348:
weapons to attack the military garrison where Kimba lives. Drew bursts into a shack in the barracks' courtyard and finds only a young woman with a baby; when he turns to leave without harming them, she shoots him in the back with a pistol. After the mercenaries storm the burning, bullet-scarred ruins of the garrison, Shannon blasts his way into Kimba's mansion. There he finds the dictator stuffing packs of
359:
with
Colonel Bobi and they enter the presidential residence, where they find Shannon and Dr. Okoye awaiting their overdue arrival. Shannon introduces Dr. Okoye as Zangaro's new president, and when Endean protests ("This whole country's bought and paid for!"), Shannon tells him, "You're going to have
343:
agent. Shannon asks Drew to scare North away without hurting him but North is killed by a hitman hired by Endean to follow
Shannon and his crew. Drew captures the assassin, and when a furious Shannon learns that Endean had sent the hitman but that the hitman had killed North on his own initiative he
311:
Shannon goes on a reconnaissance mission to
Zangaro's capital of Clarence and meets a British documentary film maker named North, who fills him in on the political situation in Zangaro. Shannon's activities arouse the suspicions of the police (especially a suspected dalliance with a woman who turns
636:
was released to DVD by MGM Home Video on 20 November 2001 as a Region 1 widescreen DVD and later on by
Twilight Time (under license from MGM) as a multi-region widescreen Blu-ray DVD. It is also available to buy on VUDU's (Fandango) streaming platform. As of November 2022 the film is available for
347:
To transport the group and equipment to the coast of
Zangaro, Shannon hires a small freighter and crew. At sea, the team is joined by a force of Zangaran exiles trained as soldiers by a former mercenary colleague. Once ashore in a night attack, the mercenaries and their troops use their array of
327:
resources, an agreement guaranteed by
Colonel Bobi. Shannon refuses the offer and instead proposes to his estranged girlfriend Jessie that they start a new life in the western U.S. When she refuses his proposal, he accepts Endean's contract on condition that he will have control of the military
38:
312:
out to be one of Kimba's mistresses) and he is arrested, severely beaten and imprisoned. His wounds are treated by Dr. Okoye, a physician and prisoner who was formerly a moderate political leader. North agitates for
Shannon's release and two days later he is deported.
546:
shown during the attack is one of the largest of its kind in the world. The film features several weapons that were prominent in popular culture during the 1980s. The Uzi submachine guns used in the film (changed from the German Second World War vintage
307:
Jamie
Shannon gets an offer from Endean, a British businessman working for a tycoon. Endean's company is interested in "certain resources" in the small African nation of Zangaro, which is run by the brutal dictator, President Kimba.
364:, in line with the toast they drank on planning the operation "Everyone comes home". The film concludes with the mercenaries driving through the deserted streets of Clarence until they are out of frame.
331:
Provided with a million dollars for expenses, Shannon contacts some of his associates from
Central America and they meet in London to plan the invasion. The group illegally procures a supply of
513:
became attached as producer-director and Gary Devore rewrote the script. Jewison decided to produce instead and looked for another director. Jewison hired
Michael Cimino to direct with
1183:
715:
1413:
1498:
1453:
1070:
530:
Principal photography began on February 18, 1980. The opening Central American scene was filmed at the Miami Glider Port southwest of
319:, Endean offers him $ 100,000 to overthrow Kimba by invading Zangaro with a mercenary army. Endean's employer intends to install a
1458:
1503:
1408:
1483:
1448:
1423:
851:
1443:
1215:
829:
339:, mines and other weapons from arms dealers. North encounters Shannon by chance in London and suspects him of being a
323:
led by Colonel Bobi, Kimba's greedy former ally, allowing Endean's employer to exploit the country's newly discovered
1346:
1478:
542:, and the surrounding area, since Irwin decided shooting the scenes in Africa in real-life would be too risky. The
1063:
352:
into a briefcase; when a whimpering Kimba offers Shannon some of the money to spare his life, Shannon kills him.
360:
to buy it all over again," and silences him by shooting Bobi. Shannon, Derek and Michel load Drew's body onto a
1438:
1027:
923:
344:
kills the assassin in turn and leaves the body at Endean's house during a dinner party held for Colonel Bobi.
1488:
1473:
1433:
1428:
1493:
1468:
1463:
1418:
1274:
20:
1398:
404:
1403:
1393:
1306:
1298:
1135:
1056:
1003:
979:
555:. Shannon's grenade launcher, depicted in the promotional poster, dubbed the "XM-18" in the film, is a
267:
unit of soldiers is privately hired to depose the president of a fictional African country modeled on
1207:
822:
1255:
1223:
1119:
963:
955:
907:
867:
523:
458:
419:
240:
77:
431:
356:
1314:
1282:
1167:
1019:
303:
Having escaped from Central America with his comrades Drew, Derek, Michel, Terry and Richard,
1103:
915:
875:
740:
Buckley, Tom. (14 March 1980). "At the Movies: Forsyth plays percentages on 'Dogs of War.'".
543:
452:
1175:
1011:
939:
891:
587:
398:
292:
8:
1388:
1365:
1338:
1159:
947:
815:
288:
987:
971:
599:
374:
256:
107:
1239:
1080:
791:
681:
320:
276:
244:
83:
505:
was going to direct but did not like the screenplay and Abbey Mann wrote a new one.
316:
1095:
1035:
995:
796:
563:
755:
1191:
1111:
931:
802:
760:
646:
614:
609:
425:
410:
145:
283:(as they were in the late 1970s), so that a British tycoon can gain access to a
1330:
899:
807:
593:
514:
510:
506:
498:
272:
155:
95:
1382:
1247:
1048:
618:
567:
485:
476:
464:
440:
386:
268:
115:
1199:
1151:
1143:
1127:
883:
604:
556:
446:
392:
380:
260:
135:
125:
111:
1322:
582:
535:
64:
785:
1231:
839:
578:
518:
502:
470:
361:
252:
54:
607:
had previously directed an account of mercenaries in Africa entitled
304:
264:
349:
324:
284:
236:
43:
37:
336:
571:
552:
539:
280:
248:
670:. Vol. 49, no. 3 (Summer 1980). London. p. 144.
551:
of the novel) were a mix of real Uzis and set-dressed Ingram
548:
531:
521:
starring, but he dropped out of the film in order to work on
585:. He went on to direct stars such as Arnold Schwarzenegger (
577:
This was only the second international feature for director
560:
340:
332:
19:
This article is about the 1980 film. For other uses, see
315:
When Shannon tells Endean that there is no chance of a
581:, who had worked as a documentary maker during the
649:, the film holds a rating of 70% from 20 reviews.
295:: "Cry, 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war."
1380:
837:
1078:
534:. Later African country scenes were filmed in
1064:
823:
739:
287:deposit. The title is based on a phrase from
1071:
1057:
830:
816:
666:Perry, Simon. "FINANCE FOR LOCAL TALENT".
36:
1414:Films based on works by Frederick Forsyth
355:The following morning, Endean arrives by
1499:Films with screenplays by Michael Cimino
665:
748:
1381:
1454:Films with screenplays by Gary DeVore
1052:
811:
710:
708:
706:
704:
501:bought rights to the novel in 1974.
13:
14:
1515:
779:
701:
623:Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries
527:and John Irvin became director.
544:manually-turned swinging bridge
733:
698:New York Magazine Feb 23, 1981
692:
674:
659:
566:. Shooting also took place in
1:
1504:English-language action films
1409:Films based on British novels
652:
559:– a design later used by the
493:
335:submachine guns, ammunition,
42:Theatrical release poster by
1484:1980s English-language films
1449:1980 directorial debut films
1424:Films directed by John Irvin
640:
21:Dogs of War (disambiguation)
7:
1444:Films shot in New York City
10:
1520:
1307:Death Has a Bad Reputation
1004:The Boys from County Clare
628:
625:sung over the end titles.
482:Alan Beckwith as Mercenary
437:Harlan Cary Poe as Richard
239:based upon the 1974 novel
170:17 December 1980
18:
1357:
1266:
1087:
852:Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
846:
637:free viewing on Freevee.
416:Maggie Scott as Gabrielle
220:
212:
204:
194:
184:
161:
151:
141:
131:
121:
103:
89:
72:
60:
50:
35:
30:
1459:Films about coups d'Ă©tat
1208:The Phantom of Manhattan
756:"The Dogs of War (1980)"
682:"The Dogs of War (1981)"
617:concludes the film with
509:wrote another draft and
1479:Films about mercenaries
1136:The Devil's Alternative
367:
298:
16:1980 film by John Irvin
1020:The Moon and the Stars
473:as Immigration officer
405:Jean-François Stévenin
1439:Films shot in Florida
1347:The Day of the Jackal
1275:The Day of the Jackal
1104:The Day of the Jackal
597:) and Michael Caine (
251:, it was directed by
1489:1980s American films
1474:Films shot in London
1434:Films shot in Belize
1429:United Artists films
1184:Great Flying Stories
1012:The Fine Art of Love
432:Pedro Armendáriz Jr.
247:. Largely filmed in
1494:1980s British films
1469:Films shot in Miami
1464:Films set in Africa
1419:War adventure films
1366:Cry of the Innocent
1299:The Fourth Protocol
1160:The Fourth Protocol
948:A Month by the Lake
603:). Cinematographer
479:as Zangoran Officer
289:William Shakespeare
1399:American war films
1028:The Garden of Eden
972:When Trumpets Fade
838:Films directed by
375:Christopher Walken
257:Christopher Walken
235:is a 1980 British
108:Christopher Walken
1404:British war films
1394:1980 action films
1376:
1375:
1081:Frederick Forsyth
1046:
1045:
716:"The Dogs of War"
422:as Capt. Lockhart
321:puppet government
277:Equatorial Guinea
245:Frederick Forsyth
228:
227:
99:Patrick J. Palmer
84:Frederick Forsyth
1511:
1096:The Biafra Story
1073:
1066:
1059:
1050:
1049:
996:The Fourth Angel
964:City of Industry
832:
825:
818:
809:
808:
773:
772:
770:
768:
752:
746:
745:
737:
731:
730:
728:
726:
712:
699:
696:
690:
689:
678:
672:
671:
663:
591:), Don Cheadle (
564:grenade launcher
407:as Michel-Claude
383:as Drew Blakeley
377:as Jamie Shannon
337:rocket launchers
263:. In it a small
241:of the same name
177:
175:
40:
28:
27:
1519:
1518:
1514:
1513:
1512:
1510:
1509:
1508:
1379:
1378:
1377:
1372:
1353:
1291:The Dogs of War
1283:The Odessa File
1262:
1192:The Fist of God
1120:The Dogs of War
1112:The Odessa File
1083:
1077:
1047:
1042:
860:The Dogs of War
842:
836:
803:Rotten Tomatoes
798:The Dogs of War
787:The Dogs of War
782:
777:
776:
766:
764:
761:Rotten Tomatoes
754:
753:
749:
738:
734:
724:
722:
720:catalog.afi.com
714:
713:
702:
697:
693:
686:Box Office Mojo
680:
679:
675:
668:Sight and Sound
664:
660:
655:
647:Rotten Tomatoes
643:
634:The Dogs of War
631:
615:Geoffrey Burgon
610:Dark of the Sun
496:
491:
461:as Endean's Man
459:David Schofield
455:as Colonel Bobi
426:Winston Ntshona
420:Robert Urquhart
411:JoBeth Williams
401:as Derek Godwin
370:
301:
232:The Dogs of War
199:
187:
180:
173:
171:
164:
146:Geoffrey Burgon
114:
110:
98:
94:
81:
78:The Dogs of War
67:
46:
31:The Dogs of War
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1517:
1507:
1506:
1501:
1496:
1491:
1486:
1481:
1476:
1471:
1466:
1461:
1456:
1451:
1446:
1441:
1436:
1431:
1426:
1421:
1416:
1411:
1406:
1401:
1396:
1391:
1374:
1373:
1371:
1370:
1361:
1359:
1355:
1354:
1352:
1351:
1343:
1335:
1327:
1319:
1311:
1303:
1295:
1287:
1279:
1270:
1268:
1264:
1263:
1261:
1260:
1252:
1244:
1236:
1228:
1220:
1212:
1204:
1196:
1188:
1180:
1172:
1168:The Negotiator
1164:
1156:
1148:
1140:
1132:
1124:
1116:
1108:
1100:
1091:
1089:
1085:
1084:
1076:
1075:
1068:
1061:
1053:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1040:
1032:
1024:
1016:
1008:
1000:
992:
984:
976:
968:
960:
952:
944:
936:
928:
920:
916:Eminent Domain
912:
904:
900:Hamburger Hill
896:
888:
880:
872:
864:
856:
847:
844:
843:
835:
834:
827:
820:
812:
806:
805:
794:
781:
780:External links
778:
775:
774:
747:
742:New York Times
732:
700:
691:
673:
657:
656:
654:
651:
642:
639:
630:
627:
594:Hamburger Hill
532:Miami, Florida
515:Clint Eastwood
511:Norman Jewison
507:Michael Cimino
499:United Artists
495:
492:
490:
489:
483:
480:
474:
468:
462:
456:
450:
444:
438:
435:
434:as The Captain
429:
423:
417:
414:
408:
402:
396:
390:
384:
378:
371:
369:
366:
300:
297:
273:Guinea-Conakry
226:
225:
222:
218:
217:
214:
210:
209:
206:
202:
201:
200:United Kingdom
198:United States
196:
192:
191:
188:
185:
182:
181:
179:
178:
167:
165:
162:
159:
158:
156:United Artists
153:
152:Distributed by
149:
148:
143:
139:
138:
133:
129:
128:
123:
122:Cinematography
119:
118:
105:
101:
100:
96:Norman Jewison
91:
87:
86:
74:
70:
69:
62:
58:
57:
52:
48:
47:
41:
33:
32:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1516:
1505:
1502:
1500:
1497:
1495:
1492:
1490:
1487:
1485:
1482:
1480:
1477:
1475:
1472:
1470:
1467:
1465:
1462:
1460:
1457:
1455:
1452:
1450:
1447:
1445:
1442:
1440:
1437:
1435:
1432:
1430:
1427:
1425:
1422:
1420:
1417:
1415:
1412:
1410:
1407:
1405:
1402:
1400:
1397:
1395:
1392:
1390:
1387:
1386:
1384:
1368:
1367:
1363:
1362:
1360:
1356:
1349:
1348:
1344:
1341:
1340:
1336:
1333:
1332:
1328:
1325:
1324:
1320:
1317:
1316:
1312:
1309:
1308:
1304:
1301:
1300:
1296:
1293:
1292:
1288:
1285:
1284:
1280:
1277:
1276:
1272:
1271:
1269:
1265:
1258:
1257:
1253:
1250:
1249:
1248:The Kill List
1245:
1242:
1241:
1237:
1234:
1233:
1229:
1226:
1225:
1221:
1218:
1217:
1213:
1210:
1209:
1205:
1202:
1201:
1197:
1194:
1193:
1189:
1186:
1185:
1181:
1178:
1177:
1173:
1170:
1169:
1165:
1162:
1161:
1157:
1154:
1153:
1149:
1146:
1145:
1141:
1138:
1137:
1133:
1130:
1129:
1125:
1122:
1121:
1117:
1114:
1113:
1109:
1106:
1105:
1101:
1098:
1097:
1093:
1092:
1090:
1086:
1082:
1074:
1069:
1067:
1062:
1060:
1055:
1054:
1051:
1038:
1037:
1036:Mandela's Gun
1033:
1030:
1029:
1025:
1022:
1021:
1017:
1014:
1013:
1009:
1006:
1005:
1001:
998:
997:
993:
990:
989:
985:
982:
981:
977:
974:
973:
969:
966:
965:
961:
958:
957:
953:
950:
949:
945:
942:
941:
937:
934:
933:
929:
926:
925:
921:
918:
917:
913:
910:
909:
905:
902:
901:
897:
894:
893:
889:
886:
885:
881:
878:
877:
873:
870:
869:
865:
862:
861:
857:
854:
853:
849:
848:
845:
841:
833:
828:
826:
821:
819:
814:
813:
810:
804:
800:
799:
795:
793:
789:
788:
784:
783:
763:
762:
757:
751:
744:. p. C6.
743:
736:
721:
717:
711:
709:
707:
705:
695:
687:
683:
677:
669:
662:
658:
650:
648:
638:
635:
626:
624:
620:
619:A. E. Housman
616:
612:
611:
606:
602:
601:
596:
595:
590:
589:
584:
580:
575:
573:
569:
568:New York City
565:
562:
558:
554:
550:
545:
541:
537:
533:
528:
526:
525:
524:Heaven's Gate
520:
516:
512:
508:
504:
500:
487:
486:Jim Broadbent
484:
481:
478:
477:Hugh Quarshie
475:
472:
469:
466:
465:Terence Rigby
463:
460:
457:
454:
453:George Harris
451:
448:
445:
442:
439:
436:
433:
430:
427:
424:
421:
418:
415:
412:
409:
406:
403:
400:
397:
394:
391:
389:as Alan North
388:
387:Colin Blakely
385:
382:
379:
376:
373:
372:
365:
363:
358:
353:
351:
345:
342:
338:
334:
329:
326:
322:
318:
313:
309:
306:
296:
294:
293:Julius Caesar
290:
286:
282:
278:
274:
270:
269:Guinea-Bissau
266:
262:
258:
254:
250:
246:
242:
238:
234:
233:
224:$ 5.4 million
223:
219:
215:
211:
207:
203:
197:
193:
189:
183:
169:
168:
166:
160:
157:
154:
150:
147:
144:
140:
137:
134:
130:
127:
124:
120:
117:
116:Colin Blakely
113:
109:
106:
102:
97:
93:Larry DeWaay
92:
88:
85:
80:
79:
75:
71:
66:
63:
61:Screenplay by
59:
56:
53:
49:
45:
39:
34:
29:
26:
22:
1364:
1358:Screen story
1345:
1339:The Shepherd
1337:
1329:
1321:
1313:
1305:
1297:
1290:
1289:
1281:
1273:
1254:
1246:
1238:
1230:
1222:
1214:
1206:
1198:
1190:
1182:
1176:The Deceiver
1174:
1166:
1158:
1152:No Comebacks
1150:
1142:
1134:
1128:The Shepherd
1126:
1118:
1110:
1102:
1094:
1034:
1026:
1018:
1010:
1002:
994:
986:
978:
970:
962:
954:
946:
938:
932:Widows' Peak
930:
922:
914:
906:
898:
890:
884:Turtle Diary
882:
874:
866:
859:
858:
850:
797:
786:
765:. Retrieved
759:
750:
741:
735:
723:. Retrieved
719:
694:
685:
676:
667:
661:
644:
633:
632:
622:
608:
605:Jack Cardiff
598:
592:
586:
576:
557:Manville gun
529:
522:
497:
488:as Film Crew
447:Shane Rimmer
399:Paul Freeman
393:Hugh Millais
381:Tom Berenger
354:
346:
330:
314:
310:
302:
261:Tom Berenger
255:and starred
231:
230:
229:
186:Running time
163:Release date
136:Antony Gibbs
126:Jack Cardiff
112:Tom Berenger
76:
68:George Malko
25:
1369:(1980) (TV)
1267:Adaptations
1216:The Veteran
956:Crazy Horse
908:Next of Kin
868:Ghost Story
613:. Composer
583:Vietnam War
549:Schmeissers
536:Belize City
449:as Dr. Oaks
428:as Dr Okoye
328:operation.
216:$ 8 million
190:118 minutes
90:Produced by
65:Gary DeVore
51:Directed by
1389:1980 films
1383:Categories
1315:The Jackal
1232:The Afghan
980:Noah's Ark
924:Robin Hood
840:John Irvin
725:7 December
653:References
579:John Irvin
519:Nick Nolte
503:Don Siegel
494:Production
471:Olu Jacobs
467:as Hackett
441:Ed O'Neill
362:Land Rover
357:helicopter
253:John Irvin
221:Box office
174:1980-12-17
55:John Irvin
1240:The Cobra
1079:Works by
876:Champions
641:Reception
413:as Jessie
395:as Endean
305:mercenary
265:mercenary
195:Countries
132:Edited by
940:Freefall
892:Raw Deal
767:19 March
588:Raw Deal
443:as Terry
325:platinum
291:'s play
285:platinum
237:war film
205:Language
142:Music by
104:Starring
73:Based on
44:Tom Jung
1331:Avenger
1256:The Fox
1224:Avenger
629:Release
553:MAC-10s
208:English
172: (
1350:(2024)
1342:(2023)
1334:(2006)
1326:(2005)
1318:(1997)
1310:(1990)
1302:(1987)
1294:(1980)
1286:(1974)
1278:(1973)
1259:(2018)
1251:(2013)
1243:(2010)
1235:(2006)
1227:(2003)
1219:(2001)
1211:(1998)
1203:(1996)
1195:(1994)
1187:(1991)
1179:(1991)
1171:(1989)
1163:(1984)
1155:(1982)
1147:(1982)
1139:(1979)
1131:(1975)
1123:(1974)
1115:(1972)
1107:(1971)
1099:(1969)
1039:(2016)
1031:(2008)
1023:(2007)
1015:(2005)
1007:(2003)
999:(2001)
991:(2000)
988:Shiner
983:(1999)
975:(1998)
967:(1997)
959:(1996)
951:(1995)
943:(1994)
935:(1994)
927:(1991)
919:(1990)
911:(1989)
903:(1987)
895:(1986)
887:(1985)
879:(1984)
871:(1981)
863:(1980)
855:(1979)
600:Shiner
572:London
540:Belize
281:Angola
249:Belize
213:Budget
1144:Emeka
1088:Books
350:bills
1323:Icon
1200:Icon
792:IMDb
769:2024
727:2021
570:and
561:MM-1
517:and
368:Cast
317:coup
299:Plot
279:and
259:and
801:at
790:at
645:On
621:'s
341:CIA
333:Uzi
243:by
82:by
1385::
758:.
718:.
703:^
684:.
574:.
538:,
275:,
271:,
1072:e
1065:t
1058:v
831:e
824:t
817:v
771:.
729:.
688:.
176:)
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
