The Dogs of War

1981 "Cry 'Havoc!' and let slip..."
6.3| 1h58m| R| en| More Info
Released: 13 February 1981 Released
Producted By: Juniper Films
Country: United Kingdom
Budget: 0
Revenue: 0
Official Website:
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Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup.

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Director

John Irvin

Production Companies

Juniper Films

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The Dogs of War Audience Reviews

Cubussoli Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!
Pluskylang Great Film overall
Invaderbank The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.
SnoopyStyle It' 1980. Jamie Shannon (Christopher Walken) and his men including Drew Blakeley (Tom Berenger) and Terry (Ed O'Neill) are soldiers of fortune. They force their way onto a plane barely escaping a chaotic battle in central America. Their friend Richard is killed and his widow tells him not to see her family anymore. Shannon is contacted by Brit businessman Roy Endean who is interested in the west African nation of Zangaro. He goes to recon but the brutal dictator General Kimba captures him. After being torture, he is released. He tries to go straight with his ex Jessie (JoBeth Williams) but then Endean hires him to lead a mercenary army to overthrow Kimba.The movie opens with a terrific sequence. It lays out the manners of Shannon and his men. There is a great effective sequence. However the movie is a bit too long trying to do too much. The reconnaissance inside the country could have been handled better. Shannon is so condescending that he is simply a bad spy. As for the battle itself, director John Irvin may have seen real fighting but he's not cinematic enough yet. There are lots of shooting and explosions but they're not really that exciting. Overall, the movie is just too long and trying to do too much.
Varg Luther Frederick Forsyth's book 'The Dogs Of War' is one of his best, well-written books with unbelievably detailed descriptions of what it might take to carry out a coup d'état. Apart from a fantastic story, there's a level of detail and knowledge of arms, procedures of acquiring them that make the story seem very real and intriguing.I watched this movie recently, and for the first time. I had high expectations going in, as I'm a huge admirer of all literal works of Frederick Forsyth. It could have been a great movie, given the source material. I understand that book adaptations are not easy and a lot of detail is expected to be lost, plots have to be reduced to fit in the entire story in a space of 2 hours. I was also excited because it stars Christopher Walken in the lead and he's just brilliant.The movie made deviations from the book and in the beginning, they were OK. The setting was different, the characters' back stories were different but then the movie started chopping down everything, skipping on incredibly important elements of the story - the entire thread of the discovery of precious metal reserves worth over $10 billion, leading to corporate interests in overthrowing President Kimba of fictitious country Zangaro in West Africa, was reduced to a 10 second telephonic conversation.The sub-plot with the ex-wife was an unnecessary deviation as well and it was probably done to give a more 'human' face to mercenary Jamie Shannon. A big part of the book was spent in describing how the team of mercenaries prepare for an assault on Clarence, the capital of Zangaro to overthrow Kimba. That part in the film felt really rushed through, with everything covered in about 10 minutes. That aspect of the book was one of the entertaining bits and makes for the perfect buildup to the climax. In the movie, it could have done wonders if done well.Then came the final assault itself, bereft of any suspense and so ridiculous that it could have been out of any Chuck Norris action movie. Here's where the film especially failed the source material. Hardly any buildup or thrill and then, when the dust settles down, it all ends too quickly. In summary, the movie had all the ingredients to be a classic but just messed up the recipe. Walken is fantastic, but the other characters barely leave an impression. If you've not read the book, its still good enough for a Saturday afternoon watch. But, the fans of the book will know a great opportunity has been missed.
AaronCapenBanner Christopher Walken plays ruthless mercenary Jamie Shannon, who is hired by a British mining company to lead a revolution in an African nation to overthrow the dictator, so that they can install their own leader, who is friendly to their interests. Things go wrong and Shannon is captured and beaten, though manages to escape, and vows to return, seeking vengeance, though again this doesn't go as planned either...Based on a novel By Frederick Forsyth, this adaptation falls short of his other two films("The Day Of The Jackal" & "The Odessa File"). Characters are unsympathetic, and action scenes are pretty routine, though the acting is fine, film is just mostly forgettable.
Jim Smith (jwas) If your better half forced you to see The Notebook, there are only a few movies that will cure you of the dreaded "chick-flick" movie exposure infliction.The Dogs of War is one of them. Take two viewings of this movie and call me in the morning (lol). Truly one of the best scripted and well filmed movies that any guy (or gal who is a fan of well done "modern flavoured" military films) would be proud to own.I first saw this movie back in the early 80s and as soon as it was available to own on video, I snatched it up and it is still in my collection.