The Professionals

I love Lee Marvin.

Ever since, as a kid, I saw him in Paint Your Wagon, ive loved watching him in movies.

A real man's man. An alcoholic who looked twenty years older than he was but what a natural on the big screen.

This is the story of an arrogant Texas millionaire hires four adventurers to rescue his kidnapped wife from a notorious Mexican bandit.

My favourite western of all time is The Magnificent Seven and this definitely has the feel of that great film.

Two brilliant actors in Marvin and Lancaster fighting it out for top billing just like Bryner and McQueen did six years earlier.

Everyone on show is on top of their game.

Marvin, rough and ready as usual. Burt Lancaster doing his own stunts. Woody Strode looking cool and Robert Ryan being Mr Pessimism. Even Jack Palance is totally convincing as the Mexican war lord.

The story is easy to follow and the ending is satisfying even though it didn't work out as they all would have hoped.

The Professionals is a brilliant watch.