Universal Soldier (1971 film)

Universal Soldier
Directed by	Cy Endfield
Produced by	Donald Factor Frederick Schwartz
Written by	Cy Endfield additional dialogue: Kevin Duggan Kenneth Fueurman George Lazenby
Based on	a story by Derek Marlowe Joe Massot
Starring	George Lazenby Ben Carruthers Robin Hunter Edward Judd Alan Barnes Cy Endfield Germaine Greer Rudolph Walker Chrissie Townson
Music by	Phillip Goodhand-Tait
Cinematography	Tony Imi
Production company	Appaloosa Pictures Ionian
Distributed by	Hemdale Film Corporation
Release date	May 1972 (London) July 1972 (Dublin) 1974 (Australia)
Running time	94 min.
Country	United Kingdom
Language	English
Budget	£300,000

Universal Soldier is a 1971 film starring George Lazenby as a mercenary. It was the final film of veteran director Cy Endfield, who also has an acting role in it. The title came from the 1964 song of the same name by Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Ryker (Lazenby), a former mercenary, comes out of retirement to take part in the overthrow of an African dictator. He travels to London to meet former war comrade Jesse Jones (Ben Carruthers), and his associates Freddy Bradshaw (Robin Hunter) and Temple Smith (Alan Barnes). After helping fellow mercenaries test and ship weapons to South Africa, Ryker begins to have ethical concerns about his involvement. He eventually distances himself from the others, and rents a flat in London. He falls into hippie culture, and begins dating a girl named Chrissie (Chrissie Townson).

Jesse tracks down Ryker. Explaining that the operation is not producing the profits he expected, he tries to convince Ryker to return. Ryker declines, but develops a plan with Jesse to thwart the operation and take the money for themselves. They succeed and escape with Bradshaw's car. A weapons dealer named Rawlings (Edward Judd) pursues them.

Jesse discovers that their "take" is somewhat less than the amount of cash they supposedly embezzled. Ryker reveals that his real plan was to sabotage the gun running operation, not to take all the money. Jesse assaults Ryker; Ryker, now a pacifist, refuses to defend himself. Ryker is eventually forced to break Jesse's ankle to end his assault. As Ryker bundles Jesse into a car to seek medical treatment, Rawlings shoots them down with rifle fire.

George Lazenby had just achieved international fame playing James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service but decided not to repeat the role. He spent over a year deciding what film to make next. Lazenby:

I went to Cy Endfield and told him I wanted to make the kind of film I could believe in. He came back two days later with a conventional script about gun-runners – just a joke to both of us. But with his 28 years' experience in the business he knew we had to have that kind of script to raise the backing.