...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

The Dogs of War

446 statements
87 feature instances
30 referencing feature instances

The Dogs of War	type	TVTItem
The Dogs of War	label	The Dogs of War
The Dogs of War	page	TheDogsOfWar
The Dogs of War	comment	The Dogs of War is a 1974 thriller novel by Frederick Forsyth. It follows Sir James Manson, who discovers an entire mountain of valuable platinum in Zangaro, a fictional People's Republic of Tyranny in Africa, and endeavors to obtain it via a discreet coup d'Ã©tat. For this end, he employs a mercenary named Carlo "Cat" Shannon, who is given a hundred days to put a team together and make the strike. The remainder of the novel follows Shannon as he gathers his old friends and prepares for it.This novel is a famous example of Shown Their Work, as Forsyth spent time covering the Nigerian Civil War and drew heavily from his experiences there. Several people have even tried to carry out coups in real life based on the methods presented within. And Forsyth himself is actually rumored to have tried overthrowing the government of Equatorial Guinea using the very methods he later put into the novel, although it's not clear whether he would have actually succeeded.Made into a 1980 film directed by John Irvin, starring Christopher Walken and Tom Berenger.
The Dogs of War	fetched	2024-02-23T13:30:18Z
The Dogs of War	parsed	2024-02-23T13:30:18Z
The Dogs of War	processingComment	Dropped link to CallBack: Not a Feature - ITEM
The Dogs of War	processingComment	Dropped link to FriendlyFire: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN
The Dogs of War	processingUnknown	FriendlyFire
The Dogs of War	isPartOf	DBTropes
The Dogs of War / int_113480b7	type	Canon Foreigner
The Dogs of War / int_113480b7	comment	Canon Foreigner: Alan North, the documentarian, and his film crew are original characters created for the film.
The Dogs of War / int_113480b7	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_113480b7	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_113480b7
The Dogs of War / int_16e362fb	type	Bilingual Backfire
The Dogs of War / int_16e362fb	comment	Bilingual Backfire: Shannon goes on a reconnaissance mission where he leaves his local guide behind in the jungle and lets slip that he has training in guerilla warfare, thinking that the man only knows the Zangaron language. After Shannon is imprisoned and tortured by the authorities and kicked out of the country, it turns out that the guide is proficient in English when he reveals to Shannon that he's a supporter of the Kimba regime and the one who reported him.
The Dogs of War / int_16e362fb	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_16e362fb	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_16e362fb
The Dogs of War / int_171e14be	type	London Gangster
The Dogs of War / int_171e14be	comment	London Gangster: Locke, Simon's bodyguard in Africa is mentioned to have been an enforcer for the Krays He makes the mistake of thinking an East London Hard Man would be a match for a trained merc
The Dogs of War / int_171e14be	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_171e14be	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_171e14be
The Dogs of War / int_1df37537	type	Mutual Kill
The Dogs of War / int_1df37537	comment	Mutual Kill: Kimba's KGB bodyguard and Tiny Marc.
The Dogs of War / int_1df37537	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_1df37537	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_1df37537
The Dogs of War / int_20a14df0	type	Wrong Genre Savvy
The Dogs of War / int_20a14df0	comment	Wrong Genre Savvy: From what little we see of him, apparently North thinks of himself as the Intrepid Reporter that will expose a CIA plan for a coup in Zangaro. He's both wrong about the details (Shannon is a mercenary being funded by a Corrupt Corporate Executive) and his own importance in the narrative (at best, he's a Mauve Shirt; and is killed by one of Manson's goons when he gets too nosy).
The Dogs of War / int_20a14df0	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_20a14df0	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_20a14df0
The Dogs of War / int_21bf4878	type	Decapitation Presentation
The Dogs of War / int_21bf4878	comment	Decapitation Presentation: A rival mercenary puts out a contract on Shannon. One day he opens his mailbox and finds the hitman's head in there.
The Dogs of War / int_21bf4878	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_21bf4878	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_21bf4878
The Dogs of War / int_23473ae7	type	Adaptation Expansion
The Dogs of War / int_23473ae7	comment	Adaptation Expansion: Shannon's private life gets more focus; he's shown to befriend a street kid and have an ex-wife, rather than the loner he is in the books.
The Dogs of War / int_23473ae7	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_23473ae7	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_23473ae7
The Dogs of War / int_237404cc	type	Ironic Echo
The Dogs of War / int_237404cc	comment	Ironic Echo: Shannon is given a local guide who apparently can't speak English. After leading him on a Wild Goose Chase he says, "In my jungle you'd be just another asshole!" After being beaten up by the secret police, Shannon is limping out of the airport when he encounters the 'guide' again, who hands him his passport while saying with a grin, "Can't leave Zangaroo without your passport, asshole." Shannon gets his payback during the final attack however, when this asshole has the misfortune to be in Kimba's palace.
The Dogs of War / int_237404cc	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_237404cc	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_237404cc
The Dogs of War / int_25dc6ef5	type	Apathetic Citizens
The Dogs of War / int_25dc6ef5	comment	Apathetic Citizens: The reporter gripes about how everyone watching his documentary on Zagaroo switched to the Miss Universe contest as soon as they saw there was nothing interesting on.
The Dogs of War / int_25dc6ef5	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_25dc6ef5	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_25dc6ef5
The Dogs of War / int_2633c91d	type	SteelEardrums
The Dogs of War / int_2633c91d	comment	Steel Eardrums: Averted. The gun and mortar fire deafens Dupree so he doesn't hear a warning about a grenade.
The Dogs of War / int_2633c91d	featureApplicability	-1.0
The Dogs of War / int_2633c91d	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_2633c91d
The Dogs of War / int_27690f66	type	Literary Allusion Title
The Dogs of War / int_27690f66	comment	Literary Allusion Title: From Julius Caesar ("Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war").
The Dogs of War / int_27690f66	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_27690f66	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_27690f66
The Dogs of War / int_2b706ca	type	More Dakka
The Dogs of War / int_2b706ca	comment	More Dakka: perhaps the ultimate example, a small force wielding extreme firepower and exploiting the element of surprise and violence of action is able to overwhelm a vastly superior opposition.
The Dogs of War / int_2b706ca	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_2b706ca	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_2b706ca
The Dogs of War / int_2e5ada89	type	Grenade Launcher
The Dogs of War / int_2e5ada89	comment	Grenade Launcher / Revolvers Are Just Better: The Movie had "XM-18's" (actually Manville revolver launchers) used for the climatic attack. There's also a Shirtless Scene of Tom Berenger testing the grenade launcher in mid-ocean, in one of the most laugh-out-loud Rated M for Manly spectacles you will ever see.
The Dogs of War / int_2e5ada89	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_2e5ada89	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_2e5ada89
The Dogs of War / int_319e4a2f	type	Even Evil Has Standards
The Dogs of War / int_319e4a2f	comment	Even Evil Has Standards: Played with throughout, as Shannon and the other mercenaries have their own personal codes and moral boundaries that often conflict with each other, and their employer's. More evident in the film where Shannon develops genuine disgust towards Kimba after visiting Zangaro on a reconnaissance mission. Book Shannon is more focused on the Western businessmen who bankroll such people.
The Dogs of War / int_319e4a2f	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_319e4a2f	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_319e4a2f
The Dogs of War / int_362bdb30	type	Out-Gambitted
The Dogs of War / int_362bdb30	comment	Out-Gambitted: Manson and his cronies.
The Dogs of War / int_362bdb30	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_362bdb30	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_362bdb30
The Dogs of War / int_3a873e6	type	Screw the Money, This Is Personal!
The Dogs of War / int_3a873e6	comment	Screw the Money, This Is Personal!: While Shannon is a mercenary and willing to get as much money as he can out of Sir James Manson, it doesn't take much for Manson's dragon, Endean, to talk Shannon into leading the assault on Zangaro after the police beat the living crap out of him while he's doing recon (and has also seen first-hand what kind of monster President Kimba is). When he ends up facing off against Kimba on the climactic assault, Kimba goes into a Villainous Breakdown and offers him a small mountain of money to let him go. Shannon just shoots him, and then goes on to screw over Sir Manson (who wasn't going to improve Zangaro with his puppet government anyway).
The Dogs of War / int_3a873e6	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_3a873e6	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_3a873e6
The Dogs of War / int_3aec9e5e	type	Properly Paranoid
The Dogs of War / int_3aec9e5e	comment	Properly Paranoid: The mercenaries about smuggling arms, because one error will get them all life in prison.
The Dogs of War / int_3aec9e5e	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_3aec9e5e	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_3aec9e5e
The Dogs of War / int_3d699462	type	Curb-Stomp Battle
The Dogs of War / int_3d699462	comment	Curb-Stomp Battle: The mercenaries carry out a night attack on President Kimba's palace and barracks, relying not only on shelling the buildings with mortar bombs and bazooka rockets, but also gas-operated foghorns to further disorient the defenders. Faced with a sudden and overwhelming attack in the middle of the night, Kimba's Praetorian Guard Run or Die.
The Dogs of War / int_3d699462	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_3d699462	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_3d699462
The Dogs of War / int_3d897748	type	Do Not Go Gentle
The Dogs of War / int_3d897748	comment	Do Not Go Gentle: Shannon tells Manson's daughter that he'd rather go out with a bullet in his chest than a slow death as a civilian. Failing to die in action, the bullet turns out to be his own.
The Dogs of War / int_3d897748	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_3d897748	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_3d897748
The Dogs of War / int_3e8c87a3	type	Dated History
The Dogs of War / int_3e8c87a3	comment	Dated History: The unnamed journalist dismisses French mercenary Robert Denard as a has-been, but he'd go on to become an unofficial agent of French national interests in Africa right through to The '90s.
The Dogs of War / int_3e8c87a3	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_3e8c87a3	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_3e8c87a3
The Dogs of War / int_3e99481a	type	Deadly Distant Finale
The Dogs of War / int_3e99481a	comment	Deadly Distant Finale: Most of the surviving mercenaries die later on, most importantly Shannon, who is last seen walking into the jungle to commit suicide.
The Dogs of War / int_3e99481a	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_3e99481a	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_3e99481a
The Dogs of War / int_40c57041	type	Manipulative Bastard
The Dogs of War / int_40c57041	comment	Manipulative Bastard: Manson manipulates Shannon into "completing the mission" (after the recon is over and paid for) by appealing to his need for Revenge after the Zangaro police worked him over. Also see below about Shannon's ex-father-in-law.
The Dogs of War / int_40c57041	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_40c57041	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_40c57041
The Dogs of War / int_40cc0c7e	type	Bittersweet Ending
The Dogs of War / int_40cc0c7e	comment	Bittersweet Ending: Shannon gives the republic as a safe haven for immigrant workers and ends up reforming the government, but both Marc Vlaminck and Jan Dupree are dead, Semmler is killed later on in an accident with explosives, and Shannon commits suicide, though in his case he was killing himself because he had terminal cancer.
The Dogs of War / int_40cc0c7e	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_40cc0c7e	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_40cc0c7e
The Dogs of War / int_424c9a9b	type	Cold-Blooded Torture
The Dogs of War / int_424c9a9b	comment	Cold-Blooded Torture: Two major scenes: Shannon gets worked over by Zangaro's secret police to try to find out who he's working for in reality (which is the major reason he accepts Manson's offer to finish the job), and later Manson's goon that ran over North gets to have broken glass shoved in his mouth followed by getting bitch-slapped.
The Dogs of War / int_424c9a9b	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_424c9a9b	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_424c9a9b
The Dogs of War / int_454b2f2b	type	Secretly Dying
The Dogs of War / int_454b2f2b	comment	Secretly Dying: Mercenary leader "Cat" Shannon has been diagnosed with cancer, which motivates his betrayal of his employers as a final act of virtue.
The Dogs of War / int_454b2f2b	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_454b2f2b	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_454b2f2b
The Dogs of War / int_49d5f48f	type	Of Corpse He's Alive
The Dogs of War / int_49d5f48f	comment	Of Corpse He's Alive: At the beginning, the mercenaries bring their dead comrade with them on the plane out. Someone complains about it and demands they throw him off. Drew puts a grenade in his hand and pulls the pin and claims he's alive.
The Dogs of War / int_49d5f48f	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_49d5f48f	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_49d5f48f
The Dogs of War / int_4a6e9fd9	type	Obnoxious In-Laws
The Dogs of War / int_4a6e9fd9	comment	Obnoxious In-Laws: Minor version, but Shannon's father-in-law completely detests his guts, not wanting her hooked up with a man who is essentially a professional killer for hire. When he confronts Shannon's ex-wife about him wanting to meet her again and give her a trip to Florida, she says the line below. Their following discussion also implies that he forced her to divorce by playing the "needful, crippled old man" card.
The Dogs of War / int_4a6e9fd9	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_4a6e9fd9	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_4a6e9fd9
The Dogs of War / int_4cacfcc3	type	Honey Trap
The Dogs of War / int_4cacfcc3	comment	Honey Trap: Shannon sleeps with Manson's not-so-innocent daughter to get information on her father regarding what he's after in Zangaro. Somewhat subverted from the way this trope is normally played in that she never realizes how she was being used, and Shannon breaks up with her gently and respectfully when the time comes.
The Dogs of War / int_4cacfcc3	featureApplicability	-0.3
The Dogs of War / int_4cacfcc3	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_4cacfcc3
The Dogs of War / int_4eaa9b84	type	Author Tract
The Dogs of War / int_4eaa9b84	comment	Author Tract: Forsyth makes no secret of where his sympathies lie regarding the Nigerian Civil War.
The Dogs of War / int_4eaa9b84	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_4eaa9b84	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_4eaa9b84
The Dogs of War / int_4ef62a4d	type	Full-Circle Revolution
The Dogs of War / int_4ef62a4d	comment	Full-Circle Revolution: Dr. Okoye tells Shannon (while attending him after the Cold-Blooded Torture of the Zangaro police) that this happened with Kimba-after he deposed the previous dictator, he just went into full-on A God Am I mode.
The Dogs of War / int_4ef62a4d	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_4ef62a4d	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_4ef62a4d
The Dogs of War / int_500ecfb7	type	The Big Guy
The Dogs of War / int_500ecfb7	comment	The Big Guy: Marc Vlaminck.
The Dogs of War / int_500ecfb7	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_500ecfb7	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_500ecfb7
The Dogs of War / int_508d91a2	type	Pre-Mortem One-Liner
The Dogs of War / int_508d91a2	comment	Pre-Mortem One-Liner:
The Dogs of War / int_508d91a2	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_508d91a2	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_508d91a2
The Dogs of War / int_50f66629	type	Crazy-Prepared
The Dogs of War / int_50f66629	comment	Crazy-Prepared: The mercenaries, as one small error in smuggling arms would give them life in prison.
The Dogs of War / int_50f66629	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_50f66629	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_50f66629
The Dogs of War / int_52aa0c4a	type	The Caligula
The Dogs of War / int_52aa0c4a	comment	The Caligula: President Kimba.
The Dogs of War / int_52aa0c4a	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_52aa0c4a	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_52aa0c4a
The Dogs of War / int_52d4cd25	type	Anonymous Ringer
The Dogs of War / int_52d4cd25	comment	Anonymous Ringer: Several: Biafra, 'General' Ojukwu and even Forsyth himself all play major roles in the plot without ever being explicitly named.
The Dogs of War / int_52d4cd25	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_52d4cd25	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_52d4cd25
The Dogs of War / int_537dd8fe	type	Affably Evil
The Dogs of War / int_537dd8fe	comment	Affably Evil: Sir James Manson.
The Dogs of War / int_537dd8fe	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_537dd8fe	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_537dd8fe
The Dogs of War / int_558245a7	type	Redshirt Army
The Dogs of War / int_558245a7	comment	Redshirt Army: Kimba's forces, mostly due to not having workable guns — Kimba is more afraid of a coup than an invasion. His army is merely a thuggish show of force meant to keep order.
The Dogs of War / int_558245a7	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_558245a7	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_558245a7
The Dogs of War / int_57d43e40	type	Fantasy Counterpart Culture
The Dogs of War / int_57d43e40	comment	Fantasy Counterpart Culture: Forsyth admitted to have based Zangaro on Equatorial Guinea and Kimba on Francisco MacÃas Nguema, who was just as evil in Real Life.
The Dogs of War / int_57d43e40	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_57d43e40	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_57d43e40
The Dogs of War / int_5a40d6a	type	Adaptation Distillation
The Dogs of War / int_5a40d6a	comment	Adaptation Distillation: The movie removes much of the central theme of the connection between big business and war, as well as the entire Nigerian Civil War subplot. This leaves a Plot Hole of where Shannon's force of African soldiers comes from, and what Shannon's motives are for betraying his employer. However in the film it is stated that Jinja recruits volunteers from Zangaran exiles who have fled the dictatorship and Shannon has a crisis of conscience as Dr Okeye had helped him after he was tortured in prison.
The Dogs of War / int_5a40d6a	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_5a40d6a	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_5a40d6a
The Dogs of War / int_5c99b642	type	War for Fun and Profit
The Dogs of War / int_5c99b642	comment	War for Fun and Profit: Most of the protagonists are mercenaries, and Sir Manson thinks it better to finance a coup than trying to negotiate with Kimba. To be fair, negotiating wasn't really an option given that Kimba was a Soviet puppet and therefore very unlikely to open up his country to a major Western corporation. There's a Take That! to the Nigerian War with a mention that British business interests advocated support for the government side provided that the war could be brought to a swift end. Shannon having witnessed the subsequent disastrous civil war and famine first hand has a lot to do with his motives.
The Dogs of War / int_5c99b642	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_5c99b642	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_5c99b642
The Dogs of War / int_5f52cfcf	type	Intrepid Reporter
The Dogs of War / int_5f52cfcf	comment	Intrepid Reporter: Alan North, who first meets Shannon on Zangaro and then starts to tail him when he meets him again in Europe. Unfortunately, he thinks Shannon is a CIA agent planning a coup on Zangaro (instead of a soldier-for-hire to a Corrupt Corporate Executive). He gets killed by an assassin sent by said Corrupt Corporate Executive (which pisses off Shannon) for his trouble. Also an Incredibly Obvious Tail.
The Dogs of War / int_5f52cfcf	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_5f52cfcf	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_5f52cfcf
The Dogs of War / int_5f5aa5af	type	Bulungi
The Dogs of War / int_5f5aa5af	comment	Bulungi: Zangaro.
The Dogs of War / int_5f5aa5af	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_5f5aa5af	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_5f5aa5af
The Dogs of War / int_603f1a80	type	Pragmatic Adaptation
The Dogs of War / int_603f1a80	comment	Pragmatic Adaptation: The film significantly streamlines down the novel's many characters, methodical plotting, and subplots to focus on Shannon's plot, changing the story from a bit-by-bit breakdown of a coup to a more conventional action-adventure story.
The Dogs of War / int_603f1a80	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_603f1a80	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_603f1a80
The Dogs of War / int_64e975cf	type	Manly Tears
The Dogs of War / int_64e975cf	comment	Manly Tears: Upon Jan Dupree's death, by his aide.
The Dogs of War / int_64e975cf	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_64e975cf	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_64e975cf
The Dogs of War / int_66755d29	type	Author Avatar
The Dogs of War / int_66755d29	comment	Author Avatar: One of Manson's henchmen asks a freelance journalist called "The Writer" to supply him a list of the world's deadliest mercenaries. Most are real mercenaries Forsyth knew personally.
The Dogs of War / int_66755d29	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_66755d29	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_66755d29
The Dogs of War / int_68cf9795	type	Ironic Nickname
The Dogs of War / int_68cf9795	comment	Ironic Nickname: "Tiny" Marc Vlaminck.
The Dogs of War / int_68cf9795	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_68cf9795	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_68cf9795
The Dogs of War / int_697b5232	type	Those Wacky Nazis
The Dogs of War / int_697b5232	comment	Those Wacky Nazis: Semmler was in the Hitler Youth and the Belgian the group buys the MP-40s from was an SS cook.
The Dogs of War / int_697b5232	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_697b5232	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_697b5232
The Dogs of War / int_6c553873	type	Private Military Contractors
The Dogs of War / int_6c553873	comment	Private Military Contractors: Shannon and company.
The Dogs of War / int_6c553873	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_6c553873	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_6c553873
The Dogs of War / int_6cea929e	type	There Are No Good Executives
The Dogs of War / int_6cea929e	comment	There Are No Good Executives: This trope is Manson, all over. He finances a coup and plans to put a puppet government on Darkest Africa because of a literal mountain full of rare metals in the country.
The Dogs of War / int_6cea929e	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_6cea929e	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_6cea929e
The Dogs of War / int_7453bc5b	type	Spared by the Adaptation
The Dogs of War / int_7453bc5b	comment	Spared by the Adaptation:Everybody in the mercenary team but Drew.
The Dogs of War / int_7453bc5b	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_7453bc5b	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_7453bc5b
The Dogs of War / int_755ecb56	type	Infraction Distraction
The Dogs of War / int_755ecb56	comment	Infraction Distraction: Shannon plants a Playboy magazine and a bottle of whiskey in his luggage for the customs official to 'confiscate' so he doesn't look too closely at anything else he is bringing in. The official also helps himself to a sigificant chunk of Shannon's pocket cash, saying that it's an "importation tax" for the liquor.
The Dogs of War / int_755ecb56	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_755ecb56	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_755ecb56
The Dogs of War / int_7969f21e	type	No One Gets Left Behind
The Dogs of War / int_7969f21e	comment	No One Gets Left Behind: The mercenaries insist on taking one of their dead comrades with them on the last plane out of the country. Gets a Book Ends call back when the mercenaries ride off into the sunrise after the raid with Drew's corpse.
The Dogs of War / int_7969f21e	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_7969f21e	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_7969f21e
The Dogs of War / int_7a6fc5ab	type	Man in the Iron Mask
The Dogs of War / int_7a6fc5ab	comment	Man in the Iron Mask: A politician who opposed The Caligula in the independence elections is kept in his prison, working as the doctor there. This provides a handy alternate not only to the mad dictator, but also the Puppet King that the mercenaries were supposed to put in power.
The Dogs of War / int_7a6fc5ab	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_7a6fc5ab	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_7a6fc5ab
The Dogs of War / int_7aeb0635	type	Arms Dealer
The Dogs of War / int_7aeb0635	comment	Arms Dealer: Mostly of the legal variety, except for the one selling Schmeissers.
The Dogs of War / int_7aeb0635	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_7aeb0635	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_7aeb0635
The Dogs of War / int_7ef7e1cd	type	Every Man Has His Price
The Dogs of War / int_7ef7e1cd	comment	Every Man Has His Price: Kimba tries to pull this card (in rather severe, sweat-soaked desperation) during the coup. Shannon's response is to stone-facedly put a burst of 9mm ammo through his chest.
The Dogs of War / int_7ef7e1cd	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_7ef7e1cd	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_7ef7e1cd
The Dogs of War / int_82384b1	type	Never Hurt an Innocent
The Dogs of War / int_82384b1	comment	Never Hurt an Innocent: in the heat of battle Drew storms into a room, submachinegun in hand, screaming his war cry. Only to be confronted with a mother and her young children. He turns and walks away whereupon she shoots him in the back.
The Dogs of War / int_82384b1	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_82384b1	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_82384b1
The Dogs of War / int_895ec17	type	Only in It for the Money
The Dogs of War / int_895ec17	comment	Shannon points out to Endean that they are both mercenaries.
The Dogs of War / int_895ec17	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_895ec17	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_895ec17
The Dogs of War / int_950bbfa7	type	Take a Third Option
The Dogs of War / int_950bbfa7	comment	Take a Third Option: Zangaro is an impoverished nation controlled by an incompetent and Ax-Crazy dictator dependent on the Soviet Union. Sir James Manson intends to replace him with a corrupt thug in order to turn the country into a Banana Republic under the thumb of his corporation. Shannon and his mercenaries carry out the coup, but instead of installing Manson's puppet, they create a provisional government run by a more honorable general that Shannon has worked with in the past, with Zangaro's overlooked (but numerous and industrious) immigrant labor force as its support base, who happen to be from the same country as the general.
The Dogs of War / int_950bbfa7	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_950bbfa7	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_950bbfa7
The Dogs of War / int_984ef9ef	type	"Not So Different" Remark
The Dogs of War / int_984ef9ef	comment	"Not So Different" Remark: Shannon points out to Endean that they are both mercenaries. When Endean expresses disbelief that the Africans would believe in juju, Shannon says it's no different from Westerners believing that God is on their side when fighting wars.
The Dogs of War / int_984ef9ef	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_984ef9ef	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_984ef9ef
The Dogs of War / int_9f6fb586	type	Leitmotif
The Dogs of War / int_9f6fb586	comment	Leitmotif:: Alluded to throughout the novel; whenever Shannon is about to go into action, or is coming out of it, he always whistles "Spanish Harlem", including when he goes into the jungle to kill himself.
The Dogs of War / int_9f6fb586	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_9f6fb586	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_9f6fb586
The Dogs of War / int_a18fda9c	type	Dumb Muscle
The Dogs of War / int_a18fda9c	comment	Dumb Muscle: What Shannon's employers make the mistake of thinking he is.
The Dogs of War / int_a18fda9c	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_a18fda9c	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_a18fda9c
The Dogs of War / int_a435b45e	type	Bittersweet Ending
The Dogs of War / int_a435b45e	comment	Bitter Sweet Ending: Drew is dead and Shannon has broken his agreement with his employer (although he may have simply helped himself to the piles of cash Kananga offered him). However Dr Okeye is now the leader of Zangaro having demonstrated humanity and compassion to Shannon when he was held in prison and able to fund his new regime with the platinum deposits Manson was intent on exploiting. There is at least some hope for the future of the country.
The Dogs of War / int_a435b45e	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_a435b45e	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_a435b45e
The Dogs of War / int_a6b14ee1	type	Hollywood Tactics
The Dogs of War / int_a6b14ee1	comment	Hollywood Tactics: Justified; Shannon has only a tiny force under his command, so if he attacked the capital 'by the book' the defenders would rally and fend them off. Instead he does a night attack striking directly at his target, relying on surprise and overwhelming firepower to break their morale.
The Dogs of War / int_a6b14ee1	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_a6b14ee1	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_a6b14ee1
The Dogs of War / int_b43a531c	type	Selective Slaughter
The Dogs of War / int_b43a531c	comment	Selective Slaughter: Drew, by far the most gung-ho of mercenaries and obviously revelling in the combat spares an African mother and her children. She promptly shoots him in the back!
The Dogs of War / int_b43a531c	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_b43a531c	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_b43a531c
The Dogs of War / int_b53077b3	type	Take That!
The Dogs of War / int_b53077b3	comment	There's a Take That! to the Nigerian War with a mention that British business interests advocated support for the government side provided that the war could be brought to a swift end. Shannon having witnessed the subsequent disastrous civil war and famine first hand has a lot to do with his motives.
The Dogs of War / int_b53077b3	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_b53077b3	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_b53077b3
The Dogs of War / int_b58b4e3c	type	Too Dumb to Live
The Dogs of War / int_b58b4e3c	comment	Too Dumb to Live: Shannon notes this In-Universe over how Kimba's palace is surrounded by a big wall. Far from offering protection, all Kimba has done is confine himself and his Praetorian Guard inside a killing ground for the mortar attack Shannon is planning.
The Dogs of War / int_b58b4e3c	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_b58b4e3c	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_b58b4e3c
The Dogs of War / int_b7b1aa73	type	And Then What?
The Dogs of War / int_b7b1aa73	comment	And Then What?: When informed there's actually no rebel force inside the country waiting to take over, Shannon points out to Endean that killing Kimba only leaves a power vacuum, and his successor must have a force of African soldiers occupying the capital by daylight, who ostensibly carried out the coup and killed Kimba.
The Dogs of War / int_b7b1aa73	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_b7b1aa73	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_b7b1aa73
The Dogs of War / int_b7c53a22	type	Blood Knight
The Dogs of War / int_b7c53a22	comment	Blood Knight: all of the mercenaries, we only really see them come alive in the end battle scenes.
The Dogs of War / int_b7c53a22	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_b7c53a22	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_b7c53a22
The Dogs of War / int_bfb5f597	type	Money Is Not Power
The Dogs of War / int_bfb5f597	comment	Money Is Not Power: Shannon machine guns Kananga even when he's offering him a massive amount of money to let him go and screws Manson over (thus not completing his contract to the letter) because he finds both men repulsive and refuses to be the latter's puppet.
The Dogs of War / int_bfb5f597	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_bfb5f597	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_bfb5f597
The Dogs of War / int_c515d358	type	America Saves the Day
The Dogs of War / int_c515d358	comment	America Saves the Day: Shannon has been changed from Irish Unionist to American, though given the movie takes place in the 1980's this is justified. When the novel was written, most mercenaries were from Europe or Southern Africa, whereas the end of the Vietnam War saw an increase in American mercenaries.
The Dogs of War / int_c515d358	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_c515d358	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_c515d358
The Dogs of War / int_c75df49a	type	Shout-Out
The Dogs of War / int_c75df49a	comment	Shout-Out: A musical version of the poem Epitaph on an Army of Mercenaries is sung over the movie's end credits. Ironically the poem has nothing to do with Private Military Contractors, but the professional soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force in World War One, described by German propaganda as fighting for money rather than patriotism.
The Dogs of War / int_c75df49a	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_c75df49a	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_c75df49a
The Dogs of War / int_c82e751f	type	Unspoken Plan Guarantee
The Dogs of War / int_c82e751f	comment	Unspoken Plan Guarantee: Zig-Zagged; in order to convince Sir James Manson to hire him to carry out his coup d'Ã©tat of an African state, Cat Shannon writes a detailed professional report (including costs) on the pros and cons of such an attack. After Manson reads this section, the reader is then told that six more pages detailed exactly how Shannon planned to recruit, arm, and transport his force and carry out the attack. Which all goes according to plan except for some hitches during the attack which get a couple of Cat's men killed. Oh, and he left out how he was planning to double-cross Manson and put his own leader in place.
The Dogs of War / int_c82e751f	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_c82e751f	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_c82e751f
The Dogs of War / int_cbe687ab	type	Corrupt Corporate Executive
The Dogs of War / int_cbe687ab	comment	Corrupt Corporate Executive: Sir James Manson and his underlings.
The Dogs of War / int_cbe687ab	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_cbe687ab	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_cbe687ab
The Dogs of War / int_daa710c8	type	Try Not to Die
The Dogs of War / int_daa710c8	comment	Try Not to Die
The Dogs of War / int_daa710c8	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_daa710c8	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_daa710c8
The Dogs of War / int_dba0c928	type	Stock Quotes
The Dogs of War / int_dba0c928	comment	Stock Quotes / Literary Allusion Title
The Dogs of War / int_dba0c928	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_dba0c928	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_dba0c928
The Dogs of War / int_dc057cf3	type	Adaptation Name Change
The Dogs of War / int_dc057cf3	comment	Adaptation Name Change: The entire mercenary team has its names changed, to the degree that they're largely different characters who fill similar roles. Less significantly, Shannon has his first name changed from Carlo to James. Simon Endean becomes Roy Endean. Shannon's wife Julie becomes Jessie.
The Dogs of War / int_dc057cf3	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_dc057cf3	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_dc057cf3
The Dogs of War / int_e2f7ab99	type	Assassin Outclassin'
The Dogs of War / int_e2f7ab99	comment	Assassin Outclassin': Roux's hitman proves ineffectual against Langarotti.
The Dogs of War / int_e2f7ab99	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_e2f7ab99	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_e2f7ab99
The Dogs of War / int_e4965307	type	Composite Character
The Dogs of War / int_e4965307	comment	Composite Character: Endean is combined with his employer in the novel, Sir James Manson.
The Dogs of War / int_e4965307	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_e4965307	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_e4965307
The Dogs of War / int_eb8ec7c8	type	Jerkass
The Dogs of War / int_eb8ec7c8	comment	Jerkass: Manson and General Gobi.
The Dogs of War / int_eb8ec7c8	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_eb8ec7c8	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_eb8ec7c8
The Dogs of War / int_ecf76ce6	type	Decapitated Army
The Dogs of War / int_ecf76ce6	comment	Decapitated Army: During the planning stage Shannon stresses the importance of killing Kimba due to the belief among his followers that he has juju that protects him from harm. Whoever kills Kimba will be assumed to have more powerful juju, making his ability to run the country much easier. Furthermore Kimba is so paranoid about a coup that he concentrates the only effective firearms in his own palace along with his Praetorian Guard, so Shannon just plans a direct assault on the palace and kills everyone in it.
The Dogs of War / int_ecf76ce6	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_ecf76ce6	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_ecf76ce6
The Dogs of War / int_eef85d73	type	People's Republic of Tyranny
The Dogs of War / int_eef85d73	comment	People's Republic of Tyranny: Zangaro, though later changed.
The Dogs of War / int_eef85d73	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_eef85d73	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_eef85d73
The Dogs of War / int_f163b235	type	Rival Turned Evil
The Dogs of War / int_f163b235	comment	Rival Turned Evil / Driven by Envy: Roux and Shannon.
The Dogs of War / int_f163b235	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_f163b235	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_f163b235
The Dogs of War / int_f912113	type	BorderCrossing
The Dogs of War / int_f912113	comment	Border Crossing: Smuggling the MP40s (Uzis in the film) over the French border.
The Dogs of War / int_f912113	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_f912113	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_f912113
The Dogs of War / int_fe0330fb	type	Brick Joke
The Dogs of War / int_fe0330fb	comment	Brick Joke: Shannon's final debriefing with Manson (and his meeting with Gobi) has Shannon insisting that they arrive on time to Zangaro after the battle is over. When they arrive after the battle is over, Shannon yells at them about arriving late and introduces them to Dr. Okoye, who he had just handed over the presidency of Zangaro to (and saying again that they should not have arrived late).
The Dogs of War / int_fe0330fb	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_fe0330fb	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_fe0330fb
The Dogs of War / int_ff6d8ad9	type	Adaptational Nationality
The Dogs of War / int_ff6d8ad9	comment	Adaptational Nationality: Shannon is changed from an Irish Unionist to an American. Likewise, his multi-national mercenary team of the novel is changed to Brits, Americans, and one Frenchman.
The Dogs of War / int_ff6d8ad9	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_ff6d8ad9	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_ff6d8ad9
The Dogs of War / int_ffad4e9f	type	Shown Their Work
The Dogs of War / int_ffad4e9f	comment	Shown Their Work: The entire book. Forsyth himself said that he tried to think of how to take over a country.
The Dogs of War / int_ffad4e9f	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_ffad4e9f	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_ffad4e9f
The Dogs of War / int_name	type	ItemName
The Dogs of War / int_name	comment
The Dogs of War / int_name	featureApplicability	1.0
The Dogs of War / int_name	featureConfidence	1.0
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Dogs of War / int_name
The Dogs of War / int_name	itemName	The Dogs of War

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Action Insurance Gag / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Arms Dealer / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Author Avatar / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Bulk Buy Only / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Checkpoint Charlie / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Corporate Samurai / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Dead Guy on Display / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Deadly Distant Finale / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Decapitated Army / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Dedication / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Defeat as Backstory / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Dramatic Gun Cock / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Every Man Has His Price / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Gideon Ploy / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Hero Insurance / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Loud of War / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Majored in Western Hypocrisy / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Not So Invincible After All / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Racial Face Blindness / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Rushed Inverted Reading / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Screw the Money, I Have Rules! / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Secretly Dying / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Skeleton Motif / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Swiss Bank Account / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Coup / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	The Horseshoe Effect / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	There Are No Good Executives / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Too Injured to Save / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Unspoken Plan Guarantee / int_44836236
The Dogs of War	hasFeature	Wasteland Warlord / int_44836236

Copyright of DBTropes.org wrapper 2009-2013 DFKI Knowledge Management. Imprint. - Thanks to Bakken&Baeck for hosting. Contact.
Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.