WILD GEESE II
US, 1985, 125 minutes, Colour.
Scott Glenn, Barbara Carrera, Edward Fox, Laurence Olivier, Kenneth Haigh, Ingrid Pitt, Patrick Stewart, Robert Webber.
Directed by Peter. R. Hunt.
Wild Geese II is another slam-bang action adventure from producer Euan Lloyd: Paper Tiger, Wild Geese, Sea Wolves, Who Dares Wins. Direction is by Peter Hunt (Shout at the Devil, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Death Hunt). Screenplay is by Reginald Rose (Twelve Angry Men) but writer of the main Euan Lloyd action productions.
The original cast of The Wild Geese were not available for this film so American Scott Glenn becomes the hero. Glenn had tough roles in Urban Cowboy, The Challenge but more sympathetic roles in Nashville and The Right Stuff. Edward Fox, the original Jackal, snarls most convincingly. Barbara Carrera adds glamour. Laurence Olivier portrays Rudolf Hess.
The mercenaries are involved this time in an attempt to kidnap Hess from Spandau Castle - at the behest of an international television company. The kidnapping of Hess was the subject of Peter Duffell's thriller Inside Out.
The film is full of action, the macho mercenary type, and portrays international terrorism.
1. An enjoyable action adventure? Mercenaries and macho style? Terrorism? International pressure of governments? The link with the original film?
2. European locations, colour photography, authentic atmosphere, Berlin and Spandau? The quality of the action sequences and the stunts? Rousing score?
3. The background of Rudolf Hess, Nazi activity, his capture, the long decades imprisonment in Spandau, the international surveillance, his going to hospital? The plan for the kidnapping? A military operation - and the number of deaths? The success of the plot? Hess's reflection on his life, his guilt, his wanting to return home to Spandau, to die? The irony of the final newspaper comment about the attempt?
4. The film's comment on international television and its coverage, the international company with American backing hiring mercenaries? McCann? and his pressure? Scoops and their commercial value? Interviewers Involved in such paramilitary action? Money no object? Ruthlessness, the network's contacts, hiring mercenaries? Deaths? To what end?
5. The plan; the recruitment, the international flavour, Haddad and his Lebanese background, family? His family being killed and his death wish? The Soviets and their use of German right-wing fanatics as well as British double agents? The role of British, Americans and French?
6. Haddad as hero: his being followed at the beginning, the killing of his pursuer? Tough hero, the story of his upbringing in Lebanon and the United States, the death of his family, his own death wish? The recruitment by EBC?
7. Relationship with Kathy, professional? Going to Berlin, his jogging, covering Spandau, the meetings? Being abducted by Stroebling, the torture, being smothered, his escape? Reed- Henry and his plans, the collaboration with the British? Stroebling and his kidnapping of Kathy, placing of Hourigan in the group? The training? Relationship with Alex and his protecting him? Michael in the squad, concern about Kathy, Michael as substitute hostage, the overcoat and the bomb? The attack on Stroebling's headquarters? The bonds between the group? The execution of the plan, tension, mingling with the football crowd, the discussions with Hess, the happy ending? A tough mercenary hero?
8. Alex as an assassin, his joining the group, his skill at covering and protecting Haddad, his bouts of malaria, Hourigan using the LSD with them? His participation in the attack, the plan?
9. The sketch of the team: the Lebanese, their training and participation, deaths, outwitting Stroebling's men? Murphy and the strict British training, the clash with Hourigan, his shooting his knees and shooting him dead? El Ali and his contacts, the false passports, participation in the plan?
10. Kathy as heroine, television newscaster, love for her brother? Contacts with Haddad, being taken by Stroebling, the phone calls, held as hostage, the siege, Michael's death, participation in the plan, shepherding Hess in the bus and plane, the happy ending?
11. Stroebling and his Nazi background, working for the Soviets? His henchmen and their brutality? The use of the hooker to trap Haddad? Tough and ruthless, the plan, double-crossing, the irony of their deaths by the Soviet counter-agent?
12. Reed- Henry and his British background, collaboration with the group, his killing of Murphy, the irony of his being a Soviet double agent, his execution? The role of the Soviets in wanting to keep Hess quiet?
13. The execution of the plot, the careful planning, the ambulances, radio contact, the strategy of Hess's guards, the crash, the substitution of the bodies, the taking of Hess to the buses, the sporting crowd; the airport, the death in the airport?
14. The picture of Berlin, the modern city, atmosphere, nightclubs, sporting events?
15. Themes of death - and the characters' comments about the need-or needlessness of death? War and paramilitary exercises? Violence?
