Here lies a western that isn't very well known now-a-days, it's not a film that people often talk about and it's not on any movie list I've encountered either and that's a real shame. It is a very well made, well directed and under-rated film. Directed by Richard Brooks who directed such films as 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' in 1958, a very good and fresh looking film staring Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman & Burl Ives, 'Elmer Gantry' in 1960 which I did not care much for except for Lancaster's academy award winning performance, and his masterpiece, 'In Cold Blood' in 1967. He also wrote the terrific film-noir film 'Key Largo' from 1948 staring the great Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson & Lauren Bacall.
The film stars Burt Lancaster as Dolworth, Lee Marvin as Rico, Robert Ryan as Ehrengard & Woody Strode as Jake and they all have something in common, they're all professionals in what they do. It begins with arrogant Texas millionaire offering a proposition to the professionals stating that his wife Maria (played by the beautiful Claudia Cardinale) has been kidnapped by a notorious Mexican bandit named Jesus Raza played by Jack Palance.
As the men track down Maria, not everything goes as planned but not because they 'screw up' but because it seems that they've been had.
Now besides the great directing of Brooks, it is a well written western and it was written by Brooks himself in which he was nominated for an Oscar for best screen play along with a nomination for best director.
This film had plenty to offer film goers, strong performances from the whole cast, beautiful cinematography and awesome and well shot action sequences which never seize to disappoint which are not so common in American westerns. I can also see how this film may have slightly inspired Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece, 'The Wild Bunch' from 1969 as there are some slight similarities in the two films, even though 'The Professionals' is no match for 'The Wild Bunch'.
This is a well-casted western that even non-western fans can enjoy and of course Lancaster fans as it is tailor made for Burt and I must out of the whole cast, Lancaster's is the performance that conquers as it is the most interesting of them all as Bill Dolworth, the man who loves all women.
Jake Sharp: "We could all do with a rest." Hans Ehrengard: "A shave would be a relief, too." Jake Sharp: "So would a bath." Bill Dolworth: "Might as well throw in a woman. Any size, any age, any color. Any woman."
I would normally go for the 'bad ass' Lee Marvin performance but I just could not resist Dolworth's character. It's a film that you can enjoy watching over and over again and that's what's important. I love watching this film, sheer entertainment.
The film stars Burt Lancaster as Dolworth, Lee Marvin as Rico, Robert Ryan as Ehrengard & Woody Strode as Jake and they all have something in common, they're all professionals in what they do. It begins with arrogant Texas millionaire offering a proposition to the professionals stating that his wife Maria (played by the beautiful Claudia Cardinale) has been kidnapped by a notorious Mexican bandit named Jesus Raza played by Jack Palance.
As the men track down Maria, not everything goes as planned but not because they 'screw up' but because it seems that they've been had.
Now besides the great directing of Brooks, it is a well written western and it was written by Brooks himself in which he was nominated for an Oscar for best screen play along with a nomination for best director.
This film had plenty to offer film goers, strong performances from the whole cast, beautiful cinematography and awesome and well shot action sequences which never seize to disappoint which are not so common in American westerns. I can also see how this film may have slightly inspired Sam Peckinpah's masterpiece, 'The Wild Bunch' from 1969 as there are some slight similarities in the two films, even though 'The Professionals' is no match for 'The Wild Bunch'.
This is a well-casted western that even non-western fans can enjoy and of course Lancaster fans as it is tailor made for Burt and I must out of the whole cast, Lancaster's is the performance that conquers as it is the most interesting of them all as Bill Dolworth, the man who loves all women.
Jake Sharp: "We could all do with a rest." Hans Ehrengard: "A shave would be a relief, too." Jake Sharp: "So would a bath." Bill Dolworth: "Might as well throw in a woman. Any size, any age, any color. Any woman."
I would normally go for the 'bad ass' Lee Marvin performance but I just could not resist Dolworth's character. It's a film that you can enjoy watching over and over again and that's what's important. I love watching this film, sheer entertainment.