Popcorn Western Friday: The Professionals (1966)

What’s it About?

Four men, all of them with different skillsets, are brought together by a wealthy businessman with one mission: cross the border into Mexico to rescue his wife who has been kidnapped by a Mexican revolutionary. But this simple rescue mission is far more complex than they realize…

Who’s in it?

This is the great Woody Strode, one of the few black actors to play a major character in these early westerns, playing the expert tracker Jake. What I loved about this is that the question of race only comes up one time. Lee Marvin’s Fardan is asked by his employer if he has an issue working with a Black man. He says he doesn’t, and THAT’S IT. No one ever questions his expertise, and no one doubts what he can do, ever. As with the rest of them, he’s a pro at being a tracker, and doesn’t make mistakes. He’s treated the same as every other member of the team, as it should be.

It was still something even in 1966 to see a western with a Black character treated as an equal among his white team members. Particularly since the others were major actors in Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster and Robert Ryan.

Warning!

The Professionals is a really fun Mission-Impossible style western featuring grand vistas and some really great suspenseful set pieces. The only negative is Raza, the main “villain”, a Mexican character played by the very not Mexican Jack Palance. He does a good enough job, but in todays’ world that casting isn’t going to fly. Your mileage may vary with that.

Where To Watch:

You can find The Professionals on DVD or Blu Ray on Amazon.

You can also stream on Netflix for free or rent through Google Play or Amazon Prime Video.

If you give it a watch let me know what you thought of the film in the comments below!