23 replies to this topic

[Blofeld's Cat]

Finally, my favourite Moore movie outside of Bond is finally getting a decent DVD release.

Sir Rog must be making a fortune of late in doing DVD commemtaries. .

[ACE]

Sad are the eyes
Yet no tears...

[SecretAgent007]

I wonder why it is not offered in wide screen? That sucks.

[J J]

I wonder why it is not offered in wide screen?  That sucks.

What do you mean? The films original aspect ratio was 1.85:1 and that's exactly what this DVD is offering

[SecretAgent007]

All of the sites I've seen it for sale say 1.33:1, which is pan and scan.

[DLibrasnow]

Its listed as widescreen on the amazon product page.

[Royal Dalton]

30th Anniversary Edition?

[DLibrasnow]

Yeah...their math is a little off considering the movie came out in 1978.

[Kissy]

Do someone know when it's going to be released in the UK?

[Loomis]

I enjoy this film, but I'd like to see someone like Paul Greengrass do a remake more faithful to Daniel Carney's novel, which I remember thinking was superb when I read it a few years ago. How about:

Russell Crowe in the Richard Burton role;

Clive Owen in the Roger Moore role;

Daniel Craig in the Richard Harris role;

and someone like Moore in the Stewart Granger role?

[DLibrasnow]

Do someone know when it's going to be released in the UK?

It was released in the UK over a year ago.

I have the region 2 release at home (yay for region free players)

[Jim]

Daniel Craig in the Richard Harris role;

Is this some residual desire to see him gunned down?

[PrinceKamalKhan]

I enjoy this film, but I'd like to see someone like Paul Greengrass do a remake more faithful to Daniel Carney's novel, which I remember thinking was superb when I read it a few years ago. How about:

Russell Crowe in the Richard Burton role;

Clive Owen in the Roger Moore role;

Daniel Craig in the Richard Harris role;

and someone like Moore in the Stewart Granger role?

Just give them time. With the way Hollywood keeps churning out the remakes these days(i.e., Yours, Mine and Ours, The Shaggy Dog, Shaft, Thomas Crown Affair, etc.) they'll get to it eventually.

[ACE]

When there's danger all around...

You see, here was me thinking TWG was a boy's own romp, a fun, entertaining, violent, political adventure thriller with international stars and a solid, chunky piece of 1970's British film-making....

...but I was wrong.

You see, according to Euan Lloyd's commentary and comments on said DVD, this was a message picture about apartheid and the general injustice of a regime. This was Cry Freedom meets Gandhi with a bit of Where Eagles Dare thrown in. And amazingly enough, the screenplay was by the writer of the classic 12 Angry Men.

No....really!

And watch the 1977 showreel of the Royal Premiere and party and see how un-PC it is. Different times, different strokes....

The Wild Geese - for your consideration
Best Picture 1977
Roger Moore - Best Supporting Actor ("Moore's Shawn Flynn is a tour de force - simply marvellous" Ralph Richardson)
Joan Armatrading - Best Song
Richard Burton)
Richard Harris) - joint nomination for Best Liver

[Blofeld's Cat]

When there's danger all around...

You see, here was me thinking TWG was a boy's own romp, a fun, entertaining, violent, political adventure thriller with international stars and a solid, chunky piece of 1970's British film-making....

...but I was wrong.

You see, according to Euan Lloyd's commentary and comments on said DVD, this was a message picture about apartheid and the general injustice of a regime. This was Cry Freedom meets Gandhi with a bit of Where Eagles Dare thrown in. And amazingly enough, the screenplay was by the writer of the classic 12 Angry Men.

No....really!

The version I saw and love is the former.

Great song too, by Joan "Armour-plating".

[Bond Bombshell]

I always thought that Euan Lloyd deserved every award going for having the courage to cast Burton and Harris in the same film. Any remake would have to star Russell Crowe and Colin Farrell to meet the same standards for living dangerously. Believe it or not, there was some talk in the media a year or two ago, that Lloyd was trying to get a remake off the ground. I assume that this hasn't progressed very far, as I have not heard anything about it since.

Lloyd hasn't made a film since the awful Wild Geese 2, which would explain why he might be anxious to remake the original. WG2 was a big disappointment to me. Originally, it was to have starred Burton and Lewis Collins, but Burton died before filming and I don't know why Collins didn't make the film. Collins had a three film contract with Lloyd at one point. The first was Who Dares Wins, the second, WG2, and the third film was to have been about the Falklands War but never got made. WG2 was eventually made with Edward Fox and Scott Glenn, and was a poor yarn about an attempt to spring Rudolf Hess from Spandau prison.

It would be good to see Lloyd back in the business, as I usually enjoy his films. I have fond childhood memories of going to see The Sea Wolves at the cinema. This was another Lloyd film which also starred Sir Roger.

[ACE]

I understand that in the early 90's, Euan Lloyd had an action film in development with Timothy Dalton set to star and John Glen set to direct.

This was after LTK and before Christopher Columbus.

Edited by ACE, 03 December 2005 - 02:06 PM.

[Blofeld's Cat]

All this info is very interesting, and was mostly unknown to me until this thread.

[Bond Bombshell]

I understand that in the early 90's, Euan Lloyd had an action film in development with Timothy Dalton set to star and John Glen set to direct.

This was after LTK and before Christopher Columbus.

Ace, this is interesting. Have you got any other info regarding plot, and details of Dalton's role?

I was searching the net looking for info on the proposed Wild Geese remake and drew a blank, although the following article does mention the media rumours. This is reassuring as I was beginning to think I'd imagined them. The article is a fascinating insight into the making of the film, and tells how Burton and Harris by and large behaved themselves, but Roger had a skinful. The near involvement of Burt Lancaster and Stephen Boyd is also worth a read, as well as Harris' life saving skills.

http://www.tonyearns..._wildgeese1.php

[DLibrasnow]

WG2 was eventually made with Edward Fox and Scott Glenn, and was a poor yarn about an attempt to spring Rudolf Hess from Spandau prison.

I dunno..I saw WILD GEESE on one of the movie channels here in the US a while back and it wasn't as bad as I remembered it. Personally though I am a big admirer of Barbara Carrera so her presence might have tipped the balance in the movies favor.

[Polynikes]

Blofeld's Cat

When there's danger all around...

"There were promises made...

Plans firmly laid,

Now madness prevails, lie will be endless...."

Love that song - finally managed to find it on the 'net & download it to my hard drive.

"What more?

What more can we do....?"

You see, here was me thinking TWG was a boy's own romp, a fun, entertaining, violent, political adventure thriller with international stars and a solid, chunky piece of 1970's British film-making....

...but I was wrong.

You see, according to Euan Lloyd's commentary and comments on said DVD, this was a message picture about apartheid and the general injustice of a regime. This was Cry Freedom meets Gandhi with a bit of Where Eagles Dare thrown in. And amazingly enough, the screenplay was by the writer of the classic 12 Angry Men.

It was a bit of a Boys Own Adventure romp but I saw something else too...

It wasn't so much a damnation of apartheid (though I'm quite prepared to accept the producer's distaste for this), I saw a commentary on Britain's legacy and imperial past.

The movie was about a band of aging, former British soldiers (plus a South African) banding together for one last time to do something right.

A parallel with Britain herself - had the lead characters been British actors in their 20's & 30's, I don't think the movie would've worked half as well as it did.
The character I identified with the most wasn't any of the main leads but Jack Watson playing RSM Sandy Young - a proud man who had one last chance to do what he did and loved best.

I served in the British army and I recognised that character - the most poignant scene in the movie for me wasn't Rafer's melodramatic death it was Burton offering Watson his share just for doing the training & telling him he was too old to go on the mission.

His response was as blunt forthright as possible:

"...if you want to see a real revolution, just try stopping me...Sir!"

With that he snapped a parade perfect salute, about turned and departed.

Were my eyes getting slightly watery or what?

(BTW this may be heresy but I thought Moore's sauve and un-tough Shawn Flynn was the biggest wrong note in the movie. Peter O'Toole would've completed the movie much better - I suppose the producer couldn't afford the bar bill for him though as he already had Burton & Harris to supply booze for).

Great song too, by Joan "Armour-plating".

Yes wonderful...

May be she's still for hire for a Bond movie?

Incidently a remake wouldn't be the worst idea for a movie...(I have always tried to forget that Wild Geese II was ever made).

This would be my cast:

Col Faulkner: Brian Cox
RSM Sandy Young: James Cosmo
Capt Rafer Janders: Liam Neeson
Lt Shawn Fynn: Jeremy Irons
Sir Edward Matherson: Ciar

[mccartney007]

Finally got around to watching some of the special features and I must say how good Roger Moore looks in them. Somehow he manages to get younger looking the older he gets.

[Tinfinger]

Still waiting for the Cannonball Run Ultra-Special Edition with the group commentary.

[ACE]

Finally got around to watching some of the special features and I must say how good Roger Moore looks in them.  Somehow he manages to get younger looking the older he gets.

I hope I look that good when I get to his age...65!