Wild Geese
I must have been ten or eleven or so, I think. My father and I were invited to go see a movie with a friend of my father’s. A business associate/acquaintance I think. The movie was Wild Geese with Richard Harris, Roger Moore, Richard Burton and a flock of famous actors. All of whom meet with gristly ends. This being a 70s movie, the african president being rescued dies as well (if I remember correctly), underscoring the nihilism and cynicism. Having watched it since, it’s a pretty good war movie.
But anyway: the movie was pretty sick (throats being slit, limbs blown off, betrayals). Not something really appropriate for a 10 year old. It does stand out vividly - especially the end: the wounded commander running after the plane, unable to keep up, is left behind to die. Searing stuff.
Can’t have been good for me. I was a cynical, sarcastic bastard of a kid for years (decades?) afterwards.
1 comment June 3rd, 1980