THE WILD GEESE
UK, 1977, 134 minutes, Colour.
Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, Hardy Kruger, Stewart Granger.
Directed by Andrew V. Mc Laglen
Director Andrew Mc Laglen has specialised in action films, especially with John Wayne. Here he has large budget, stellar cast - Richard Burton in good form, Richard Harris and Roger Moore exerting their particular charm and even Stewart Granger as the arch villain - and an African mercenary story. It's rousing action material for the men and the boys, a most persuasive rouser for military, tough heroics as in the good old days. War is also hell and mercenaries a human/inhuman lot, built for adventure, no matter where - complicated moral questions for an age of intrigue and war-weariness; however, while it's on the screen, the action, plot and pace are the thing.
1. Enjoyable action adventure and its perennial appeal? A successful action entertainment?
2. The serious undertones of the film and its action surface - mercenaries, money. politics? The moral issues of mercenaries - private morals and serving causes, public causes and political situations? The blend of action and serious themes?
3. The English and African background? England and the mercenaries from that country? Their motives for going to Africa? African development, domestic politics? The landscapes of Africa, the people? A mission to Africa?
4. The technical flair of the film - colour photography, the strategies, the modelling on the raid on Entebbe? Flying sequences, the free fall and the parachutes? Attacks, explosions, pursuit through the forests, desperate plane take-offs, fighting? Audience involvement in this action?
5. Audience involvement with the people and the causes? The basic African situation -politically, economically? The film's presentation of mercenaries as good, heroism, men of action?
6. The justice of this particular African cause and the heroism of the mercenaries? The initial selection of the men (and the parallel with the Four Just Men)? The establishing of their background, interests, style? Faulkener and his recruiting? His assembling them? The various stances that they took?
- Allen Faulkener: impassive, the leader, his response to Matherson, funny, handling men, personal loyalties?
- Rafer Janders: his retirement from active service, his home, his love for his son, his promises, Faulkener's involving him? The sentiment given (and music) with the scenes of Janders and his son?
- Shawn Fynn: the man of action, the playboy, the Mafia situation, drugs, women, shooting, the need for rescue, the light-hearted approach? A potential mercenary?
- Pieter Coetzee: the South African, his ambitions for the farm, money, homeland, friendship with Fynn?
The men being persuaded to join the cause? The choice of the international stars to play these roles, embody them, bring their own personal style and mystique?
7. The initial focus on Faulkener - his arrival, being summoned by Matherson and his aide? The manoeuvres of the discussion? The open issues, the evading of issues? The blend of greed, economics, politics, idealism? The contrast with Janders' home? Janders and gentleness - and the irony of his being killed? The rescue of Fynn as an example of military action, the skill of the mercenaries?
8. The picture of Julius Limbani - a man with a cause and for a cause? The political issues around him, his imprisonment, the potential for war and civil war? The motives for the group rescuing him? The intermingling of the copper mine motives? The decision to save him especially after the betrayal? Pleter and his carrying Limbani? The discussion about race relationships - and the moralising tone? The picture of the tribes and their loyalty to Limbani? Father Geoghagen and his observation of the situation, his esteem for Limbani? The irony of the final rescue and his death?
9. The collage of the recruiting of the mercenary team - the meeting with Sandy Young and his wife? His role as Sergeant Major and loving it? The various supporting groups - Jock and his background, the doctor and the homosexuality? Their work in the past, their responses in the interviews? The participation in the training?
10. The picture of the training and its detail, tough, humorous and rigorous? The Sergeant Major and his control? Faulkener and the others participating to the full? The cumulative effect and the preparedness of the group to go to Africa?
11. The explanation of plans, strategies? The advancing of the time and the raising of tension? The sense of mission?
12. The visual beauty of the air drop? The contrast with the hard work of the trek? The airport, the strategies and the modelling on Entebbe? The invasion of the tower, the club, the massacre? Snipers? The capturing of Limbani?
13. The change of pace with the isolation of the group, Matherson and his changing his mind, betrayal and repercussions? Moving through the forest, the dangers in pursuit, uncertainties? Bombs, planes? The bridge and the siege? Action material?
14. The significance of carrying the President to safety, Pieter and the vision from South Africa, black and white relationships? His death?
15. Matherson, his assistant, his ruthlessness in changing his mind? The object of vindictive hatred, vengeance? Faulkener and his final execution of Matherson?
16. The picture of the African village, Father Geoghagan and the plane? The buildup in tension and pace with the pursuit, the getting to the plane, the number of those who died? Janders and his almost getting to the plane, his death? The repercussions on Faulkener? Fynn and his role as pilot? A satisfactory climax for the adventure film? The change of pace with Faulkener's final visit to Matherson?
17. How well did the film work on the level of action and plot? The ambiguities of its theme of war, violence, mercenaries, heroism, motives?
