The Dogs of War (1980)
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- R
- 1h 59min
- Action, Adventure
- 13 Feb 1981 (USA)
- Movie
Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup.
Director:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Christopher Walken | ... |
Jamie Shannon
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| Tom Berenger | ... |
Drew
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| Colin Blakely | ... |
North
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Hugh Millais | ... |
Endean
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| Paul Freeman | ... |
Derek
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| Jean-François Stévenin | ... |
Michel
(as Jean François Stevenin)
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| JoBeth Williams | ... |
Jessie
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| Robert Urquhart | ... |
Capt. Lockhart
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| Winston Ntshona | ... |
Dr. Okoye
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| Pedro Armendáriz Jr. | ... |
The Captain
(as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
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Harlan Cary Poe | ... |
Richard
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| Ed O'Neill | ... |
Terry
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Isabel Grandin | ... |
Evelyn
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Ernest Graves | ... |
Warner
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Kelvin Thomas | ... |
The Black Boy
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| Shane Rimmer | ... |
Dr. Oaks
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Joseph Konrad | ... |
Priest
(as Father Joseph Konrad)
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| Bruce McLane | ... |
Shop Manager
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| George Harris | ... |
Col. Bobi
(as George W. Harris)
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| David Schofield | ... |
Endean's Man
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| Terence Rigby | ... |
Hackett
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| Tony Mathews | ... |
Bank Vice President
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| John Quentin | ... |
Party Guest
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| Jean-Pierre Kalfon | ... |
Benny Lambert
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| Christopher Malcolm | ... |
Baker
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Jack Lenoir | ... |
Boucher
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| André Penvern | ... |
Policeman
(as Andre Penvern)
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Lawrence Davidson | ... |
Policeman
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| Martin LaSalle | ... |
Customs Officer
(as Martin La Salle)
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Maggie Scott | ... |
Gabrielle
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| Hugh Quarshie | ... |
Zangaron Officer
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Olu Jacobs | ... |
Customs Officer
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| Gyearbuor Asante | ... |
Geoffrey
(as Christopher Asante)
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| Thomas Baptiste | ... |
Dexter
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| Eddie Tagoe | ... |
Jinja
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| Kenny Ireland | ... |
Film Crew
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| Jim Broadbent | ... |
Film Crew
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André Toffel | ... |
Priest
(as Andre Toffel)
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| Diana Bracho | ... |
Nun
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Ilario Bisi-Pedro | ... |
Kimba
(as Ilarrio Bisi Pedro)
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Joanne Flanagan | ... |
Godmother
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Robert Berger | ... |
Poker Player
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William Cain | ... |
Poker Player
(as William B. Cain)
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Russell T. Carr | ... |
Poker Player
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José Rabelo | ... |
Hotel Clerk
(as Jose Rabelo)
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| Victoria Tennant | ... |
Dinner Party Guest
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| Erica Creer | ... |
Dinner Party Guest
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Sheila Ruskin | ... |
Dinner Party Guest
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Alan Beckwith | ... |
Mercenary (uncredited)
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Mason Cardiff | ... |
Boy in Station (uncredited)
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| Dermot Crowley | ... |
Chauffeur (uncredited)
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David Mandel | ... |
Longshoreman (uncredited)
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Angel Ramirez Jr. | ... |
Beggar (uncredited)
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Directed by
| John Irvin | ||
Written by
| Gary DeVore | ... | (screenplay) and |
| George Malko | ... | (screenplay) |
| Frederick Forsyth | ... | (novel) |
Produced by
| Larry DeWaay | ... | producer |
| Norman Jewison | ... | executive producer |
| Patrick J. Palmer | ... | executive producer (as Patrick Palmer) |
Music by
| Geoffrey Burgon | ||
Cinematography by
| Jack Cardiff | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Antony Gibbs | ||
Editorial Department
| Terry Busby | ... | assistant editor |
| Peter Honess | ... | assistant editor |
Production Design by
| Peter Mullins | ||
Art Direction by
| Bert Davey | ||
| John Siddall | ||
Costume Design by
| Emma Porteous | ||
Makeup Department
| Ramon Gow | ... | hairdresser |
| Richard Mills | ... | makeup artist |
| Neville Smallwood | ... | makeup artist |
Production Management
| Lois Kramer Hartwick | ... | unit production manager: New York (as Lois Hartwick) |
| Ted Lloyd | ... | production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Gerry Gavigan | ... | second assistant director |
| Lewis Gould | ... | second assistant director: New York |
| Terry Madden | ... | second assistant director |
| Michelle Marx | ... | first assistant director: Miami |
| John Robertson | ... | second assistant director: Miami |
| Candace Suerstedt | ... | first assistant director: New York (as Candace Suerstedt-Rehmet) |
| Anthony Waye | ... | first assistant director |
Art Department
| Roy Carnon | ... | illustrator |
| Fred Carter | ... | set dresser |
| Harry Cordwell | ... | set dresser |
| Tony Graysmark | ... | construction manager |
| Dave Jordan | ... | property master |
| Laurie Kerr | ... | carpenter |
| John Roberts | ... | lead scenic artist |
| Bill Gold | ... | poster designer (uncredited) |
| Tom Jung | ... | poster designer (uncredited) |
| Michael Law | ... | carpenter (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Don Banks | ... | sound camera |
| Graham V. Hartstone | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Nicolas Le Messurier | ... | dubbing mixer |
| Archie Ludski | ... | dubbing editor |
| Gordon K. McCallum | ... | chief dubbing mixer |
| Ivan Sharrock | ... | sound mixer |
| Lionel Strutt | ... | adr mixer |
| Ken Weston | ... | boom operator |
| Les Wiggins | ... | dubbing editor |
Special Effects by
| Lawrence J. Cavanaugh | ... | special effects (as Larry Cavanaugh) |
| Michael Collins | ... | special effects (as Mike Collins) |
| Rudy Liszczak | ... | special effects (as Rudi Liszczak) |
| Joe Lombardi | ... | special effects coordinator |
| Steve Lombardi | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Jay Amor | ... | utility stunts |
| John Ashby | ... | stunts |
| Alex Brown | ... | stunts |
| Lincoln McSweeney | ... | stunts |
| Marc Mercury | ... | stunt player |
| Roy Scammell | ... | stunts |
| Eddie Smith | ... | stunts |
| Eddie Stacey | ... | stunt coordinator: Europe |
| Marvin Walters | ... | stunt coordinator: Africa |
| Ray Woodfork | ... | stunts |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Richard Blanshard | ... | still photographer |
| John Cardiff | ... | additional photographer |
| Irving Deutch | ... | director of photography: New York |
| John Elton | ... | director of photography: Miami |
| Frank Heeney | ... | gaffer |
| David James | ... | still photographer |
| Colin Manning | ... | camera grip |
| Peter Norman | ... | camera operator: New York (as Peter D. Norman) |
| Bill Pochetty | ... | best boy |
| Danny Shelmerdine | ... | second assistant camera |
| Robin Vidgeon | ... | first assistant camera |
| Chic Waterson | ... | camera operator |
| Ron Zarilla | ... | first assistant camera: New York |
Casting Department
| Jane Feinberg | ... | casting: USA |
| Mike Fenton | ... | casting: USA |
| Susie Figgis | ... | casting: Europe |
| Julia Pascal | ... | location casting |
| Dee Miller | ... | extras casting: local (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Keith Denny | ... | wardrobe master |
Location Management
| Peter Bennett | ... | location manager (as Peter D. Bennett) |
| John Downes | ... | location manager |
| Terry Needham | ... | location manager |
Script and Continuity Department
| Yvonne Axworthy | ... | script supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Barbara Allen | ... | production coordinator |
| Pamela Allen | ... | assistant to producer |
| Charles Cannon | ... | production accountant |
| Cassian Elwes | ... | production assistant |
| Gregory Palmer | ... | production assistant |
| Mike Russell | ... | unit publicist |
| Alan Beckwith | ... | stand-in: Christopher Walken (uncredited) |
| Jeremy Coote | ... | production runner (uncredited) |
| Paul Tucker | ... | assistant production accountant (uncredited) |
Production Companies
Distributors
- Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
- Kommunenes Filmcentral (KF) (1981) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Rank Filmes de Portugal (1981) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1980) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1980) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (Austria) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (France) (theatrical)
- United Artists (1981) (United States) (theatrical)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2014) (United States) (DVD) (through TGG Direct)
- Audio Visual Enterprises (1988) (Greece) (VHS)
- CBS/Fox (1984) (United States) (VHS)
- Eureka! (2019) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray)
- Image Entertainment (1997) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2001) (United States) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Australia) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (France) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Germany) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (Italy) (DVD)
- MGM Home Entertainment (2002) (United Kingdom) (DVD)
- MGM/UA Distribution Company (1989) (United States) (video) (LaserDisc)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1988) (United States) (VHS)
- MGM/UA Home Entertainment (United States) (VHS) (widescreen)
- Magnetic Video (United States) (video) (Betamax)
- NSM Records (2020) (Germany) (Blu-ray)
- Nu Metro Home Entertainment (2002) (South Africa) (DVD)
- Scorpion Releasing (2020) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- TF1 (1995) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- TGG Direct (2011) (United States) (DVD)
- Twilight Time (2014) (United States) (Blu-ray)
- Twilight Time (2014) (United States) (DVD)
- Varus Video (Russia) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (Netherlands) (VHS)
- Warner Home Video (West Germany) (VHS)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Lee Lighting (grip and lighting equipment)
- MGM Home Entertainment (VHS package design)
- Mayflower Recording (adr recording)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Jamie Shannon is a soldier of fortune -- a mercenary who will stage a coup or a revolution for the right price. He is hired by British mining interests to scout out Zangaro, a small African nation with rich mineral deposits but a brutal and xenophobic dictatorship. Arrested soon after his arrival, Shannon is imprisoned as a spy, badly beaten, and tortured. While in prison he meets one of the country's leading intellectuals, Dr. Okoye, also imprisoned by the regime. Eventually released, he returns to London and is subsequently offered to opportunity to secretly invade Zangaro's capital and lead a military coup. Shannon accepts, but quietly has his own agenda to pursue. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Cry 'Havoc!' And Let Slip The Dogs Of War See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | While researching the novel in the early 1970s, author Frederick Forsyth pretended he was actually financing a coup d'etat in Equatorial Guinea. The pretense allowed Forsyth access to a number of underworld figures, including mercenaries and arms dealers. Forsyth has since commented that the arms dealers were the most frightening people he has ever met. See more » |
| Goofs | Derek wears his former SAS beret incorrectly. He wears it with the flash/peak in the center of his forehead and the sides sloped down to the right and left. Military personnel wear the beret with the flash/crest and corresponding peak over the left eye, and the beret sloping down to the right. The character portrayed is a mercenary and not "military personnel," thus not subject to any military regulations. Also see Ian Yule's character in The Wild Geese (1978), another mercenary wearing an SAS beret "incorrectly" (and Yule is an actual SAS veteran). See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Stealth Fighter (1999). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries See more » |
| Quotes |
Michel:
[raising his glass in a toast]
Vive la mort ! Vive la guerre ! Vive le sacré mercenaire ! See more » |