I have seen this film on TV since I was a kid in the 60s. When "The Wild Geese" (Richard Burton/Harris & Roger Moore) came out, I was taken by the similarities between the 2 films. Small platoon of paras jump behind enemy lines, achieve their objective, extraction goes backward and they have to walk out through hostile territory. I've always wondered if Andrew V. MacLauclin used ideas, liberally, from this film?
shareWhat about Tears of the Sun?
Exactly same thing happens: Small platoon of paras jump behind enemy lines, achieve their objective, extraction goes backward and they have to walk out through hostile territory.
It's just a basic storyline...
Raoul Walsh basically made the same film again in 1951 with "Distant Drums" starring Gary Cooper.
shareYes, and I am sure that Hollywood will continue to do remakes of this and that and anything else they can get by with and make a dime on. The films might have similar plots, but they are unique in their own way if for no other reason the Cast of each! Personally, I liked all three films mentioned in the remarks!
shareAnd it is a lot like "Northwest Passage" circa 1940 with Spencer Tracy.
shareDon't get me wrong, I don't care that this practice goes on. I'm simply struck by the very close similarity of both films. The other films have more distant similarity. I like both films and see it more as an homage rather than a form of disrespect. The Greeks did every story line and everything that followed was just a rehash of their work.
shareInteresting. I gathered up a few films to watch with my son last night that we hadn't watched yet. The choices last night included Objective Burma and Wild Geese. In order to assist him with his choice, we watched the trailers. It was at that time that I was also struck by the similarities. Mind you, one can't blame McLaughlin as the film was based on the novel by a former Africa merc (don't recall his name).
shareIMDB Trivia-
"Producer Jerry Wald also admitted that much of the screenplay was based on Northwest Passage (1940), a film about the adventures of a long-range ranger unit during the French & Indian War. "
Can you fly this plane?
Surely u cant be serious
I am serious,and dont call me Shirley
Just watched that a few months ago. Very Entertaining.
Can you fly this plane?
Surely u cant be serious
I am serious,and dont call me Shirley