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The Professionals

PG-13 Released Nov 2, 1966 1h 57m Western Action Drama List
90% Tomatometer 20 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
Four soldiers of fortune are hired by a wealthy rancher to rescue his beautiful young wife who has been kidnapped by a villainous Mexican bandit. When they finally find her, after fighting their way across deserts and mountains, they discover she is not being held against her will. This causes friction within the band as to whether they should honor their agreement.
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The Professionals

Critics Reviews

View All (20) Critics Reviews
Variety Staff Variety Exciting explosive sequences, good overall pacing and acting overcome a sometimes thin script. Apr 8, 2008 Full Review Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader Underrated all-star western. Apr 8, 2008 Full Review Time Out It was comprehensively eclipsed by Peckinpah's ostensibly similar The Wild Bunch. Jun 24, 2006 Full Review Ian Kane Epoch Times Minor complaints aside, “The Professionals” is a solid, south-of-the-border adventure yarn set during the waning days of the Mexican Revolution. Rated: 3.5/5 May 1, 2024 Full Review Robert Roten Laramie Movie Scope I don't know if this film fits into what some film historians call the 'Golden Age of Hollywood Westerns,' but it certainly belongs in the top tier of the Western genre. It is expertly written, directed and acted by top Hollywood talent. Rated: B+ Sep 24, 2022 Full Review Roger Moore Movie Nation Palance and Lancaster grin, chew the scenery and devour the tough-guy talk that is this film's calling card, decades after its release. Rated: 3/4 Mar 6, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Farah R The Professionals might not be as compelling as other westerns in that time, but it makes up for what it lacks in good writing with decent twits and performances. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 01/02/24 Full Review CodyZamboni This Western about mercenaries finding their moral code, is surprising, exciting, and well performed. Movie features tons of pumped up action involving dynamite, bow and arrows, machine guns, and Claudia Cardinale's heaving bosom. The four big stars are great, but the filmmakers somehow don't give Robert Ryan much to do. And the last half hour turns into The Burt Lancaster Show. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/02/23 Full Review Diogo S WOW. What a big , beautiful Surprise. The score is Terrific!!! The plot is fantastic and the performances amazing. By the way, what a GORGEOUS woman!!!!!!!! Western ESPETACULAR ótima história, atuações fantásticas, tiroteios intensos... INCRIVEL. Deserves more Recognition, that is for sure!!!!!! A truly GREAT Western... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! UNDERRATED MASTERPIECE Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/01/22 Full Review Audience Member This classic Western was really good. Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Woody Strode, Jack Palance, Robert Ryan, Claudia Cardinale, Ralph Bellamy, and the rest of the cast did a fantastic job in this movie. The plot of the movie was entertaining and dramatic. It's about doing a job for money, but then deciding on whether to do the right thing or not. If you haven't seen this classic movie yet, check it out sometime. It's worth watching. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/18/23 Full Review william d Lee Marvin. Burt Lancaster. Woody Strode. Jack Palance. And balancing out all that testosterone is the lovely Claudia Cardinale. What more could you want? Well, a better story for one, but this one is still worth watching. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A star studded cast in a really bad movie (and spare no expense). Made in 1966 toward the end of the 'Big Studio' period in Hollywood, this one displays why formula movies do not work. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 01/15/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Professionals

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Cast & Crew

Major Dundee 97% 67% Major Dundee Hang 'Em High 92% 73% Hang 'Em High TRAILER for Hang 'Em High Once Upon a Time in the West 96% 94% Once Upon a Time in the West Monte Walsh 89% 64% Monte Walsh Little Big Man 91% 87% Little Big Man Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis Four soldiers of fortune are hired by a wealthy rancher to rescue his beautiful young wife who has been kidnapped by a villainous Mexican bandit. When they finally find her, after fighting their way across deserts and mountains, they discover she is not being held against her will. This causes friction within the band as to whether they should honor their agreement.
Director
Richard Brooks
Screenwriter
Richard Brooks, Frank O'Rourke
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia, TriStar Pictures
Rating
PG-13
Genre
Western, Action, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 2, 1966, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 57m
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