Movies about Mercenaries. The Wild Geese vs Dark of the Sun.

[the ringo kid]

TCM recently played: Dark of the Sun which starred Rod Taylor as a Merc Captain, Jim Brown as his Sergeant, Kenneth More as a British Army Dr/Capt/drunk and a few other recognizable faces.

This movie dealt with a Merc unit sent to either rescue a large bag of diamonds worth many millions of dollars--or either to escourt them to the people who hired them.

I was wondering that if you have seen this movie? what are your thoughts on it? for me--even though it was filmed years before The Wild Geese--it seems like a poor mans copy of The Wild Geese.

The Wild Geese w/ Richard Burton, Roger Moore, Richard Harris, Hardy Kruger,John Kani and many others. This is an all time favorite movie of mine and loved it. Those who seen it--know they wre hired to rescue imprisoned President Limbarney (SP?) and know what all happened.

Had Richard Burton not been Colonel Faulkner in the Wild Geese--I think Rod Tayor would have done an exellent job of it. Had John Kani not been Sergeant Jesse-in TWG--I think Jim Brown would have done excellent in the role.

Some similarities and on actual history between the two movies.

Both movies have the Merc eventually fighting Simba warriors. I know little about the Simbas--but what little I know-paints them as blood-thirsty murderers--Zombies if you will. The German actor in Dark of the Sun--cant think of his name off-hand--would have been OK as the Hardy Kruger character in Geese. Dr (Kenneth More) would have been too old-but-had he been younger--would have made a great Sean Finn (Rogers Moores character in Geese.

Anyway, both moview were full of action and plenty of good stuff, but Dark of the Sun IMO--not as good as Geese was.

Since im not well educated on what actually happened in Africa with the Simbas--I do know they murdered many white Africans for whatever reason (NOT TRYING TO BE RACIAL)

Whatid like to know is--what are your thoughts on these movies and as far as historial accuracy dealing with the Simbas and such. Also, if you have any references on books and websites on the Simbas and Merc actions in Africa--would be appreciated.

 

[cmort666]

TCM recently played: Dark of the Sun which starred Rod Taylor as a Merc Captain, Jim Brown as his Sergeant, Kenneth More as a British Army Dr/Capt/drunk and a few other recognizable faces.

Hardy Krueger(?) was great as the Iron Cross wearing ex-SS(?) man who likes to shoot civilians.

I greatly prefer "Dark of the Sun". It's a much more serious movie, and greatly impressed us as kids when it came out.

 

[Alpo]

I liked Wild Geese (haven't seen Dark of the Sun) and did not consider the medic's performance to be homophobic. The Wild Geese (1978) - Trivia - IMDb "Producer Euan Lloyd hesitated before offering the role of 'Witty' (the homosexual medic) to his longtime friend Kenneth Griffith. When finally approached, Griffith said "Some of my dearest friends in the world are homosexuals!" and accepted the part. The character was widely condemned as a homophobic stereotype."

 

[BAM-BAM]

Some good books on Africa....... check out Wilber Smith...[Edit: as I thought he wrote "The Dark of the Sun"]

Pretty sure both those movies were based on best selling books in the late 60s early 70s.

Modern version is .... Bruce Willis film....... Willis is a Navy Seal ( of course; isn't everyone these days) sent into Africa to rescue a American Physician........... who doesn't have Ebola....LOL

 

[the ringo kid]

Hardy Krueger(?) was great as the Iron Cross wearing ex-SS(?) man who likes to shoot civilians.

I greatly prefer "Dark of the Sun". It's a much more serious movie, and greatly impressed us as kids when it came out.

Kruger was in Wild Geese but--I cant think of the name of the guy in Dark of the Sun. Ive seen him in a few movies like: Hannible Brooks--as a German Corporal.

I was impressed with the movie though. Its on DvD and im weighing on getting it or not?

 

[the ringo kid]

I liked Wild Geese (haven't seen Dark of the Sun) and did not consider the medic's performance to be homophobic. The Wild Geese (1978) - Trivia - IMDb "Producer Euan Lloyd hesitated before offering the role of 'Witty' (the homosexual medic) to his longtime friend Kenneth Griffith. When finally approached, Griffith said "Some of my dearest friends in the world are homosexuals!" and accepted the part. The character was widely condemned as a homophobic stereotype."

I thought Griffith did very well as the Medic--took on a group of big Simbas too.

 

[the ringo kid]

Some good books on Africa....... check out Wilber Smith...[Edit: as I thought he wrote "The Dark of the Sun"]

Pretty sure both those movies were based on best selling books in the late 60s early 70s.

Modern version is .... Bruce Willis film....... Willis is a Navy Seal ( of course; isn't everyone these days) sent into Africa to rescue a American Physician........... who doesn't have Ebola....LOL

Thanks for these and, im going to search for a copy. Im getting more interested in what happened during that time. Need a break from WWII stuff.

 

[Bat Guano]

Haven't seen it but will check around. "The Wild Geese" is a favorite of mine, particularly the RSM. ("Let's try for our first heart attack, shall we?") The story is that there was definite merc input into the movie's making...

The Burton-Harris drunk scene in the club was, ah, very well done!

Euan Lloyd produced both this and another favorite of mine, "The Final Option", about the SAS. His daughter, Rosalind Lloyd, a real cutie, appeared in both movies. The "Final Option" is a must-see. BHP fans definitely get their money's worth!

 

[Chromedhearts]

I like "Dogs of War" with Christopher Walken.
And the book Flamingo Feather by Laurens Van Der Post, not really about Mercs but real close.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I like "Dogs of War" with Christopher Walken.
And the book Flamingo Feather by Laurens Van Der Post, not really about Mercs but real close.

Another great novel..... Fredrick Forsyth........

 

[wbraswell]

The word mercenary can cover a wide range of combatants, depending on your viewpoint of the conflict. I'm sure that some called the Flying Tigers, mercs. I would have called them Americans. I'm glad that "Dogs of War" was mentioned, it has been a long time since I have seen any of these films. I feel there are other flicks that need to be brought up.

 

[WR Moore]

If anyone wants a written view of that type of thing, Mike Hoare wrote an autobigraphical book about his experiences as a mercenary in what had been the Belgian Congo. Don't recall the title off hand, should be searchable by author.

Foggy memory suggests the Simbas were one of a number of insurgent groups in the post colonial Congo. They were not nice people. The memory is too foggy to recall what the various parts of the squabbling nation were termed at that time. The former Congo is now at least 3 separate countries.

 

[Absalom]

Mike Hoare actually served as advisor on "The Wild Geese". The whole story of that movie is set in a fictional African country, although it probably gives a pretty good (and cynical) view of how politics in that continent worked in that era. "Simbas", which simply means lions, is also used entirely fictionally for the elite presidential guard in the film.
"Dark of the Sun" is fictional, but set in the real Congo during the real Simba rebellion there during the 1960s. The Simbas were tribal rebels who were convinced they were magically bullet-proof. The Congolese government hired European mercenaries to fight them. That's the book's and movie's background. For the real historical background, read Mike Hoare's book "Congo Mercenary" or Anthony Mocklers "The Mercenaries".
"The Wild Geese" I find to be the technically and artistically much better made of the two films; but then, it had much more star power and bigger budget behind it.

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

The Wild Geese is one of my favorites! The coolest guy in the movie thought was Ian Yule, who played Tosh Donaldson; the guy wearing the SAS beret and the awesome super short barreled FN FAL. In real life, Yule was in the SAS and later served under Hoare. My Ian Yule autograph is in my office.

Dogs of War was a decent movie and a GREAT book. Awesome research as always by Forsyth.

In the fictional Brotherhood of War series by W.E.B. Griffin, one or two of his books deal with the Belgian Congo and Stanleyville.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Of the two films, I've only seen "The Wild Geese" and enjoyed it very much (except the cross-bow BS). I have talked with people (Africans) that lived in Leopoldsville and surrounding areas in that time frame. I felt the movie was pretty accurate from a merc's point of view. I have a friend that needed money to keep his farm from repossession after he got out of the US Army. He refused to do merc-work in central or southern Africa due to the tendency to abandon mercs to the wind when they had accomplish the mission. He did say Ross Perot was pretty good to work for. Ivan

 

[the ringo kid]

Haven't seen it but will check around. "The Wild Geese" is a favorite of mine, particularly the RSM. ("Let's try for our first heart attack, shall we?") The story is that there was definite merc input into the movie's making...

The Burton-Harris drunk scene in the club was, ah, very well done!

Euan Lloyd produced both this and another favorite of mine, "The Final Option", about the SAS. His daughter, Rosalind Lloyd, a real cutie, appeared in both movies. The "Final Option" is a must-see. BHP fans definitely get their money's worth!

Thanks for the tip on the other movie--I havent heard of it but will look around for a copy.

 

[the ringo kid]

I like "Dogs of War" with Christopher Walken.
And the book Flamingo Feather by Laurens Van Der Post, not really about Mercs but real close.

To this day--ive still not ever seen Dogs of War. Im taking that this too is a Merc movie?

 

[the ringo kid]

Another great novel..... Fredrick Forsyth........

My favorite by Forsythe so far is: The Odessa File. Read both the book and seen the movie.

 

[Malpasowildlifer]

I LOVE The Final Option!

Supposedly Lewis Collins passed SAS selection to join the reserve equivalent of the SAS but was denied acceptance. I've read that it was because he was a celebrity or too big.

Haven't seen it but will check around. "The Wild Geese" is a favorite of mine, particularly the RSM. ("Let's try for our first heart attack, shall we?") The story is that there was definite merc input into the movie's making...

The Burton-Harris drunk scene in the club was, ah, very well done!

Euan Lloyd produced both this and another favorite of mine, "The Final Option", about the SAS. His daughter, Rosalind Lloyd, a real cutie, appeared in both movies. The "Final Option" is a must-see. BHP fans definitely get their money's worth!

 

[the ringo kid]

If anyone wants a written view of that type of thing, Mike Hoare wrote an autobigraphical book about his experiences as a mercenary in what had been the Belgian Congo. Don't recall the title off hand, should be searchable by author.

Foggy memory suggests the Simbas were one of a number of insurgent groups in the post colonial Congo. They were not nice people. The memory is too foggy to recall what the various parts of the squabbling nation were termed at that time. The former Congo is now at least 3 separate countries.

Thanks for this and--bringing back to my memory about Mike Hoare.I havent heard his name in years.