The Professionals by Frank O’Rourke

(pb; 1964 – original title: A Mule for the Marquesa)

From the back cover

“They’re past masters of the violent arts of destruction and killing. They have to conquer the bandit-infested, waterless wasteland and murderous mountains of Mexico. And they have to conquer the most ruthless, intelligent, lethal, and cunning bandit chieftain in all that harsh countryside.

“All of this to rescue a woman who might just be enjoying it where she is!”

Review

Professionals is an entertaining, good western. O’Rourke’s writing alternates between rough, bordering-on-poetic ruminations on nature and the nature of men, excellent and taut dialogue and action sequences, and detailed descriptions of the titular characters prepping for the mission’s completion even as they cross unforgiving mountains and desert to rescue a woman who might not want to be taken back to her husband. Worth reading, this.

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The resulting film was released stateside on December 13, 1966. It was directed by Richard Brooks, who also wrote the screenplay.

Lee Marvin played Fardan. Burt Lancaster played Dolworth. Robert Ryan played Ehrengard. Woody Strode played Jake. Rafael Bertrand played Fierro. Joe De Santis played Ortega. 

Jorge Martínez de Hoyos played Padilla. Claudia Cardinale played Maria. Ralph Bellamy played Grant. Jack Palance played Jesus Raza. 

Marie Gomez played Chiquita. Vaughn Taylor played a “Banker.”