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.
#
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.”
