The Wild Geese
A British multinational seeks to overthrow a vicious dictator in central Africa. It hires a band of (largely aged) mercenaries in London and sends them in to save the virtuous but imprisoned opposition leader.
The film struggled financially against its small-scale budget of $11.6M, earning $9.9M globally (-15% loss).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Wild Geese (1978) demonstrates deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Andrew V. McLaglen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 14 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Colonel Allen Faulkner
Rafer Janders
Shawn Fynn
Pieter Coetzee
Sir Edward Matherson
Julius Limbani
Sandy Young
Sergeant Jock McTaggart
Main Cast & Characters
Colonel Allen Faulkner
Played by Richard Burton
Seasoned British mercenary leader who commands the rescue mission with tactical precision and moral complexity.
Rafer Janders
Played by Richard Harris
Faulkner's loyal second-in-command, a skilled soldier balancing duty with family concerns.
Shawn Fynn
Played by Roger Moore
Flamboyant pilot and ladies' man who provides crucial air support and comic relief.
Pieter Coetzee
Played by Hardy Krüger
South African medic haunted by apartheid, seeking redemption through this mission.
Sir Edward Matherson
Played by Stewart Granger
Wealthy British businessman who bankrolls the mission for financial and political gain.
Julius Limbani
Played by Winston Ntshona
Deposed African leader imprisoned by dictator, the target of the rescue mission.
Sandy Young
Played by Ian Yule
Young idealistic soldier eager to prove himself on his first mercenary mission.
Sergeant Jock McTaggart
Played by Jack Watson
Tough Scottish sergeant who trains and leads troops with brutal efficiency.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Colonel Allen Faulkner is introduced as a weary mercenary living in London, haunted by past missions and estranged from meaningful connections, establishing his isolated existence as a soldier-for-hire.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Matherson offers Faulkner a substantial payment to lead an impossible rescue mission into Africa, disrupting his mundane existence and presenting the opportunity that will define his fate.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The mercenary team commits to the mission and begins intensive training in Swaziland, crossing the point of no return as they prepare for the dangerous infiltration of hostile territory., moving from reaction to action.
At 67 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The mercenaries successfully extract Limbani from captivity - a false victory as they believe the mission is nearly complete, unaware that Matherson has already begun negotiations to betray them., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 101 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Rafer Janders, Faulkner's closest friend, is mortally wounded. Rather than slow down the group and face capture and torture, Faulkner must mercy-kill his dying comrade - the devastating emotional nadir that represents the true cost of betrayal., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 107 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Faulkner devises a desperate plan to seize a cargo plane at a nearby airstrip, transforming from a mission of profit into a mission of survival and honor - the men will escape or die together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Wild Geese's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Wild Geese against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrew V. McLaglen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Wild Geese within the action genre.
Andrew V. McLaglen's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Andrew V. McLaglen films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Wild Geese takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andrew V. McLaglen filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Andrew V. McLaglen analyses, see Shenandoah, Chisum and McLintock!.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Colonel Allen Faulkner is introduced as a weary mercenary living in London, haunted by past missions and estranged from meaningful connections, establishing his isolated existence as a soldier-for-hire.
Theme
Sir Edward Matherson speaks of loyalty and the expendability of men in pursuit of larger goals, foreshadowing the theme that honor among mercenaries may be more genuine than the morality of those who employ them.
Worldbuilding
Faulkner meets with wealthy industrialist Sir Edward Matherson who proposes a lucrative but dangerous mission: rescue deposed African leader President Julius Limbani from captivity in a hostile nation controlled by the brutal General Ndofa.
Disruption
Matherson offers Faulkner a substantial payment to lead an impossible rescue mission into Africa, disrupting his mundane existence and presenting the opportunity that will define his fate.
Resistance
Faulkner assembles his team of veteran mercenaries including Rafer Janders and Shawn Fynn, each man weighing the risks against the rewards. The men debate the mission's feasibility while Faulkner plans the operation meticulously.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The mercenary team commits to the mission and begins intensive training in Swaziland, crossing the point of no return as they prepare for the dangerous infiltration of hostile territory.
Mirror World
Witty Pieter Coetzee, a South African medic with a troubled racial past, bonds with the men and demonstrates that brotherhood transcends backgrounds, embodying the film's theme of loyalty forged through shared danger.
Premise
The Wild Geese execute their daring nighttime parachute drop into Africa, assault the compound with military precision, and successfully rescue President Limbani in a thrilling display of professional soldiering at its finest.
Midpoint
The mercenaries successfully extract Limbani from captivity - a false victory as they believe the mission is nearly complete, unaware that Matherson has already begun negotiations to betray them.
Opposition
Matherson, having made a copper mining deal with Ndofa, orders the extraction plane to abort. The mercenaries discover they've been abandoned and must fight their way across hostile territory while being hunted by Ndofa's Simba soldiers.
Collapse
Rafer Janders, Faulkner's closest friend, is mortally wounded. Rather than slow down the group and face capture and torture, Faulkner must mercy-kill his dying comrade - the devastating emotional nadir that represents the true cost of betrayal.
Crisis
The surviving mercenaries process the loss of their brothers while desperately seeking any means of escape. Limbani, though dying, offers inspiration about fighting for what matters rather than merely for money.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Faulkner devises a desperate plan to seize a cargo plane at a nearby airstrip, transforming from a mission of profit into a mission of survival and honor - the men will escape or die together.
Synthesis
The Wild Geese launch a final desperate assault on the airstrip, fighting through Simba forces to capture the plane. They escape Africa by the skin of their teeth, then Faulkner returns to London to exact lethal vengeance on the treacherous Matherson.
Transformation
Faulkner walks away after killing Matherson, having avenged his fallen comrades. The mercenary who once fought only for money has proven that loyalty and honor among warriors transcends any contract - some betrayals demand justice.