Il Mercenario / The Mercenary / A professional Gun (1968)

[Neville]

Big mistake here: I should have watched this one BEFORE "Compañeros" (1970), the other Corbucci-Nero film I mentioned some time ago, as it looks like a sequel / remake of this one.

Both films involve a foreigner, played tongue-in-cheek by Franco Nero, which becomes involved in the Mexican Revolution despite his materialistic attitude, and also in both films Jack Palance plays the villain.

As far as Sergio Corbucci's films go, this might be one of his best. The narrative is tighter than in "Compañeros", and despite Corbucci's main focus on action rather than in politics it takes its core subject far more seriously, as Nero's antics not only cause comic relief (like in the skirmish where he refuses to fight unless he is paid beforehand), but also provide some food for though, like the scene where, just to prove his superiority to the Mexican fighters, he demands their canteens so he can take a shower in the middle of the desert.

Corbucci is Corbucci, and sometimes the narrative feels too episodic or simplistic, but the climax is so well staged that there's no doubt of the man's talent. From what I've seen of his work, this could be easily his best film, and certainly the most entertaining of the bunch.

[Scott]

Neville,  looks like a good one with a bigger budget than most Spaghetti Westerns. A lot of these films are not making it to the U.S.. Noticed on Youtube that there are many more films that I have yet to view from this genre. Franco Nero and Jack Palance are in THE MERCENARY.

The Mercenary (1968) - Trailer

The Time Machine - Internet Magazine