Game for Vultures (1979, Richard Harris, Richard Roundtree, Ray Milland, Joan Collins, Sven-Bertil Taube, Denholm Elliott) – Classic Movie Review 13,283

Game for Vultures (1979, Joan Collins).

The 1979 British thriller film Game for Vultures is based on Michael Hartmann’s novel, and stars Richard Harris, Richard Roundtree, Ray Milland, Joan Collins.

‘In every war there are those who kill… and those who make a killing!’

Director James Fargo’s 1979 British thriller film Game for Vultures is based on Michael Hartmann’s 1975 novel set during the Rhodesian Bush War, and stars Richard Harris, Richard Roundtree, Ray Milland, Joan Collins, Sven-Bertil Taube, and Denholm Elliott.

A relationship develops between nasty entrepreneur South African businessman David Swansey (Richard Harris) and nice voice-of-conscience patriot Gideon Marunga (Richard Roundtree) in Rhodesia, but only after displays of patronising attitudes and ugly violence, in this flabby, self-important war action drama thriller.

Harris plays the South African businessman David Swansey, who is delivering illegal German helicopters to Rhodesia. Roundtree plays the freedom fighter, who is trying to stop the sanctions-breaking sales of military equipment. Joan Collins is a bit lost as the love interest, while Ray Milland and Denholm Elliott try unsuccessfully to rise above Phillip Baird’s uninvolving script. The piece exploits rather than explains or elevates the Rhodesia situation.

Also in the cast are Neil Hallett, Ken Gampu, Tony Osoba, Elaine Proctor and Mark Singleton.

It was shot in October and November 1978, mostly in South Africa, near Pretoria and Johannesburg, and also London. The production not it best not to film in Rhodesia because of security concerns and possible violation of sanctions.

Release date: 13 September 1979.

James Fargo stated: ‘I’m not a political person. I never thought about Africa until I started to make the film. The audience will come away with the idea that neither side is right. It’s a movie in which there are no real bad guys or good guys. Nobody really wins in the end and everybody loses, like in the real Rhodesia.’

The score is by Tony Duhig and Jon Field, who comprised the British progressive rock band Jade Warrior formed in 1970.

The cast are Richard Harris as David Swansey, Richard Roundtree as Gideon Marunga, Denholm Elliott as Raglan Thistle, Joan Collins as Nicolle, Ray Milland as Colonel Brettle, Sven-Bertil Taube as Larry Prescott, Ken Gampu as Sixpence, Tony Osoba as Danny Batten, Neil Hallett as Tony Knight, Mark Singleton as Sir Benjamin Peckover, Alibe Parsons as Alice Kamore, Victor Melleney as Mallan, Jana Cilliers as Ruth Swansey, John Parsonson as Peter Swansey, Elaine Proctor as Brigid, Chris Chittell as McAllister, Graham Armitage as Harken, Ndaba Mhlongo as Chowa, Ian Steadman as Du Preez, Wilson Dunster as Uffa, and Peter van Dissel as Van Rensburg.

Game for Vultures is directed by James Fargo, runs 113 minutes, is released by Columbia Pictures and Ster-Kinekor Film Distribution Co (South Africa), is written by Philip Baird, based on the novel by Michael Hartmann, is shot by Alex Thomson is produced by Hazel Adair, and is scored by Tony Duhig and Jon Field.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 13,283

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com