A Game for Vultures
Encyclopedia
A Game for Vultures is a 1979 British thriller film starring Richard Harris
, Joan Collins
and Richard Roundtree
. It was directed by James Fargo
and based on a novel by Michael Hartmann
.
, David Swansey (Harris) is an importer of goods to the embargoed country. He is hired by the Rhodesian government to arrange the purchase and transportation to Rhodesia of a number of Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters, for use against terrorists. Gideon Marunga (Rowntree) is one of those insurgents, fighting against the Rhodesian Army and a less-willing participant in massacres of unarmed civilians and missionaries.
Word of the deal reaches supporters of the insurgency, who apply political pressure to halt the sale. The helicopters reach the Republic of South Africa, but the international furore has brought the shipment to a halt. Swansey and a group of Rhodesians arrange (with the help of the secretly sympathetic South African government) to make a raid on the airbase where the disassembled helicopters are located, to "steal" them by air and deliver them to Rhodesia.
The insurgents, learning of the plans, attack the base, destroying some of the aircraft. Swansey and Marunga, both exhausted by the battle, come face-to-face. Marunga wearily demands to know "Who's winning?" Swansey, shakes his head. "Nobody. Nobody's winning." Marunga spares Swansey's life and runs away, only to hear an armed Rhodesian come to Swansey's aid, asking if he's seen any terrorists. Marunga stops and turns, meeting Swansey's eyes as he tells the soldier that there were no insurgents nearby. Marunga runs away into the night.
As word of the unsanctioned aircraft deal spreads, Swansey is no longer able to operate internationally. He returns to Rhodesia, and finds himself on an Army patrol. The film ends with him and Marunga facing each other over the sights of their rifles.
.
In addition, the plot was overtaken by events, as the fighting in Rhodesia had come to an end before the film reached wide distribution. It saw some success in video sales, on VHS
and in a DVD Region 2 release.
Richard Harris
Richard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
, Joan Collins
Joan Collins
Joan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
and Richard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree is an American actor and former fashion model. He is best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and in its two sequels, Shaft's Big Score and Shaft in Africa .-Personal life:Born in New Rochelle, New York, Richard Roundtree graduated from...
. It was directed by James Fargo
James Fargo
James Fargo is an American film director. He directed numerous films from 1976 to 1998. After serving as assistant director on many movies starring Clint Eastwood, he was then given the chance to direct the third Dirty Harry film, The Enforcer, in 1976. Later he also directed Eastwood in 1978's...
and based on a novel by Michael Hartmann
Michael Hartmann
Michael Hartmann may refer to:* Michael Hartmann , German footballer who played for the national team in 2003* Michael Hartmann , German sociologist widely known there for his research on elites and economic cultures* Michael Hartmann , German politician, member of the Bundestag* Michael...
.
Plot
Set in the late 1970s, the last years of the Rhodesian Bush WarRhodesian Bush War
The Rhodesian Bush War – also known as the Second Chimurenga or the Zimbabwe War of Liberation – was a civil war which took place between July 1964 and December 1979 in the unrecognised country of Rhodesia...
, David Swansey (Harris) is an importer of goods to the embargoed country. He is hired by the Rhodesian government to arrange the purchase and transportation to Rhodesia of a number of Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters, for use against terrorists. Gideon Marunga (Rowntree) is one of those insurgents, fighting against the Rhodesian Army and a less-willing participant in massacres of unarmed civilians and missionaries.
Word of the deal reaches supporters of the insurgency, who apply political pressure to halt the sale. The helicopters reach the Republic of South Africa, but the international furore has brought the shipment to a halt. Swansey and a group of Rhodesians arrange (with the help of the secretly sympathetic South African government) to make a raid on the airbase where the disassembled helicopters are located, to "steal" them by air and deliver them to Rhodesia.
The insurgents, learning of the plans, attack the base, destroying some of the aircraft. Swansey and Marunga, both exhausted by the battle, come face-to-face. Marunga wearily demands to know "Who's winning?" Swansey, shakes his head. "Nobody. Nobody's winning." Marunga spares Swansey's life and runs away, only to hear an armed Rhodesian come to Swansey's aid, asking if he's seen any terrorists. Marunga stops and turns, meeting Swansey's eyes as he tells the soldier that there were no insurgents nearby. Marunga runs away into the night.
As word of the unsanctioned aircraft deal spreads, Swansey is no longer able to operate internationally. He returns to Rhodesia, and finds himself on an Army patrol. The film ends with him and Marunga facing each other over the sights of their rifles.
Cast
- Richard HarrisRichard HarrisRichard St John Harris was an Irish actor, singer-songwriter, theatrical producer, film director and writer....
- David Swansey - Richard RoundtreeRichard RoundtreeRichard Roundtree is an American actor and former fashion model. He is best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft and in its two sequels, Shaft's Big Score and Shaft in Africa .-Personal life:Born in New Rochelle, New York, Richard Roundtree graduated from...
- Gideon Marunga - Denholm Elliot - Raglan Thistle
- Joan CollinsJoan CollinsJoan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
- Nicolle - Ray MillandRay MillandRay Milland was a Welsh actor and director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985, and he is best remembered for his Academy Award–winning portrayal of an alcoholic writer in The Lost Weekend , a sophisticated leading man opposite a corrupt John Wayne in Reap the Wild Wind , the murder-plotting...
- Colonel Brettle - Sven-Bertil TaubeSven-Bertil TaubeSven-Bertil G. E. Taube is a Swedish singer and actor. Born in Stockholm, he is the son of songwriter Evert Taube and sculptor Astri Bergman Taube.-Biography:...
- Larry Prescott - Ken GampuKen GampuKen Gampu was a South African actor.Before he began his career, Gampu was a physical training instructor, salesman, interpreter and police officer. His first acting job was in Athol Fugard's play, No Good Friday . His big break came in in the 1965 film Dingaka by Jamie Uys...
- Sixpence - Tony OsobaTony OsobaTony Osoba is a Scottish actor best known for his role as Jim 'Jock' McClaren in the popular 70s British sitcom Porridge, and appeared in its sequel Going Straight. Osoba was the first black Scottish actor to appear on primetime television when he appeared in the series.His other roles include...
- Daniel Batten - Neil Hallett - Tony Knight
- Mark Singleton] - Sir Benjamin Peckover
- Alibe ParsonsAlibe ParsonsAlibe Parsons is an actress who has worked extensively in both film and television.On television, she is best known for her regular role in the 1970s BBC drama Gangsters as Sarah Gant...
- Alice Kamore - Victor Melleney - Mallan
- Jana Cilliers - Ruth Swansey
- John Parsonson - Peter Swansey
- Elaine ProctorElaine ProctorElaine Proctor is a South African film director, screenwriter and actress. Her film Friends was entered into the 1993 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Caméra d'Or Special Distinction.-Filmography:* Sharpeville Spirit...
- Brigid
Soundtrack
The music was composed by Tony Duhig and Jon Field, who together comprised the British group Jade WarriorJade Warrior (band)
Jade Warrior are a British group that were formed in 1970, originally evolving out of a band named July. The founding members were Tony Duhig , Jon Field and Glyn Havard...
.
Reception
Though well-written and produced, the film was not a commercial or critical success. Critics condemned the apparent bias of the storyline, which ran counter to the internationally-accepted view of the primarily-white Rhodesian government as oppressive and the black insurgents as being the "good guys."In addition, the plot was overtaken by events, as the fighting in Rhodesia had come to an end before the film reached wide distribution. It saw some success in video sales, on VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
and in a DVD Region 2 release.