Fine cast of stalwart actors and superstars in mostly the British film industry make their mark in this war-actioner regarding the mercenary- era stories of note in 1960s-70s post-independent African countries. This has a plot a little more than that with skullduggery at home from a wealthy Industrialist, Stewart Grainger who's tasked Richard Burton as Allan Faulkner a former Colonel, of course taking on the same mantra with all the rag-tag of experienced ex-soldiers he can muster to extricate (not kidnap really is it?) a made-up African leader Julius Limbane (Winston Nshona) from of course a made-up African state of Zimbala.
To cut a long story short, that's the job. But you have to watch how easily it falls into that kind of film/movie. Right from recruiting the right-hand men, their protests from the wife/or the men's happily leaving them notes/divorce right away and although they're getting paid, no pondering on them perhaps getting killed violently thousands of miles away. The major Actors, Richard Harris, (Rafer Janders), Roger Moore (Shawn Fynn), Hardy Kruger (Peter Cotzee) playing a hard- lined Apartheid era soldier and of course the wonderful Jack 'NCO' Watson as well as homosexual (purposefully) support from Witty, played by the excellent Kenneth Griffiths' medic make this an excellent blood and guts saga of this kind of genre. What is of course added, is the issues in the film. Africa, hot exotic but not welcome in a sweaty fighting-atmosphere and our band up against what appears to be Cuban- led African soldiers (very tight on info here of the time!).
The mission goes ahead, parachuting into Zimbala but alas, after the extrication of Limbane from the prison where he was held, the men find they're double-crossed by Grainger and left to rot, for his new deal's with someone else and what is in his best interests. The team are now tasked with fighting their way out for themselves as well an injured Limbane.
Burton and Co. have to plan a new way out, get this, they actually stumble on a DC-3 some miles away from an irate Irish missionary priest (Frank Finlay) who's known begrudgingly to Janders. However, this is their little lifeline in a while, but of course, they're all getting wiped out along the way in getting to it! There are some usual and okay-ish action scenes and plenty of bullets flying as expected. Janders and Coetzee are killed more or less at the last knockings as is medic Witty in a last stand with a number of the African soldiers as is the stalwart NCO Jack 'Sandy' Watson. The remainder, Burton and Moore make the plane and fly back out. Limbane though, dies, so that was worth it!
What made the film which can be a bit standard is of course the good cast. There has been much made about the film for other reasons which are reflected 'in' it, for example 'Africa rising' as Limbane and the racist Coetzee exchange the ideology behind whites in Apartheid South Africa and the Africa movement to remove them. The two bond over what must be done to secure both their futures in the new Africa or South Africa that will come - coincidentally, the issues really DID make South Africa what it is as Mandela's fairness and compassion mirrored that of the banter between Coetzee and Limbane.
What makes it is as I said is the fine cast and as is mentioned, perhaps an American actor would have propelled it in the states more, as Burton, though respected in America was in his last throes of his career. There are good feelgood moments too when Burton takes out Grainger back home in 'Merry old' and neat touches like Coetzee killing guards with his cyanide-tipped crossbow. Some of the dialogue can be exceptionally British and dreadful 'isn't he a love', 'you two beauties' (Moore talking about a couple of hoodlums, incidentally, one of which is David Ladd, Alan's son - only a cameo role too small of course for the American-impact market as I mentioned).
A good, watchable film, but wouldn't say it's out of the ordinary, just a great cast nonetheless as I say! (Watch out for lesser-known but interesting actors, Stanley Baker's son as 'Esposito' and Ian Yule, Playing 'Tosh' a former real-life mercenary with Colonel 'Mad Mike' Hoare, who was also an NCO in 'Zulu Dawn'. 'Take the high ground!').
To cut a long story short, that's the job. But you have to watch how easily it falls into that kind of film/movie. Right from recruiting the right-hand men, their protests from the wife/or the men's happily leaving them notes/divorce right away and although they're getting paid, no pondering on them perhaps getting killed violently thousands of miles away. The major Actors, Richard Harris, (Rafer Janders), Roger Moore (Shawn Fynn), Hardy Kruger (Peter Cotzee) playing a hard- lined Apartheid era soldier and of course the wonderful Jack 'NCO' Watson as well as homosexual (purposefully) support from Witty, played by the excellent Kenneth Griffiths' medic make this an excellent blood and guts saga of this kind of genre. What is of course added, is the issues in the film. Africa, hot exotic but not welcome in a sweaty fighting-atmosphere and our band up against what appears to be Cuban- led African soldiers (very tight on info here of the time!).
The mission goes ahead, parachuting into Zimbala but alas, after the extrication of Limbane from the prison where he was held, the men find they're double-crossed by Grainger and left to rot, for his new deal's with someone else and what is in his best interests. The team are now tasked with fighting their way out for themselves as well an injured Limbane.
Burton and Co. have to plan a new way out, get this, they actually stumble on a DC-3 some miles away from an irate Irish missionary priest (Frank Finlay) who's known begrudgingly to Janders. However, this is their little lifeline in a while, but of course, they're all getting wiped out along the way in getting to it! There are some usual and okay-ish action scenes and plenty of bullets flying as expected. Janders and Coetzee are killed more or less at the last knockings as is medic Witty in a last stand with a number of the African soldiers as is the stalwart NCO Jack 'Sandy' Watson. The remainder, Burton and Moore make the plane and fly back out. Limbane though, dies, so that was worth it!
What made the film which can be a bit standard is of course the good cast. There has been much made about the film for other reasons which are reflected 'in' it, for example 'Africa rising' as Limbane and the racist Coetzee exchange the ideology behind whites in Apartheid South Africa and the Africa movement to remove them. The two bond over what must be done to secure both their futures in the new Africa or South Africa that will come - coincidentally, the issues really DID make South Africa what it is as Mandela's fairness and compassion mirrored that of the banter between Coetzee and Limbane.
What makes it is as I said is the fine cast and as is mentioned, perhaps an American actor would have propelled it in the states more, as Burton, though respected in America was in his last throes of his career. There are good feelgood moments too when Burton takes out Grainger back home in 'Merry old' and neat touches like Coetzee killing guards with his cyanide-tipped crossbow. Some of the dialogue can be exceptionally British and dreadful 'isn't he a love', 'you two beauties' (Moore talking about a couple of hoodlums, incidentally, one of which is David Ladd, Alan's son - only a cameo role too small of course for the American-impact market as I mentioned).
A good, watchable film, but wouldn't say it's out of the ordinary, just a great cast nonetheless as I say! (Watch out for lesser-known but interesting actors, Stanley Baker's son as 'Esposito' and Ian Yule, Playing 'Tosh' a former real-life mercenary with Colonel 'Mad Mike' Hoare, who was also an NCO in 'Zulu Dawn'. 'Take the high ground!').