An action-packed story of a paramilitary group funded by a billionaire to rescue an African leader who is held captive by his enemies. Restored to his leadership position, the captive will be useful both to his country as a figure around whom competing factions can coalesce and to the billionaire's copper interests. It's a big and well-armed unit, about the size of a company, more than 100 men, all of them experienced, to be led by Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, and Hardy Kruger.The narrative carries a faint echo of "Objective Burma," an old Errol Flynn movie. The specialists are parachuted into hostile territory, carry out their mission without casualties, but then find themselves stuck with no exit and must schlep their way through the bush, pursued by enemies, until the few survivors are airlifted out.It's not a simple "good guys" versus "bad guys" story, like the Errol Flynn war-time film. These are, after all, mercenaries and most are just doing it for the money. There are even one or two "philosophical" exchanges about the morality of their mission and their values.There is, naturally, the usual getting-in-shape training camp scenes and the final orgasmic shoot-out. Due to editing or something, the orders issued to the men are clear enough but the execution on screen is confusing. Who's where? Why are these guys running and those guys not? Where did that bazooka come from? But the viewer must overlook the confusion of the ultimate battle because nothing else is left ambiguous. This was directed by Andrew V. McLaughlin, son of Victor, pal of John Ford, but more craftsman than poet. Every emotion, every thought, every lingering doubt, is spelled out for you, as in a kindergarten class where "A" is "A as in apple." So don't worry about having to struggle to grasp the clinical significance of it -- although if you want to think twice about mercenaries or "government contractors," as the mercenaries are called when they're working for us instead of them, you can do so. And don't be too quick to judge. The Swiss guards at the Vatican are mercenaries too.

Ye old "whip a disparate group of men into an elite commando team and send 'em on a mission" formula, only with a not-so stiff British upper lip and a distinct African flavor. And it all works quite well. Richard Burton is Col. Faulkner, the veteran soldier of fortune hired by an industrialist (Stewart Granger) to rescue an imprisoned political leader from the clutches of a brutal African dictator. Faulkner assembles a force of experienced mercenaries, including old buddies Flynn (Roger Moore) and Janders (Richard Harris), for the daring but meticulously planned raid, which in the end turns out a rather bloody affair. This is a solid if undistinguished action-adventure film done the old fashioned way (no digital explosions!), elevated by a cast of familiar, likable actors and a closer adherence to the real world. Nobody does anything super-heroic or impossible (even with 007 himself on hand), and the high body count ultimately includes a significant number of the mercenaries themselves. The film even addresses the subject of racial politics in post-colonial Africa without getting preachy or slowing down the narrative. Like THE DIRTY DOZEN, it's the antithesis of the "chick flick" -- this is purely a guy's movie, the kind you knock back in the BarcaLounger with a cold beer to. (If you're a guy, that is.) The impatient under-30 crowd may get a bit antsy during the first hour, though, as virtually all the action is saved for the second half.

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 it is maybe not surprising when you re-watch a move that you first saw as a kid.

Thrilling/ straight action/adventure story about some mercenaries hired to spring an abducted African leader from well-secured prison and the incidents this triggers . A British multinational seeks to overthrow a vicious dictator in central Africa as hires the much-wanted mercenary Colonel Allen Faulkner (Richard Burton miscast as chief of mercenaries) , as he travels to London invited by the British millionaire Sir Edward Matherson (Stewart Granger) to rescue the African President Julius Limbani that had been kidnapped in a coup d'état by the dictator Colonel Mboya. Sir Edward has interest in the copper mines and intends to negotiate with Limbani. Col. Faulkner hires his friends Captain Rafer Janders (Richard Harris), a tough, two-fisted mercenary and Lieutenant Shawn Fynn (Roger Moore),an expert on planes . The trio selects their old friends and contacts other mercenaries (Ronald Fraser , Percy Herbert , Ken Gampu) to form the rescue team. They plan the whole operation and succeed in their mission .The commando is led by Colonel Faulkner , a sergeant named Sandy (Jack Watson) along with Lieutenent Pieter (Hardy Kruger).The adventure starts when the veteran band of mercenaries land deep inside the African country to rescue Limbani and destroy installations .This fast-paced film packs adventures, large-scale blow-up , plot-twists routine plot , and lots of action for the most part . It's a comfortable mix of action-packed , adventure, thriller and wartime genre . From the beginning to the end the suspense , non-stop action and intrigue is continued . Interesting screenplay by prestigious Reginald Rose who writes thought-provoking dialogs especially between Limbani and Pieter well performed by Hardy Kruger . Other chief excitements about the movie, will be in the intervention of famous British secondaries who realize professionally competent interpretations , some of them with no more than a line or two to say . Cinematography Jack Hildyard is quite nicely , capturing the atmosphere of everywhere . Special mention the impressive and breathtaking musical score by Roy Budd ; it's filled with lively and martial sounds fitting splendidly to action . Furthermore , enjoyable song on the opening under magnificent credit titles by Maurice Binder . The motion picture is well directed by Andrew V MacLagen son of the great actor Victor McLagen. He's a warlike expert , such as proved in several films (Return to Kwai,Wild Geese, Dirtdozen: the next mission,Sea wolves,Breakthrough). However , director McLagen proved had lost the touch that made ¨Devil's brigade¨, ¨Sea wolves¨ and specially ¨Wild Geese¨ such memorable films , as in his final career he filmed average movies . ¨Wild Geese¨ can be called great and received , deservedly, much acclaim when released. Certainly a good work done by one of Hollywood's more skill director, a real craftsman.It's followed by Wild Geese II (Peter Hunt with Scott Glenn, Edward Fox, Barbara Carrera ), an inferior sequel deals about a new group of the much-wanted mercenaries assigned by a rich television network (Robert Webber) to free famous arch-Nazi war criminal Rudolph Hess (Laurence Olivier); this following depended in their all star cast . And a trilogy exploitation directed by Anthony M Dawson( Margheriti) formed by ¨Code name : Wild Geese¨ ¨Commando Leopard(1985)¨ and ¨Der Commander(1988)¨ repeating similar actors, Lewis Collins, Lee Van Cleef , Klaus Kinski, and Manfred Lemann.