Trivia / The Wild Geese

• Awesome, Dear Boy: Although originally repulsed by the concept, John Kani and Winston Ntshona changed their minds about the film after reading the script and realizing that it attempted to thoughtfully address race issues in Africa.
• Backed by the Pentagon: Most of the military equipment used in the film came from the South African army. However some special weaponry needed to be imported from Britain. "Even though the stuff couldn't fire real bullets, it was held up for weeks by the British government because it was going to South Africa," said Euan Lloyd.
• Cast the Expert:
  • Roger Moore, an ex-serviceman, helped some of the actors learn the military look (how to march, salute, etc.)
  • Of all the extras and actors that were present on the movie-set there were few that had actual military training and experience of real warfare. One of those was Hardy Krüger. He was born in 1928, Germany and he was drafted into the German Army in late 1944. In March 1945 he saw action against US forces in the 38th SS Division "Nibelungen". During these late-war engagements he was captured by US troops.
  • Percy Herbert, who played Keith, was a World War II veteran, he had been wounded in the defense of Singapore, then captured by the Imperial Japanese Army and interned in a POW camp.
  • Ian Yule (Tosh) was an ex-mercenary who had previously worked with Col. Mike Hoare, an Irish soldier of fortune whose exploits were allegedly the inspiration for this film. Yule introduced producer Euan Lloyd to Hoare, and eventually the latter was made an adviser on the film, in an attempt to boost the realism of the combat sequences.
  • Jack Watson (Sandy Young) served as a physical training instructor in the Royal Navy during World War II.
• Creator Backlash: Hardy Kruger was somewhat disappointed by the film:
  I am disappointed in The Wild Geese. For this kind of a delicate story in Africa with an element of battle in it, there has to be some shoot-out. But Euan Lloyd, a man I respect very much, chose to hire Andrew McLaglen who’s basically a director for westerns. He brought this element into The Wild Geese that didn’t really belong there – the shoot ‘em up cowboy kind of thing. It overwhelmed the basic theme. There are certain directors, and Andrew is one, who, when it comes to the editing, always puts a moment in the film when somebody talks. I'm a listener as an actor – a reactor – and it was very important to me to listen. I played the whole part like that: I'm listening to this black man on my shoulder, and it's by listening that I'm beginning to understand that I’m the dumb Boer and he’s the intelligent man that we all need. So Andrew butchered my performance by not understanding that you can play a part by listening. My character didn't come out because you didn't see the transformation. I don't know why Euan allowed him to do it.
• Creator-Chosen Casting: Euan Lloyd had Richard Burton and Roger Moore in mind from the beginning.
• Creator Couple:
  • In the casino scene where Allen Faulkner flirts with a woman dressed as an Egyptian, the woman is actually Richard Burton's wife, Susan Hunt.
  • Prodcer Euan Lloyd's wife Jane Hylton was cast as Mrs. Young.
• Development Hell: Richard Stanley planned a remake of sorts called Wild Geese III - Mercenaries Never Die.
  A revisionist remake of The Wild Geese with Roger Moore, the mind reels! A modern day mercenary saga, better than it sounds, in the end the House of Commons is infected with a mutant strain of Ebola, the Prime Minister melts, everyone dies, even Roger Moore. Fed feet first into a shredding machine in a meanspirited twist on the Bond movies- this time no-one rescues him, none of the gadgets work and he does not leap free with a single mighty bound. Asia Argento was in the frame for the female lead, a Palestinian computer expert and a true artist when it comes to new and ever more cunning ways of blowing people to pieces (how do you make small talk or effectively seduce a lady whose only real desire in life is to explode as forcefully as possible?). Predictably this project stayed in limbo despite the support of Mr Moore and the original movie's backers but the script still puts a goofy smile on my face. The project was developed in the mid-nineties by Chris Chrisafis, one of the producers of the original 1978 action/adventure. It was positioned as a direct sequel rather than a remake or reboot. Roger Moore was to return in the role of Major Shaun Fynn, who was positioned as the ageing mentor to the lead character, a young Royal Irish Marine who seeks employment in the 'private sector' after being wounded in action. The plot, involving an Ebola type biological weapon, was based on my research into modern mercenary activity, notably Mark Thatcher and the Sandline affair. Asia Argento was mooted to play the female lead, 'Mali', a failed suicide bomber forced to aid and abet the leads in their quest to save Queen and country from a dastardly apocalyptic conspiracy, an outrageous adventure that would take them from the Nile delta, through the slums of south London and the mercenary headquarters and training grounds in Aldershot to the hot zones of central Africa and a final, fiery confrontation in the house of commons as a genetically engineered plague engulfs Westminister. I am still charmed by the idea of having a female lead who just wants to explode, only to be constantly frustrated in her efforts. It would have been an epic swan song for Roger Moore, whose character was ear marked for a very special destiny...
• Money, Dear Boy: Patrick Stewart appeared in Wild Geese II because he urgently needed money for an expensive home repair job and that was the first role he was offered upon receiving the bill from the repairman. Edward Fox also appeared in the film so he could have one wing of his country home built.
• Old Shame: Patrick Stewart once said that Wild Geese II was the only acting role he regretted.
• Playing Against Type: Roger Moore as a hardened mercenary, as opposed to his suave playboy persona. It's actually quite reminiscent of the later darker portrayals of James Bond by Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig.
• Real-Life Relative: Producer Euan Lloyd cast his daughter Rosalind Lloyd as Heather.
• Reality Subtext: Faulkner claims to be dry when working. In Real Life, Richard Burton had a drinking problem that had taken a severe toll on his health by the time he made this film. Richard Harris was also a notorious drinker. Both men remained dry for the entire shoot.
• Those Two Actors: John Kani and Winston Ntshona were longtime stage collaborators prior to this film. They'd continue working together on stage and screen for years after this.
• Uncredited Role: Suzanne Danielle as a girl at the party.
• Wag the Director:
  • Roger Moore requested to have minimum lines in his scenes with Richard Burton and Richard Harris, saying, "You don't seriously expect me to act against these guys?"
  • According to Moore, Richard Burton insisted that Moore's character appear in the ending scene, otherwise the audience would be confused as to whether he survived or not.
• What Could Have Been:
  • The producers originally wanted Burt Lancaster for the role of Rafer Janders, but when he began submitting alterations to the script to give his character the central role, he was replaced with Richard Harris. Lancaster claimed to have turned the part down because he felt the film was "inferior". Michael Caine turned down the role of Janders because he refused to work in South Africa during apartheid. According to Roger Moore's memoirs Robert Mitchum was cast as Janders but pulled out and was replaced at late notice by Harris.
  • O. J. Simpson was considered for Shawn Fynn, who was written as black-Irish in the script.
  • Joseph Cotten was originally cast as Sir Edward Matheson before Stewart Granger got the part.
  • Robert Shaw was considered for either Faulkner or Janders.
  • Curd Jürgens was considered for Lieutenant Pieter Coetzee.
  • Stephen Boyd was originally set to star as Sandy Young, but died shortly before filming commenced and Jack Watson was chosen as a late replacement.
  • When Euan Lloyd tried to get United Artists to finance the film, they wanted Michael Winner to direct. Lloyd refused and instead chose Andrew V. McLaglen.
  • A sub-plot contained in the novel and early screenplay drafts, in which Shawn Finn romances a local woman during the training sequence in Swaiziland, was eventually dropped by the production team, on the grounds that it added little to the story, and dragged the pace of the film.

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