The Mercenary

PG-13

1968

1h 45m

Western

List

80%

5 Reviews

Tomatometer

76%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

Sergei Kowalski (Franco Nero), a mercenary only out for himself and a few dollars, joins up with a Mexican peasant-turned-revolutionary, Paco Roman (Tony Musante), when the price is right. No longer content to toil for the rich and powerful, Roman plans to bring a new order to Mexico by force with his small ragtag group. While Roman and Kowalski are outnumbered facing the Mexican army, they also have to contend with Curly (Jack Palance), a vengeful killer out for blood.

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Drew Hunt

Chicago Reader

Corbucci is no stranger to stylistic excess. In this film, his camera is characteristically unencumbered...and his scenes of sadism, oddball humor, and hyperbolic political sentiment form a potent if uneven mixture of tones.

Aug 2, 2013

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

Although less cohesive than the sublime The Great Silence, there's enough going for The Mercenary to secure its reputation as a stellar entry in the spaghetti western cycle.

Rated: 3.5/5

Aug 31, 2020

Full Review

Austin Trunick

Under the Radar

If you're any sort of fan of Italian Westerns, there's no conceivable way you won't thoroughly enjoy this entry into the genre.

Dec 13, 2017

Full Review

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Amazing.

Rated: 4/4

Nov 10, 2017

Full Review

Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

An overtly leftist political pic, that's also a stylish spaghetti western comedy of excessive violence and cruelty.

Rated: B

Oct 4, 2013

Full Review

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Crey Fish S

One of the most epic spaghetti westerns ever put on screen! Stacks up with the likes of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

09/09/22

Full Review

Audience Member

On the northern side of the Mexico–United States border, Sergei "Polack" Kowalski (Franco Nero), a well-groomed, greedy mercenary, attends a circus performance where he recognizes the show's lead rodeo clown as Paco Roman. During the performance, Kowalski reminisces on how he and Paco fought together as revolutionaries against the Mexican Government. Prior to the start of their partnership, Paco, a peon working in a silver mine owned by Elias Garcia, rebels against his boss and humiliates him and his two brothers, including Colonel Alfonso Garcia. He is soon captured, but saved from execution by his friends. Meanwhile, Kowalski makes a deal with Elias and his brother to take their silver safely across the border. Curly (Jack Palance), Kowalski's flamboyant American rival, sees the three men talking and tracks down the brothers to find out what they hired Kowalski for, after which Curly kills the two. When Kowalski arrives at the mine to meet the Garcias, he meets Paco and his revolutionaries instead. Colonel Garcia's troops arrive to attack them, and Kowalski agrees to help Paco fight them for money. With the help of Kowalski and his Hotchkiss M1914 machine gun, the revolutionaries drive Colonel Garcia's forces away. Kowalski then leaves, but he is soon ambushed by Curly. Paco's group arrives and kills Curly's men. Although Curly swears revenge, they let him go after stripping him of his clothes. Paco then hires Kowalski to teach him how to lead a revolution... This 1968 Zapata Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci starring the always cool Franco Nero as the a well-groomed, greedy mercenary Sergei "Polack" Kowalski with a musical score by Ennio Morricone has all the great ingredients of a Zapata Western. Nice storyline with several twists, great sceneries, comedy, drama, over the top action and acting plus some really great cinematography. Well worth to see.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of the most epic spaghetti westerns ever put on screen! Stacks up with the likes of the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A lot of chaos and hullabaloo, back and forth in an endless and rather thin plot, full of clichés based on the myth of the Mexican revolution. After all, entertaining and not bad for being another Spaghetti Western, as in cinematographically well executed and with good actors, but the best part is the music score by Ennio Morricone and Bruno Nicolai, which is pivotal. Regardless, it could have been made into something really good.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A solid spaghetti western, easily Franco Nero's 3rd or maybe 4th best movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/11/23

Full Review

delysid d

this is a classic italian western

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/09/18

Full Review

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Sergio Corbucci

Director

Franco Nero

Sergei Kowalksi

Tony Musante

Paco Roman

Jack Palance

Ricciolo

Giovanna Ralli

Columba

Edorardo Fajardo

Alfonso Garcia

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Synopsis

Sergei Kowalski (Franco Nero), a mercenary only out for himself and a few dollars, joins up with a Mexican peasant-turned-revolutionary, Paco Roman (Tony Musante), when the price is right. No longer content to toil for the rich and powerful, Roman plans to bring a new order to Mexico by force with his small ragtag group. While Roman and Kowalski are outnumbered facing the Mexican army, they also have to contend with Curly (Jack Palance), a vengeful killer out for blood.

Director: Sergio Corbucci
Screenwriter: Luciano Vincenzoni, Sergio Spina, Adriano Bolzoni, Sergio Corbucci
Rating: PG-13 (Brief Nudity|Violence)
Genre: Western
Original Language: Italian
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 4, 2018
Runtime: 1h 45m