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IMDbPro

Les chiens de guerre

Original title: The Dogs of War
  • 1980
  • 12
  • 1h 59m
IMDb RATING
6.3/10
10K
YOUR RATING
Christopher Walken in Les chiens de guerre (1980)
Trailer 1
Play trailer1:46
1 Video
29 Photos
Political DramaActionAdventureDramaWar

Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup.Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup.Mercenary James Shannon, on a reconnaissance job to the African nation of Zangaro, is tortured and deported. He returns to lead a coup.

  • Director
    • John Irvin
  • Writers
    • Gary DeVore
    • George Malko
    • Frederick Forsyth
  • Stars
    • Christopher Walken
    • Tom Berenger
    • Colin Blakely
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.3/10
    10K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John Irvin
    • Writers
      • Gary DeVore
      • George Malko
      • Frederick Forsyth
    • Stars
      • Christopher Walken
      • Tom Berenger
      • Colin Blakely
    • 79User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    The Dogs of War
    Trailer 1:46
    The Dogs of War

    Photos29

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    Top cast53

    Edit
    Christopher Walken
    Christopher Walken
    • Shannon
    Tom Berenger
    Tom Berenger
    • Drew
    Colin Blakely
    Colin Blakely
    • North
    Hugh Millais
    • Endean
    Paul Freeman
    Paul Freeman
    • Derek
    Jean-François Stévenin
    Jean-François Stévenin
    • Michel
    • (as Jean François Stevenin)
    JoBeth Williams
    JoBeth Williams
    • Jessie
    Robert Urquhart
    Robert Urquhart
    • Capt. Lockhart
    Winston Ntshona
    Winston Ntshona
    • Dr. Okoye
    Pedro Armendáriz Jr.
    Pedro Armendáriz Jr.
    • The Captain
    • (as Pedro Armendariz Jr.)
    Harlan Cary Poe
    • Richard
    Ed O'Neill
    Ed O'Neill
    • Terry
    Isabel Grandin
    • Evelyn
    Ernest Graves
    • Warner
    Kelvin Thomas
    • The Black Boy
    Shane Rimmer
    Shane Rimmer
    • Dr. Oaks
    Joseph Konrad
    • Priest
    • (as Father Joseph Konrad)
    Bruce McLane
    Bruce McLane
    • Shop Manager
    • Director
      • John Irvin
    • Writers
      • Gary DeVore
      • George Malko
      • Frederick Forsyth
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews79

    6.310.4K
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    Featured reviews

    7view_and_review

    One Man's Freedom Fighter is Another Man's Terrorist

    There's an old saying that goes: The b*stard you know is better than the b*stard you don't know.* "Dogs of War" dives into the muddy waters of forcibly changing rulers. How good of an idea is that anyway? What are you really getting?

    *I had to asterisk the word because imdb flagged it.

    The tumultuous and fictitious African country of Zangoro has a ruthless dictator named Kimba as her ruler. He acquired the seat of power through elections then immediately dispatched his opponents. He proceeded to suppress any and everyone who challenged or questioned his authority.

    Shannon (Christopher Walken) was tapped on the shoulder to lead a coup to uproot Kimba. That is Shannon's specialty, but he is not unscrupulous.

    This was a movie that had me teetering the whole time. They established that Kimba was a wicked despot, but he's the guy they elected. Furthermore, the options for a suitable ruler were limited. It's always a sensitive topic when you're talking about foreigners openly or furtively infiltrating a country to take out its ruler.

    But the dogs of war are just that--they're the dogs. They don't make the assignments they just execute them. Shannon and his men were the right dogs for the job.
    Brendan3

    Good detailed film, though faulted in its battle scenes

    The entire beginning and middle of the film are utterly engrossing. It was a nice change to see a film that showed the amount of planning and attention to detail and contingency plans that goes into preparing a military operation, even a quick raid like the one planned here. The final raid however is a disappointment though, especially because of the realistic and detailed nature of the film to that point. These are serious professional mercenaries in a gritty realistic film and in the final battle, logic and realism go out the window as these "professionals" walk slowly in the open firing from the hip like they were in a Rambo film. Had they fought like that in real life, they'd have all been killed in the first few seconds. I don't think the director understood the nature of combat and that's too bad because otherwise, this film is a gem.
    7Leofwine_draca

    Impactful mercenary war thriller

    An effective and efficient little film detailing the story of a military coup in an African country. This one's based on a novel by Frederick Forsyth, so it has more realism behind it than some I could mention, and as an added bonus the director is John Irvin, who later went on to make the equally authentic HAMBURGER HILL. This one stands out because it has an actual plot to it leading up to the big action scene at the end, and that alone makes it more original than 99% of the guys-on-a-mission type films that came out in the 1980s.

    Christopher Walken, twitchy and solemn, stands out in this early role as the hard-ass mercenary who's seen plenty of conflict over the years. Walken is a guy who seems to live and breathe his characters rather than the other way round, and he's one of the best things in this film. His trip to the made-up African nation of Zangora is fraught with peril and tension, and yet seems real throughout in the same way that a film like BLOOD DIAMOND had the ring of authenticity to it.

    The violence that follows is expected yet none the less shocking for it, and even the character building exposition scenes back in the West are handled in such a way that you never lose interest in the proceedings. Then things shift up a gear for the pyrotechnic meltdown at the climax, which is more familiar to fans of action and war movies, but the strong storyline proceeding this moment makes it all the more full of impact.
    9nonconformist

    Not for children

    That is, not for those with child like tastes. If you require non-stop action ... move along. The characters are set up nicely and Walken is just too cool, I think it's his best performance. Most of his fans don't know about this movie but it's a gem. There are a few scenes I would have left on the cutting floor but they can be overlooked. There's a scene with his doctor that is worth watching the whole movie over. But there's plenty more. There's good dialog, nice scenery, some action and some characters you actually care about. This is not an assault on your senses; you will have to pay attention to enjoy it. But it will be worth your time. If you are a fan of Christopher Walken, then it will be well worth your time.
    7Nazi_Fighter_David

    Quite interesting

    Shannon (Christopher Walken) is a mercenary war who accepted for the sum of 15,000 dollars to fly to a fictional country in West Africa on a survey mission to procure military information concerning the stability of a dictator's regime, his position strength, and if there is any chance for a coup?

    Posing as an American naturalist—especially in native birds—Shannon landed in Zangaro and gathered all the facts he needed but after suffering a brutal beating from the guards for taking pictures of one of the mistresses of the dictator's in front of his compound…

    When he's offered a large amount of money to gather a well-equipped mercenary force and go back to Zangaro and lead a military takeover, he reluctantly assents…

    The assault has authority, power and unexpected... consequences. So don't miss it!

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      While researching the novel in the early 1970s, author Frederick Forsyth pretended he was actually financing a coup d'etat in Equatorial Guinea. The pretense allowed Forsyth access to a number of underworld figures, including mercenaries and arms dealers. Forsyth has since commented that the arms dealers were the most frightening people he has ever met.
    • Goofs
      Although they are supposed to be receiving training in the use of the Uzi sub-machine gun, several of the mercenaries who run across the deck to fire at the floating target are armed with Ingram MAC-10's.
    • Quotes

      Michel: [raising his glass in a toast] Vive la mort ! Vive la guerre ! Vive le sacré mercenaire !

    • Alternate versions
      Although the cinema version was uncut the 1986 UK video was cut by 5 secs by the BBFC to remove shots of broken glass being forced into the mouth of Endean's man before being beaten up by Shannon. The 2001 MGM DVD restored the film to its original 119 minute UK length, which had additional character development, including an early scene of Shannon attending the baptism of a fellow mercenary's child, a bed scene between Shannon and Jessie, a scene of the raiding party being delayed by a closed drawbridge, Shannon pressuring Hackett to deliver the Valencia shipment, and extensive footage between Shannon and Lockhart where the latter persuades Spanish officials to allow the cargo on to the boat.
    • Connections
      Edited into Mercenaires (1999)
    • Soundtracks
      Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries
      Sung by Gillian McPherson

      Music by Geoffrey Burgon

      Poem by A.E. Housman

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    FAQ23

    • How long is The Dogs of War?Powered by Alexa
    • ¿Has there been a real life coup attempt that actually toppled a government?
    • What military units do the mercenaries belong to?
    • What weapons do the mercenaries use?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 28, 1981 (France)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • Los perros de la guerra
    • Filming locations
      • Belize City, Belize(Central America)
    • Production company
      • Juniper Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,484,132
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,484,132
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 59 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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