Wild Geese II is a 1985 British action thriller directed by Peter R. Hunt (Death Hunt). A group of mercenaries, led by former Lebanese soldier John Haddad (Scott Glenn), is hired to rescue Rudolf Hess (Laurence Olivier), the only surviving leader of Nazi Germany from Spandau Prison in West Berlin. Several rival forces, including an East German-supported terrorist Karl Stroebling (Robert Freitag) and high-ranking British officer Reed-Henry (Kenneth Haigh), are interested in releasing Hess, so Haddad's task is especially complicated.
This film was planned as a direct sequel to The Wild Geese, with Richard Burton and Roger Moore reprising their roles from the original. Roger Moore declined to participate due to his dislike of a script that depicted a Nazi War Criminal being rescued, Lewis Collins was initially hired but American distributors demanded an American co-lead and Scott Glenn replaced Collins. Richard Burton, who had been in ill health for some time and the script and prop sniper rifle had especially been altered to suit this, passed away at his home in Switzerland two days before shooting commenced in Berlin. Producer Euan Lloyd remembered a conversation with Burton where they discussed their admiration for the leading actor in The Day of the Jackal, so Allen Faulkner's character was substituted with his younger brother Alex Faulkner (Edward Fox). As a result, Wild Geese II only has a passing relation to the original The Wild Geese.
The following weapons were used in the film Wild Geese II:
Regimental Sergeant Major James Murphy (Paul Antrim), a warden in Spandau Prison, carries an Enfield No.2 Mk.1* revolver. Holsters for Enfield revolvers are seen on belts of real and fake British MPs but they appear to be empty.
In several scenes, Stroebling's henchmen use snub nose revolvers that resemble the Smith & Wesson Model 36. As the movie was filmed in Germany, Arminius HW-37 blank firing revolver, styled after S&W Model 36, is even more possible guess.
Throughout the movie Alex Faulkner (Edward Fox) uses a suppressed sniper rifle. It appears to be a Safari Arms M1911 pistol in 'Survivor' Rifle kit, fitted with a sniper scope and (obviously fake) sound suppressor. The gun was provided by Don McNabb Sr., the founder of Safari Arms. This lightweight 'sniper rifle' was used because the film's original star, Richard Burton had recently had surgery on his spine and was struggling to hold objects.
Stroebling's henchwoman (Ingrid Pitt), posing as a hooker, carries a pistol that looks mostly like a Colt Commander but has an external extractor. It appears to be blank firing Reck Commander. Reck Commanders are also seen in hands of other Stroebling's henchmen.
Several M1911-style pistols are used throughout the film. Joseph (David Lumsden), one of Haddad's men, is seen with an M1911A1-style pistol in one scene. When Col. Reed-Henry (Kenneth Haigh) meets Soviet general and KGB high rank official (Michael Harbour), the latter takes a 1911-style pistol from Reed-Henry's holster
Haddad (Scott Glenn) and Faulkner (Edward Fox) use Uzi SMGs in several scenes. Uzi are also seen in hands of Stroebling's henchmen. Reed-Henry (Kenneth Haigh) uses a suppressed Uzi. Uzi are also seen in footage from original The Wild Geese.
An Sa 25 SMG is seen among the weapons, provided by Alex Faulkner. It isn't used by Haddad and his men. In one scene a Palestinian gunman, hunting for Haddad, is armed with an Sa.25.
Some carbine version of M16 is carried by an American MP guard in Spandau Prison. The telescoping stock is seen but the barrel is not, so it's hard to identify the exact model. Colt Model 653 is a possible guess for mid-1980s.
Several Mk II Hand Grenades are seen among the weapons, provided by Alex Faulkner. A grenade is used by Haddad (Scott Glenn) to break the door of Stroebling's hideout. A Mk II grenade is also seen in footage from original The Wild Geese.
