The Wild Geese (1978) Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray + CD Review
Screen legends Richard Burton (WHERE EAGLES DARE), Roger Moore (LIVE AND LET DIE) and Richard Harris (A MAN CALLED HORSE) star as a team of aging mercenaries hired by a wealthy industrialist for one final mission: Recruit and train a squad of desperate commandos, parachute into an unstable African nation, snatch its deposed President from a maximum-security prison, escape via the military-controlled airport, and massacre anyone who gets in their way. Reaching the target will be murder, but getting out alive may be impossible.
Hardy Kruger (A BRIDGE TOO FAR) and Stewart Granger (KING SOLOMON’S MINES) co-star in this explosive action classic produced by Euan Lloyd (THE FINAL OPTION) and directed by Andrew V. McLaglen (THE DEVIL’S BRIGADE) from a screenplay by 2x Oscar® nominee Reginald Rose (12 ANGRY MEN) and featuring a soundtrack by Roy Budd (GET CARTER), now scanned in 4K from the original camera negative with 9+ hours of new and archival Special Features.
Opening in London with a Royal Premiere THE WILD GEESE went on to become one of the more successfully movie releases at the UK box office in 1978 however Stateside its profitability was scuppered by the lack of a bankable US star and the unfortunate collapse of its American distributor. The film was based on a then-unpublished novel called The Thin White Line, which had its title changed to tie in with the one chosen for the film.
THE WILD GEESE wants to be an epic action movie but fails due to a dull and shoddy second half which completely undermines its intention of being a boy’s own-style adventure movie. The initial setting up and enlisting of the recruits makes for engaging viewing however when it comes to unleashing the action in the film’s second act it falters, limping when it should be zipping along at a pace.
Severin Films’ release of The Wild Geese Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K UHD + Blu-ray + CD, The Wild Geese 4K UHD + Blu-ray, The Wild Geese Blu-ray and The Wild Geese DVD will arrive on 15 December 2025.
3-DISC LIMITED EDITION (UHD / BD / CD):
- EXCLUSIVE: FIFTY MEN IN THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW: A 316pp Full-Colour Hardbound Book on the Making of THE WILD GEESE by Tony Earnshaw
- EXCLUSIVE: CD Original Soundtrack of THE WILD GEESE by Roy Budd
- EXCLUSIVE: 6 x Original UK Lobby Card Reproductions
DISC 1 (UHD):
- NEW! Audio Commentary with Action Film Experts, Mike Leeder, and Arne Venema *
- NEW! Audio Commentary with Assembly Editor John Grover *
- Archival Audio Commentary with Producer Euan Lloyd, Star Roger Moore, Second Unit Director John Glen, and Filmmaker Jonathan Sothcott *
- Theatrical Trailer
DISC 2 (BD):
- NEW! Jesse, Take Point! – An Interview with Actor John Kani (Sgt. Jesse Blake)
- NEW! Wild Child – An Interview with Actor Paul Spurrier (Emile Janders)
- NEW! Wild Goose Chase – An Interview with 2nd Unit Director / Editor John Glen
- NEW! Flight of Fancy – An Interview with Sound Editor Colin Miller
- The Wild Geese Director – Interview with Director Andrew V. McLaglen
- The Mercenary – Interview with Military Advisor Mike Hoare
- The Last of the Gentleman Producers – Documentary on Producer Euan Lloyd Featuring Euan Lloyd, Roger Moore, Joan Armatrading, Ingrid Pitt & more
- The Flight of the Wild Geese – Vintage Featurette
- THE WILD GEESE Royal Charity Premiere Newsreel
DISC 3 (CD):
- THE WILD GEESE Original Soundtrack
- Also Included on Blu-ray