R.I.P ROGER MOORE

The passing of British actor Roger Moore (May 23, 2017) creates a vacuum few Thespians can replicate. Although knighted, the mere mention of the actor’s first name was enough to evoke recollections of the seven x 007 James Bond movies the London born artiste made.

One movie was enough to elevate Roger Moore to international acclaim. Released in 1978, The Wild Geese is a reminder of the cynical and ruthless methods of rich and powerful men who kill without blinking a reptilian eyelid.

The movie was inspired by South African author Daniel Carney’s unpublished novel The Thin White Line. The film’s title, its flag and shoulder patch, was inspired by Ireland’s 17th century legendary army in exile.

Rhodesia and Swaziland provide the backdrop to the parachute drop carried out by the 49 hired soldiers of fortune. The mostly British mercenaries had been contracted by banker Matheson to install a popular African president.

If successful, the popular African leader, Julius Limbani, captured and awaiting execution will be freed by the mercenaries. It is a tough assignment; the deposed president is held in a remote garrison and guarded by several hundred Cuban and Simba tribesmen, notorious for their animalistic brutality.

The dogs of war irregulars are led by Colonel Alan Faulkner played by Welsh-born Richard Burton, whose role was well chosen.

The success of the Wild Geese movie is likely due to its stark realism. Those watching the movie felt it was not so much a film as a documentary. The movie’s director, Andrew McLaglen, will certainly have learned much from the epic documentary, Africa Adios. The part played by Colonel Alan Falkner (Richard Burton) is modelled on the Irish-born mercenary, Colonel Mike Hoare.

Roger Moore assumed the role of ex-pilot Shawn Fynn. This part is pivotal and the actor’s good humour under fire is legendary. The movie recounts the breath-taking exploits of the mercenary band of brothers during the white knuckle ride rescue attempt.

Another of the movie’s main actors is Hardy Kruger, who as a youth had served in the Wehrmacht. Because of his Teutonic good looks the German actor born in Wedding was usually cast as a German Army officer. Irish actor and former drifter Richard Harris (Rafer Janders) was the only one of the main actors who did not have a military experience.

After successfully rescuing deposed President Limbani the triumphant mercenaries wait on a remote airstrip for the arrival of a transport aircraft. However, in the meantime, the banker Matheson has cut a deal for mineral assets with the incumbent president.

The rescuing aircraft is diverted and the mostly White desperadoes are abandoned deep in the African bush. Their chances of survival are slim; the movie chronicles their desperate plight and escape.

The movie combined with his own background inspired the writing and publishing of four Africa-related books by historian, Michael Walsh. The well-travelled historian is a once habitué of North, East, South and West Africa. His titles include Africa’s Killing Fields, Rhodesia’s Death Europe’s Funeral, The Last Gladiators and A Leopard in Liverpool.

AFRICA’S KILLING FIELDS, Michael Walsh