Based on novel by Frank O'Rourke titled ¨A mule for the Marquese¨ and screen-written with fine eye by Richard Brooks ; it deals about some aging mercenaries who get chance redeem themselves . A wealthy magnate named Grant (Ralph Bellamy) employs a group of expert mercenaries, as the title characters, to rescue his wife (Claudia Cardinale),from the clutches of Raza (Jack Palance)who allegedly abducted her . The bunch (Woody Strode, Robert Ryan) is led by Fardan(Lee Marvin) and Dodworth(Burt Lancaster). The two mercenaries (Marvin,Lancaster) and Raza (Palance) had previously fought in Mexican Revolution and entering in City of Mexico along with Pancho Villa and Emilio Zapata.

A kidnapping and its rescue is the subject of this stunning adventure , an epic in every sense of word. Exciting, funny and well acted , especially by Burt Lancaster as tough soldier-of-fortune. It was deservedly nominated to Academy Award for direction, screenplay, cinematography and score. Photographed in Technicolor and Panavison by Conrad Hall in Valley of Fire State Park and its Coyote Pass and Deah Valley (Nevada) where was built a Mexican headquarter for the Mexican guerrilla. Exceptional soundtrack by Maurice Jarre, now classic, with Mexican and military music. Directed and screen-played with magnificent style by Richard Brooks (Elmer Gantry, In cold blood, lord Jim) who subsequently directed another good Western titled ¨Bite the bullet¨ with Gene Hackman and Candice Bergen .The ¨Professionals¨ is an authentic must see, not to be missed for buffs of the genre. A successful movie during its theatrical release because of its awesome acting, dialog, score are world class.

This was an excellent movie with only one minor quibble on my part. Towards the end, when Burt Lancaster is taking on the Jack Palance and his men in the canyon, the dialog suddenly becomes REALLY annoying and at one point consists of about 15 metaphors spoken by both characters in about 2 minutes time--as well as the many clichés! What happened to the good dialog prior to this? Well, I guess any writer can have a lull.

Apart from that, the acting and writing are good. I especially like the actors they chose--I always like seeing Woody Strode, and Ryan, Lancaster and Marvin are all good as tough but professional guns for hire. And, despite Cardinale being Italian and Palance being an American, both were fine as Mexicans. Really I have no complaints about the movie except for the still scene in the canyons--WHAT occurred wasn't the problem it was just how the characters suddenly TALK and TALK and TALK--something that was thankfully avoided in the first 80% of the movie.

A great amount of talent on display in The Professionals and mostly very well used. It is a shame that Robert Ryan's role is so underwritten and he looked as lost as he did in a somewhat atypical role(this is the same Robert Ryan who made an unforgettable villain in Claggart in 1962's Billy Budd). For my liking too the film ends a little too tidily with some of the scripting a tad confused. But The Professionals is superbly made with sweeping photography that makes expansive use of the colourfully exotic locations and a lusciously evocative score from none other than Maurice Jarre, cannot get enough of the spine chilling opening sequence. The script crackles with wit and tension and is remarkably quotable(it was nominated for a Oscar and in my opinion was deserving of the nomination),the action is rousingly staged and the story, apart from a couple of plodding moments in the middle, is a vast majority of the time gripping. It was great also to see characters that were likable as well as flawed rather than resorting too much to one-dimensional stereotypes. The Professionals is expertly directed- some of the best direction of any Western not from John Ford, Sam Pekinpah or Sergio Leone names on them. And expertly acted as well, with Burt Lancaster on blisteringly funny form and Jack Palance as a slightly hammy but entertainingly menacing villain standing out, their scene on the rocks being an acting highlight. Lee Marvin gives a brooding performance without ever being one-note- every inch the figure of authority- and Claudia Cardinale looks gorgeous and involved. Ralph Bellamy is also excellent, his character's development is sketchy but he does somehow manage to make him interesting and compelling. All in all, a fine film that is sadly somewhat under-seen, the word professional for this near-classic is very apt. 8/10 Bethany Cox