The Wild Geese – ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION

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A 1970’s action favourite returns

Every decade seems to produce a couple of exciting ‘men on a mission’ movies. In the 1960s, classics like ‘The Guns of Navarone’ and ‘Where Eagles Dare’ stood out. The 1970s gave us ‘The Wild Geese,’ directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, a reliable director, and produced by Euan Lloyd, known as a classy producer who oversaw only thirteen films in 26 years, but consistently gathered talented casts.

What was the story of The Wild Geese?

The film features a screenplay by Reginald Rose, who was nominated for two Oscars (known for 12 Angry Men). It stars screen icons Richard Burton (Where Eagles Dare), Roger Moore (Live and Let Die), and Richard Harris (A Man Called Horse) as a group of older mercenaries. They’re hired by a rich businessman for one last, dangerous job: to gather and train a team of commandos, parachute into a troubled African country, rescue the ousted President from a heavily guarded prison, and escape through the military-controlled airport, eliminating anyone who tries to stop them. The mission itself will involve killing, but surviving the escape might be even harder.

That enviable cast…

After the disastrous failure of The Exorcist II, director Jimmy Harris was eager for a straightforward, well-paying adventure film, and The Wild Geese seemed like the perfect opportunity. Like Harris, Richard Burton had a successful career but was starting to take roles purely for the money, such as in the Jaws imitation Orca, before agreeing to The Wild Geese. Their shared fondness for heavy drinking likely played a role too. Joining them was Roger Moore, riding high from the success of The Spy Who Loved Me. The film also featured a strong supporting cast, including Hardy Kruger (A Bridge Too Far), Stewart Granger (King Solomon’s Mines), Frank Finlay, Kenneth Griffith, Barry Foster (memorable in Hitchcock’s Frenzy), Ronald Fraser (playing against type as a tough soldier), and Patrick Allen (known as the voice of The X Factor). Completing the picture was a large, largely anonymous group of soldiers who frequently ended up as casualties.

What to expect….

It takes a little while for the movie to build momentum, but once it does, the action is almost non-stop. It’s reminiscent of children playing ‘war’ – the actors seem to have reverted to that playful energy, trading sticks for prop guns, even with a real military veteran as an advisor. Surprisingly, this is part of what makes the film so enjoyable – watching seasoned actors clearly having a blast and getting paid for it.

Hmmmmm…..

The film definitely has flaws – it contains problematic racism, feels too long, and its action sequences look old-fashioned by today’s standards. However, it possesses a classic appeal that resonated with viewers and led to a sequel. Unfortunately, the original cast couldn’t return: Burton had passed away, Moore was nearing the end of his career and struggling with arthritis, and Harris’s character had died in the first film.

Now available as a special collector’s edition box set with UHD, Blu-ray, and CD formats, this release includes a wealth of bonus features, such as:

DISC LIMITED EDITION (UHD / BD / CD):

  • EXCLUSIVE: FIFTY MEN IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW: A 316pp Full-Colour Hardbound Book on the Making of THE WILD GEESE by Tony Earnshaw
  • EXCLUSIVE: CD Original Soundtrack of THE WILD GEESE by Roy Budd
  • EXCLUSIVE: 6 x Original UK Lobby Card Reproductions

DISC 1 (UHD):

  • NEW! Audio Commentary with action film experts, Mike Leeder and Arne Venema *
  • NEW! Audio Commentary with assembly editor John Grover and Film Academic and South African Historian Calum Waddell *
  • Archival Audio Commentary with producer Euan Lloyd, star Roger Moore, second unit director John Glen, Moderated by filmmaker Jonathan Sothcott *
  • Theatrical Trailer *

(* Also Included on Blu-ray)

DISC 2 (Blu-ray):

  • NEW! Jesse, Take Point! – Interview with actor John Kani (Sgt. Jesse Blake)
  • NEW! Wild Child – Interview with actor Paul Spurrier (Emile Janders)
  • NEW! Wild Goose Chase – Interview with 2nd unit director / editor John Glen
  • NEW! Flight of Fancy – Interview with sound editor Colin Miller
  • The Wild Geese Director – Interview with director Andrew V. McLaglen
  • The Mercenary – Interview with military advisor Mike Hoare
  • The Last of the Gentleman Producers – Documentary on producer Euan Lloyd featuring Euan Lloyd, Roger Moore, Joan Armatrading, Ingrid Pitt & more
  • The Flight of the Wild Geese – Vintage Featurette
  • THE WILD GEESE Royal Charity Premiere Newsreel

DISC 3 (CD):

  • THE WILD GEESE Original Soundtrack

With the director, producer, and most of the actors now deceased, the film relies heavily on contributions from lesser-known performers. However, John Glen, who later directed five James Bond films, stands out as a valuable asset, and several archival features offer surprising insights. Notably, the newsreel from the premiere repeatedly mentions the event benefiting The Spastics Society, highlighting how significantly language around disability has evolved.

Following the film’s success, director McClaglen directed several comparable action movies, including the often-overlooked North Sea Hijack (again starring Moore) and The Sea Wolves, both released in the same year. The Wild Geese embodies classic 1970s action cinema with its established stars and is the perfect choice for a relaxing Sunday afternoon viewing.

Here’s the Wild Geese trailer…..

The Wild Geese – ULTIMATE COLLECTOR’S EDITION is released on 15th December 2025

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2025-12-13 03:24