Wild Geese II

Wild Geese II

Year: 1985

Runtime: 125 mins

Language: English

Director: Peter R. Hunt

ActionThriller

They’re back in the most spectacular rescue mission ever filmed! A group of mercenaries is hired to spring Rudolf Hess from Spandau Prison in Berlin.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Wild Geese II yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Wild Geese II (1985)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Wild Geese II (1985). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1980s

Set in the height of the Cold War, the narrative uses the division of Berlin and the surrounding Allied and Soviet influences as a backdrop. The action shifts through West Berlin, Bavaria, and Vienna, reflecting the era's volatility. The period's political maneuvers and media interest frame the mercenary operation as a high-stakes geopolitical drama.

Location

West Berlin, Spandau Prison, Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial, Bavaria, Vienna

The story unfolds across key locations in West Berlin during the late Cold War, with Spandau Prison as a central anchor for Hess. The plan carries the action from West Berlin into Bavaria and on to Vienna as the rescuers attempt to move Hess to safety. Real European locales ground the high-stakes mission in a tense, geopolitically charged setting.

🗺️ West Berlin 🕰️ Cold War 🏛️ Spandau Prison 🗺️ Vienna

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:08

Main Characters – Wild Geese II (1985)

Meet the key characters of Wild Geese II (1985), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alex Faulkner (Edward Fox)

A veteran mercenary and former British Army officer who trains the team and leads the mission to rescue Hess. He is a precise marksman, cool under pressure, and capable of hard decisions, which tests his ethics as the plan unravels. His loyalty to the group sustains them through escalating danger.

🎖️ Mercenary 🧭 Leadership 🎯 Marksman

Kathy Lukas (Barbara Carrera)

A network executive who recruits Haddad and coordinates the rescue, operating amid shifting loyalties and high-stakes negotiations. Her professional lens is tested by romance with Haddad and the manipulation by various interests aiming to control Hess. She remains a pragmatic voice throughout the mission.

🎬 Media 💔 Romance 🧠 Strategist

John Haddad (Scott Glenn)

A Lebanese-American mercenary and former soldier who becomes the central organizer of the rescue. He is a resourceful planner who navigates betrayals and alliances, with a growing personal connection to Kathy. His resolve is tested by the costs of the mission and the safety of his teammates.

🧭 Strategist 🗡️ Mercenary 💑 Romance

Rudolf Hess (Laurence Olivier)

The imprisoned ex-Nazi leader whose secrets could topple powerful figures; his captivity and fate become a focal point for all players. He is sedated and smuggled in a carefully orchestrated swap, ultimately expressing a desire to return to Spandau rather than embrace a new life. Hess embodies the moral complexity of legacy and responsibility.

👑 Historical figure 🗝️ Secrets 🧭 Prisoner

Mustapha El Ali (Stratford Johns)

Arab businessman whose involvement provides an international dimension and a layer of protection for the rescue effort. He adds resources and perspective to the mission, helping to manage risk as the plan progresses. His presence underscores the geopolitical stakes of the operation.

🌍 International 💼 Businessman 🛡️ Security

Michael Lukas (John Terry)

Kathy's brother, who participates in the plan and ultimately sacrifices himself during the escape attempt. He helps create distractions to aid the mission, highlighting themes of family ties and personal risk. His death marks a turning point in the operation.

🎗️ Sacrifice 👨‍👦 Family 🗡️ Soldier

Joseph (David Lumsden)

Lebanese mercenary member of the rescue team, contributing manpower and fighting skill. He joins with other allies to strengthen the operation against Stroebling's forces. His presence amplifies the multinational makeup of the crew.

🧭 Mercenary 🤝 Alliance

Jamil (Frederick Warder)

Lebanese mercenary and member of the rescue crew, working alongside Joseph and others to execute the plan. He participates in the training and the mission, sharing in the risks and the camaraderie of the group.

🧭 Mercenary 🤝 Loyalty

Hourigan (Derek Thompson)

A member of Stroebling's gang who undermines the mission by manipulating medications and engaging in taunting interactions. He is killed during a confrontation, illustrating the volatility and danger within the opposing faction.

💊 LSD 🗡️ Violence

Stroebling (Robert Freitag)

A Nazi operative who works for the Soviet side and acts as the principal antagonist behind the scenes. He negotiates, schemes, and tries to outmaneuver Haddad and his team, driving the central conflict of the story. His plans are thwarted by the mercenaries in the climactic sequence.

🧭 Power Broker 🗡️ Villain

Col. Reed-Henry (Kenneth Haigh)

A British Colonel who appears to support the rescue but harbors his own political calculations. He hints at British disinterest in Hess's survival for strategic reasons, adding a layer of deception to the operation. His ultimate fate underscores the precariousness of loyalties during espionage games.

🎖️ Military 🕵️‍♂️ Double-dealer

Hunter (Peter Kybart)

A guard figure involved in the security and execution of the plan. He represents the procedural, on-the-ground aspect of the mission and the constant threat of capture or interception by authorities.

🛡️ Guard 🏃‍♂️ Security

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:08

Major Themes – Wild Geese II (1985)

Explore the central themes of Wild Geese II (1985), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕵️ Cold War Espionage

Rudolf Hess's secrets become a leverage tool for networks and nations. The plot revolves around covert moves, information control, and the manipulation of public perception across Berlin and beyond. Espionage motives drive alliances, betrayals, and the dangerous games played by state and media powers.

🤝 Loyalty and Betrayal

Mercenaries, executives, and politicians navigate shifting loyalties as plans unfold. Haddad, Faulkner, and Kathy confront personal and professional conflicts, balancing trust with profit and political aims. The rescue operation exposes how alliances can fracture under pressure and competing agendas.

🪖 Mercenary Code

The film centers on veterans-turned-mercenaries who face moral ambiguities in pursuit of a mission. They endure risks, deception, and casualties, testing their willingness to sacrifice individuals for the greater objective. The line between duty and humanity blurs as Hess's fate hinges on their choices.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:08

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

High-Stakes Mercenary Mission Movies like Wild Geese II

Professionals hired for dangerous jobs where loyalty is the first casualty.If you liked the tense, action-packed mercenary mission in Wild Geese II, you'll find similar stories here. This thread groups movies featuring professional soldiers-for-hire on dangerous assignments, filled with Cold War intrigue, complex plans, and the gritty reality of moral compromise.

tenseaction-packedcalculateddangerousmercenarycold wardouble crossmoral ambiguity

Narrative Summary

These narratives typically follow a group of experts recruited for a specific, high-risk task. The plot revolves around the detailed preparation for the mission, its chaotic execution, and the inevitable complications that arise, often from within their own ranks or from shifting allegiances. The journey is one of professional duty clashing with personal survival.

Why These Movies?

Movies are grouped here by their shared core premise of a paid, dangerous operation. They excel at creating a tense, calculating mood, driven by action and the persistent anxiety of a double-cross, appealing to viewers who enjoy strategic thrillers with a gritty, realistic edge.

Bittersweet Espionage Thrillers with endings like Wild Geese II

Spy missions where the victory feels hollow and the costs are deeply personal.For viewers who appreciated the complex, bittersweet ending of Wild Geese II. This collection features spy and political thrillers where the mission's success is undermined by personal loss, moral compromises, or a profound sense of futility, leaving a lasting, thoughtful impact.

tensebittersweetparanoiamorally ambiguousespionagepoliticaldouble crossfutility

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a protagonist or team navigating a web of deception to achieve a goal, only to discover that the victory is pyrrhic. The conclusion often emphasizes the personal sacrifices made, the allies lost, or the realization that they were merely pawns in a larger, cynical game, resulting in an ending that is more contemplative than celebratory.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their distinctive emotional conclusion—a blend of accomplishment and regret. They share a tone of cold war paranoia and tense pacing, but are ultimately defined by their emotionally resonant, bittersweet payoff that questions the very point of the conflict.

Unlock the Full Story of Wild Geese II

Don't stop at just watching — explore Wild Geese II in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Wild Geese II is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Wild Geese II Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Wild Geese II, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Wild Geese II Summary

Wild Geese II Timeline

Track the full timeline of Wild Geese II with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Wild Geese II Timeline

Wild Geese II Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Wild Geese II that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Wild Geese II Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Wild Geese II

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Wild Geese II: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Wild Geese II

Similar Movies to Wild Geese II

Discover movies like Wild Geese II that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.