10 Massively Underrated War Movie Performances

10. Richard Burton As Allen Faulkner - The Wild Geese

Following a group of European mercenaries attempting to save a deposed African president from execution, Andrew V. McLaglen's The Wild Geese divided critical opinion upon the movie's release.

While the 1977 offering's ensemble cast, action sequences and tongue-in-cheek humour received praise, the dated nature of the movie and its depiction of black characters were justifiably lambasted by many reviewers. The fact that it was filmed in South Africa during apartheid didn't help matters either.

Despite this troubling context, The Wild Geese features a notably underrated bow in the form of Richard Burton's Colonel Allen Faulkner. One of the most gifted performers of his generation, the Welshman's natural sense of onscreen authority and slick aura made him the perfect fit for the charismatic leader of the film's rag-tag group of soldiers.

Despite being primarily known for his dramatic roles, the seven-time Academy Award nominee plays off established fellow cast members Roger Moore and Richard Harris with textbook ease, showcasing his versatility as an actor. In a career dominated by his bows in the likes of Cleopatra and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? - Burton's 1977 foray into war movies remains a diamond in the rough of a performance.