wadsy

In his book More or less Kenneth More states that Taylor & Brown were

at each others throats throughout the making of the film. More & didn't

like Taylor at all!

homeguard

Did you do Angola 1974/5?
Regards,
HG

eurohawk

i love the film after all these years still good to watch

john audley

I have said and will say it again that the free falling parachutists were a classic exciting piece of filming

'You should be kind to us normals, there are not many of us left you know'!

Juniors Farm

One of my favourite films of the Seventies,also the author of the piece referred to 'Massacre In Rome' as a non-sequitur,rubbish,this is another great movie!
Also interested to hear that Stephen Boyd was originally lined up for a part in the Wild Geese,he is the only famous person to hail from my hometown!

NappieB

Yes... we started in 1969... ended in 1970 and again very briefly in 1972... went to Mozambique (Lorenco Marques, now Maputo) straight up through Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) crossed to Angola into Congo then up into Uganda, southern Sudan & Chad (when the lake was still there). I went back to UK... he headed back to central Africa. I met him briefly again in 1972 in Kenya...we spent about a week travelling down to Tanzania & Nyasaland (now Malawi).

"It gets late early out here!" - Yogi Berra on a trip to the country

NappieB

To address the question more closely... no, we drove through Angola in January 1970...Luanda, hot as hell and the Cubans had not yet started arriving. But everything changed after the "Revolution of Flowers" in Portugal (colonial owner of Angola).

I heard much later (in late 1976) that, by that time, the whole country was swarming with Cubans, some 50,000 of them (?) and about 4,000 - 5,000 Russian "advisors".

Glad we passed through there too early to meet the crowds!

"It gets late early out here!" - Yogi Berra on a trip to the country

NappieB

.. hope that answers your question

homeguard

Yes, thanks. I was on the Benguela opening, Op. Savannah, running up to Lobita in Dec 75. You're right about the Cubans. But if it hadn't have been for Nigeria recognising the communist MPLA, the country would not have been trashed like it was. Shame. People blamed the Portugese for getting out too quickly, but looking at Rhodesia now, it wouldn't have made any difference. I confine my African adventures now to helping with a hospital in Bansang in the Gambia. Still corrupt, but not stupid.
Regards,
HG

cinemal

First saw 'The Wild Geese' on 16mm in a Blackpool hotel in 1979 on the eve of a film convention.Next day I bought a 50 minute 8mm version which concentrated on the action but also retained the basic plot. I still have that print but now watch the dvd version via digital projection.
As a footnote, for 18 years I lived in the small village that was Richard Burton's birthplace.

Grey Wyler

Massacre in Rome is an absolute belter of a movie, its a shame that it has been so unfairly disregarded over the years.

batman

I agree with you about Massacre In Rome .... I still find it difficult to believ it was directed by the same man who also directed Rambo 2, Cobra and Escape to Athena.

Jingle bells Batman smells ... I heard that at school Daddy.

BAT QUIZ 16 HAS JUST BEEN POSTED IN THE COMPETITION THREAD - 06/01/09

Grey Wyler

I wrote a review of Massacre in Rome for a fanzine quite a few years back, and ploughed through loads of old film mags from the 70's to find pictures and reviews from the time it was released. What came as a surprise was Cosmatos was a very highly regarded director and many great things were expected from him. His first movie was called The Beloved and starred Richard Johnson and Raquel Welch, worth a look.

After Massacre he made The Cassandra Crossing and it was downhill all the way.

batman

If you haven't seen it, his film Of Unknown Origin with Peter Weller is worth a look. It's about a man trying to catch a rat in his apartment. Although that old chestnut is usually played for laughs, this is a straightforward thriller and is actually quite exciting.

Of Unknown Origin (1983)

Jingle bells Batman smells ... I heard that at school Daddy.

BAT QUIZ 16 HAS JUST BEEN POSTED IN THE COMPETITION THREAD - 06/01/09

Grey Wyler

I'll have a look at that one. I've seen the tape a few times in charity shops, so will pick up next time i see it.