Actors can make a movie, provided the script is well written, and provided the director knows how to use the script and the actors. This film, a classic in its own right, benefits from all three essential elements. The all-star (and I mean ALL-STAR) cast includes Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Woody Strode, and last but certainly not least, the incomparable Jack Palace. All but Woody Strode had carried many movies on their more than adequate shoulders; each a Hollywood star in their own right. And here we have 5 of them in one picture. It does not get much better than this! And if that is not enough,, the supporting cast of Claudia Cardinale, Ralph Bellamy, and Marie Gomez, add so much more to this already superb cast. I cannot imagine any of today's actors or actresses supplanting the original cast! They work so well together, the acting so well done, that one forgets they are acting and just enjoys the story. Woody Strode's part, as a black man cast with 4 white stars, is exceptionally courageous at the time. Recall, this is 1966, the height of the civil rights movement in the USA, and here is a black man getting equal billing with his co-stars. It took considerable courage to cast Mr. Strode, and he is more than equal to the task. The casting is only the beginning; the script and screen play are superb as well, capturing the excitement of the viewer from the first to last frames. The story is quite simply really - four professionals are paid by a rich rancher (Bellamy) to recapture a woman who has been apprehended by a Mexican outlaw (Palance). What makes the script so entertaining is that nothing is as it seems. There are some twists and turns in the script that will keep the viewer thoroughly engaged. The ending is totally unexpected, but is as satisfying an ending as one could want. The director, Richard Brooks, is the man who masterfully puts the cast and script together and achieves this masterpiece in film making. Each scene is shot with precision and economy. The panoramas of the west are breathtakingly beautiful. Nothing is wasted in Brook's directorship. Like all great directors, he knew how to piece the film together coherently and get the best acting performances out of his excellent cast. This movie is in my list of my 25 all-time westerns. I think you will like it too. Enjoy and evening with the best actors of the 1960's and see what the "good old days" were all about. kone

Oh my goodness, why did it take me so long to discover this film? You know, I have had it in my Blu-ray collection for a few years now, sitting in shrink-wrap. It wasn't until members of Home Theater Forum recommended this title, that I gave it a look. It only takes the first five minutes of the film to realize that this film is going to be a great ride! You know, I have put a lot of thought to this, and come to the realization of something I probably knew already. Out of all the leading tough guys that exist in motion picture history, whether it be Eastwood, Wayne, Bronson, McQueen, Cagney or De Niro....my absolute favorite would be Burt Lancaster. The Professionals is one of Burt's very best, particularly for the fact that he's in the company of some very enjoyable first-rate actors. This is basically about a team of Professionals, from all walks of life, who have been hired by a wealthy oil baron to rescue his wife who has been kidnapped deep into the heart of Mexico. The film is filled with expertly choreographed action sequences, beautiful cinematography, and a lively score that helps keep things well paced. There isn't a dull moment in this film, and time after time it brought a smile to my face. In fact, The Professionals can be placed up on the mantle with the greatest westerns of all time. It is so much fun to watch, and is loaded with so much firepower, that it makes for repeated watches. If you have never seen this film -- and I am sure I am one of the last who hasn't -- it is worth a blind purchase. It's only $7 on Amazon as I type this review. Just beware upside down wooden crosses!

The Professionals is one of Hollywood's last great Westerns. It's not the last great one made; Westerns that followed it include The Wild Bunch, Once Upon a Time in the West (non-American) & Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, just to name a few but not all. The cast is loaded: Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, Claudia Cardinale, Woody Strode, Jack Palance & Ralph Bellamy. It's almost a who's who listing of actors. J. W. Grant (Bellamy) wants his kidnapped wife, Maria (Cardinale) rescued. He hires a team of professionals to accomplish this: Bill Dolworth (Lancaster), an explosives expert; Henry Fardan (Marvin), expert in tactics; Hans Ehrengard (Ryan), a horse expert; & Jake Sharp (Strode), an expert with the longbow. All of these come in handy because there's a call for their particular expertise. They are given 9 days to pull off the rescue. They have to enter the Mexican desert & the fortress stronghold of Capt. Jesus Raza (Palance). Not only will this be difficult, Dolworth & Fardan had fought alongside with Raza earlier in the Mexican Revolution. The film takes place in 1917 which makes it one of the latest Westerns ever done. Let it be suffice to say that not all things are as they seem as this team of crack professionals go after Raza. There are some plot twists & a surprise ending. The Professionals is an extremely well done film directed by Richard Brooks. Brooks was not on Hollywood's A-list but he was one of their better directors & had some excellent films to his credit. Brooks began his career as a screenwriter then went into directing. In the vast majority of the films he directed he also did the screenplay. The Professionals was nominated for 3 Academy Awards in 1966: Best Adapted Screenplay (Brooks), Best Color Cinematography (Conrad Hall) & Best Director (Brooks) but didn't take any of them home. The Directors Guild also nominated Brooks for Best Director but failed to capture this award either. This Special Edition has some bonus features: "The Professionals - A Classic", "Burt Lancaster - A Portrait" & "Memories from The Professionals". These are all entertaining & informative. The audio & video are in excellent condition.

Richard Brooks directs the virtually perfect movie. Cast crew and script combine and produce excellence. Five stars are not enough.

Good story love the movie highly recommend this one!

Not sure but may have written a review previously but this is one of my favorite films. I can watch it over and over and have. This was the second copy O have of it. It was included in a DVD I purchased awhile ago with 6 films on it. I liked it so much and played it often so decided to purchase the individual DVD recently. I am a fan of those who star in it though I must admit I like Lee Marvin much better in a film like this then I do playing Liberty Valance.

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Entertaining western with a twist.