The Dogs of War (1980)

6.3R104 minDirector: John Irvin

1980 film by John Irvin

The Dogs of War is a 1980 action-thriller war film directed by John Irvin and starring Christopher Walken, Tom Berenger and Colin Blakely. Based on the 1974 novel of the same name by Frederick Forsyth, it follows a small mercenary unit of soldiers privately hired to depose the president of a fictional African country modeled on Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Equatorial Guinea and Angola (as they were in the late 1970s), so that a British tycoon can gain access to a platinum deposit.

The title is based on a phrase from William Shakespeare's play Julius Caesar: "Cry, 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war."

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Dogs of War about?
The Dogs of War (1980) — Jamie Shannon is a soldier of fortune -- a mercenary who will stage a coup or a revolution for the right price. He is hired by British mining interests to scout out Zangaro, a small African nation with rich mineral deposits but a brutal and xenophobic dictatorship. Arrested soon
Is The Dogs of War based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Dogs of War scary?
Content rating: R. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.