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The Professionals
1966 117 min United States of America PG-13 16+
★7.8
Western, Adventure, Action
Director: Richard Brooks
Trailers
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Description
An arrogant Texas millionaire hires four adventurers to rescue his kidnapped wife from a notorious Mexican bandit.
US Gross:
$19.54M
Starring
Burt Lancaster
Actor
Lee Marvin
Actor
Robert Ryan
Actor
Awards
Golden Globe 1967
— Best Female Debut
Golden Globe 1967
— Best Picture (Drama)
Academy Awards 1967
— Best Cinematography (Color)
Academy Awards 1967
— Best Director
Academy Awards 1967
— Best Adapted Screenplay
Key opinion
The Professionals is widely regarded as a visually impressive and expertly cast Western that marks the end of an era for the genre's classic leads. While its action-packed, revisionist approach to the morality of mercenary life is praised for its depth and chemistry, some find the plot formulaic or lacking the distinctive spark of its contemporaries.
| Acting | The ensemble of legendary genre stars, including Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, and Woody Strode, delivers strong chemistry that elevates the material. | |
| Cinematography | Conrad L. Hall’s cinematography captures the desert landscapes of Death Valley and the Valley of Fire with exceptional visual quality. | |
| Theme | The narrative explores revisionist themes regarding disillusionment and the shifting morality of the Old West, effectively questioning the distinction between heroes and villains. | |
| Screenplay | The screenplay is viewed as a mixed bag, with some finding it a compelling, cynical take on the genre, while others criticize it as a thin or unoriginal derivation of films like The Magnificent Seven. |