Bringing wild ones to book

JOURNALIST and film historian Tony Earnshaw has written a book chronicling the production of a “rip-roaring action film” that he first watched as a teenager.

- By ANDREW ROBINSON [e-mail] @Andrew_examiner

The Huddersfield writer is the author of Fifty Men in the Valley of the Shadow - The Making of The Wild Geese.

It is a 316-page book that draws on interviews conducted over 25 years with producer Euan Lloyd, director Andrew V. McLaglen, stars Roger Moore, Hardy Kruger and Frank Finlay, as well as stuntmen Clive Curtis, George Leech and Jazzer Jeyes, among many more.

The movie classic starring Richard Burton, Roger Moore and Richard Harris is returning to cinemas in stunning 4K as The Wild Geese goes on re-release.

Tony Earnshaw, who wrote the book to mark the re-release, will be participating in introductions and QAs at the Penistone Paramount (November 28) and Cubby Broccoli Cinema, Bradford (December 5).

We spoke with Tony about the new book, and below is what he said.

Why write a study of The Wild Geese?

I’ve enjoyed it since I first watched it 44 years ago. I was 15 when I first saw it, so I was precisely the target audience that the producer, Euan Lloyd, intended to reach. The Wild Geese was never intended to be “high art”. It was conceived as entertainment: a Boy’s Own adventure. High octane.

Not many war movies have books written about them.

True. But this one is more than just an action flick. It’s about morals, rescue, redemption and reconciliation.

The mercenaries on this particular mission have a genuine cause: to save a good man from execution.

They're not mad-eyed killers.

They’re soldiers doing a job, albeit for a big pay cheque.

It features some big stars, at least as far as the 1970s were concerned, including James Bond himself, Roger Moore.