The Professionals (1966 film)
| The Professionals | |
|---|---|
original film poster by Howard Terpning
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| Directed by | Richard Brooks |
| Produced by | Richard Brooks |
| Written by | Richard Brooks |
| Based on |
A Mule for the Marquesa by Frank O'Rourke |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Maurice Jarre |
| Cinematography | Conrad L. Hall |
| Edited by | Peter Zinner |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
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Release date
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Running time
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117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $19,537,346 |
The Professionals is a 1966 American western written, produced, and directed by Richard Brooks. It starred Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, and Claudia Cardinale, with Jack Palance, Ralph Bellamy, and Woody Strode in supporting roles. The script was adapted from the novel A Mule for the Marquesa by Frank O'Rourke.
The film received three Academy Award nominations and an enthusiastic critical reception.
During the Mexican Revolution, Rancher J.W. Grant hires four men, who are all experts in their respective fields, to rescue his kidnapped wife, Maria from Jesus Raza, a former revolutionary leader-turned-bandit.
Henry "Rico" Fardan is a weapons specialist, Bill Dolworth is an explosives expert, the horse wrangler is Hans Ehrengard, and Jake Sharp is a traditional Apache scout, skilled with a bow and arrow. Fardan and Dolworth, having both fought under the command of Pancho Villa, have a high regard for Raza as a soldier. But as cynical professionals, they have no qualms about killing him now.
After crossing the Mexican border, the team tracks the bandits to their hideout. They witness soldiers on a government train being massacred by Raza's small army. The professionals follow the captured train to the end of the line and retake it from the bandits. Some move on to the bandit camp and observe Raza and his followers—including a female soldier, Chiquita. At nightfall, Fardan infiltrates Raza's private quarters but he is stopped from killing him by Maria, the kidnapped wife. Dolworth concludes, "we've been had."
Fardan escapes with Grant's wife. Back at the train, they find that it has been retaken by the bandits. After a shootout, they retreat into the mountains, pursued by Raza and his men. The professionals evade capture by using explosives to bring down the walls of a gully, thus blocking the bandits' path and delaying their pursuit. It is then revealed that they had not rescued Grant's kidnapped wife but Raza's willing mistress. Grant "bought" Maria for an arranged marriage only for her to escape and return to her "true love" in Mexico.
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