The Professionals (1966)

Henry "Rico" Fardan (Lee Marvin) is hired by millionaire JW Grant (Ralph Belamy) to rescue his kidnapped wife (Claudia Cardinale) from Jesus Raza (Jack Palance), a Mexican revolutionary.  Fardan's crew consists of Hans Ehrengard (Robert Ryan) who is former cavalry officer and all-around horse expert, Jake Sharp (Woody Strode) who is a master tracker, crack rifleman, and a skilled archer.  Rico says he needs an explosives man added to the team, suggesting Bill Dolworth (Burt Lancaster).  Grant happily agrees.  The four men cross into Mexico.  They haven't gone far when they discover they are being hunted by a party of ten bandits.  The professionals show just how professional they are by taking down the larger force.

During the trek, it is learned that Rico and Dolworth had both joined the Mexican Revolution in 1911, but returned to the United States after 6 years.  Rico had had a Mexican wife who was killed during the revolution.  Both have fought alongside Raza and are puzzled by his kidnapping of Maria Grant; it's not his style.  After overcoming several obstacles along the way, the team arrives at the hacienda of Raza and make plans to grab Ms. Grant and race back to the US border.  The fuses are already burning when they discover that Maria Grant was not kidnapped; she returned to the man she loved, Jesus Raza.  They carry out the plan.  With Maria seeking to escape her rescuers, can the team outrun the pursuit? 

The banter between Marvin and Lancaster is great fun.  They feel like old friends and one would never guess they had a contentious relationship while filming.  Lancaster is the standout, stealing scenes, laughing infectiously, and doing most of his own stunts.  He's a cheery fellow who contrasts nicely with Marvin's stoic seriousness.  Ryan and Strode are good, but clearly secondary to Marvin and Lancaster.  Jack Palance makes a good villain, as always.  However, he transforms along the way as his side of the story is revealed.  Claudia Cardinale's part is undemanding.  She has a much more substantial role in Once Upon the Time in the West.  Maria Gomez, who plays Chiquita the Bandita, did a lot with her small role.  Fardan and Dolworth know her from their time in the Revolution and provide a background sketch for her that was lacking for Maria Grant.  More character development despite less screen time.  The big plot hole is that Raza didn't send a message to his former comrades rather than seek to kill them.

Highly recommended.