the same ‘edge-of-your-seat’ ending that was the best bit of the original.
Fantastic stuff & true fans… do yourself a favour & read the Carney novel.You wont be dissapointed…
Noooooooooooo dear god can’t they leave well enough alone how can they top Burtons performance ?
If this remake goes ahead it will be a bad idea. Those of us who love the Wild Geese want to remember it for the classic movie it is and always will be. The movie set set during a time when African nations had just achieved independence and the movie plot was a portrayal of a common occurence across the Sub Saharan African continent at that time.
The actors were brilliant, the dialogue was witty, sharp and very realistic. The movie gave a real portrayal of the life of a mercenary without any unrealistic window dressing. (remember Biafra and the Congo crisis?)
The movie echoed the sad reality of post colonial Africa. All in all the movie was brilliant.
There should be no remake.It should be left alone. Any remake will have alot to live up to. Also the world has changed a great deal since the 1960’s and 1970’s. It is hard to see a remake captivating audiences of this generation like the original movie did in that era.
Any remake will be a flop. Do not do it.
richard harris isnt britttish he is a green blooded irish man !!!! born an bred in limerick