The Professionals (1966)

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Richard Brooks (written by)
Frank O'Rourke (novel)

Release Date:

2 November 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Western

Tagline:

It Captures The Flavor Of A Brawling Lusty Mexico!

Plot:

An arrogant Texas millionaire hires four adventurers to rescue his kidnapped wife from a notorious Mexican bandit.

Plot Keywords:

Goat Herder | Cemetery | Inverted Cross | Horse Killed | Automatic Rifle

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Burt Lancaster	...	Bill Dolworth
Lee Marvin	...	Henry 'Rico' Fardan
Robert Ryan	...	Hans Ehrengard
Woody Strode	...	Jake Sharp
Jack Palance	...	Jesus Raza
Claudia Cardinale	...	Mrs. Maria Grant
Ralph Bellamy	...	Joe Grant
Joe De Santis	...	Ortega
Rafael Bertrand	...	Fierro
Jorge Martínez de Hoyos	...	Eduardo Padilla - Goatkeeper (as Jorge Martinez de Hoyos)
Marie Gomez	...	Chiquita
José Chávez	...	Revolutionary (as Jose Chavez)
Carlos Romero	...	Revolutionary
Vaughn Taylor	...	Banker Who Delivers $100,000
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Cadiente	...	(uncredited)
Vincente Cadiente	...	(uncredited)
Elizabeth Campbell	...	Mexican Girl (uncredited)
Don Carlos	...	Bandit (uncredited)
Leigh Chapman	...	Lady (uncredited)
Roberto Contreras	...	Bandit (uncredited)
Dirk Evans	...	Man at Door (uncredited)
Foster Hood	...	(uncredited)
Darwin Lamb	...	Hooper - Grant's Associate (uncredited)
Eddie Little Sky	...	Jake's Prisoner (uncredited)
John Lopez	...	Mexican Servant (uncredited)
John McKee	...	Sheriff (uncredited)
Henry O'Brien	...	(uncredited)
Philip L. Parslow	...	Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Brooks

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Brooks		written by
Frank O'Rourke		novel "A Mule for the Marquesa"

Produced by
Richard Brooks	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Maurice Jarre

Cinematography by
Conrad L. Hall		(director of photography) (as Conrad Hall)

Film Editing by
Peter Zinner

Art Direction by
Ted Haworth		(as Edward S. Haworth)

Set Decoration by
Frank Tuttle

Makeup Department
Jackie Bone	....	hair stylist
Robert J. Schiffer	....	makeup artist (as Robert Schiffer)

Production Management
Lee Lukather	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tom Shaw	....	assistant director

Art Department
Joe LaBella	....	property master (as Joseph La Bella)

Sound Department
Del Harris	....	sound effects
Jack Haynes	....	sound
William M. Randall Jr.	....	sound (as William Randall Jr.)
Charles J. Rice	....	sound supervisor
Kay Rose	....	sound effects

Special Effects by
Willis Cook	....	special effects
Chuck Gaspar	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Boyd Cabeen	....	stunt double (uncredited)
John Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tony Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
John McKee	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ron Veto	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Harry Sundby	....	chief electrician
Bobby Byrne	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Jordan Cronenweth	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
William A. Fraker	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Michael A. Jones	....	assistant chief lighting technician (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jack Martell	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Maurice Jarre	....	conductor
Maury Winetrobe	....	music editor

Other crew
John Franco	....	script supervisor
Cheryl Leigh	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Dominic Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)
Ruth Santarone	....	caterer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation
• Pax Enterprises

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures
• CBS Television (1972) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (video)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia-Bavaria Filmgesellschaft m.b.H. (1966) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Pioneer Entertainment (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• Pioneer Entertainment (19??) (USA) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (19??) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (19??) (USA) (laserdisc)
• Warner-Columbia Film (1966) (France) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources  courtesy of
• U.S. Department of Interior  courtesy of

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence and nudity.

Runtime:

117 min | UK:123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #21227) (original rating) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:16 | USA:GP (1970) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating: 1999)

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

During the filming of the scene where Maria attempts to escape through a canyon wired with dynamite, Claudia Cardinale's stunt double was badly injured during the explosion. Cardinale, who had never ridden a horse before, performed the stunt herself for the final cut, and escaped uninjured.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Ehrengard is preparing a horse shoe in the heat of the train's engine. He takes it out with tongs, glowing orange and places it in a nearby water bucket. There is a hiss - but there is no steam produced.

Quotes:

Bill Dolworth: Relax. The stuff you're handling is safe. These beaded sticks are the tricky ones. It's the heat. Makes 'em sweat. Nitro. When they're dry and cool, they're safe and obedient. We'll leave these sweaty ones behind. Ventilate 'em. Cool 'em. Then maybe they'll behave.
Jake Sharp: Right now, I don't know if it's me or the dynamite that doin' all that sweatin'.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Extreme Prejudice (1987)

Everything about the film is professional

Set in the aftermath of the Mexican revolution, this action drama concerns the rescue of a Mexican lady (Cardinale) who is married to a rich, older, white man (Bellamy.) She has been taken from her American home back down to Mexico by notorious outlaw Palance. Bellamy hires a motley crew of mercenaries to retrieve Cardinale, promising them $10,000 each upon her return. The crew is led by tough as nails Marvin and includes free-wheeling dynamite-man Lancaster, sensitive rustler Ryan and archery expert Strode. This foursome sets out across punishing desert terrain to reach Cardinale and bring her back to the U.S. border. The job is at least as difficult as they expected and getting back to the border is as hard, if not harder, than getting to Palance's lair was. The film has an exceptional ensemble cast of pros. The members of the rescue team form an uneasy affection for one another. Stern Marvin and toothy, off-the-cuff Lancaster make a great pair. Ryan adds years of presence to his smallish role and Strode is his usual imposing physical entity. Palance is always a great villain and has some decent moments here. Bellamy does a nice job with his sketchy character. Cardinale is amazingly curvy and attractive even in the dusty surroundings. There is also a healthy dose of strong action, much of it taking place in the impressive domain of Palance. Dots of humor along the way relieve the tension. Time hasn't been particularly kind to Maurice Jarre's offbeat score and the film could have been just a tad shorter, but overall it is an interesting and absorbing action film.