The Mercenary
Seen it?1968 | 101 min | Western, Comedy, Drama
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (80% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for anyone who wants a laugh. If you loved Dances with Wolves, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Funny with heart.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 41 min.
- What might put you off
- It's in Italian, so expect subtitles (or a dub).
- Made in 1968: an older pace and style.
While a Mexican revolutionary lies low as a U.S. rodeo clown, the cynical Polish mercenary who tutored the idealistic peasant tells how he and a dedicated female radical fought for the soul of the guerrilla general Paco, as Mexicans threw off repressive government and all-powerful landowners in the 1910s. Tracked by the vengeful Curly, Paco liberates villages, but is tempted by social banditry's treasures, which Kowalski revels in.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
80% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.9 out of 10
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Reach & staying powerSolid
Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 24K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Sergio Corbucci
- Franco NeroSergei Kowalski, The Polish
- Tony MusantePaco Roman
- Jack PalanceRicciolo ("Curly")
- Giovanna RalliColumba
- Franco GiacobiniPepote
- Eduardo FajardoAlfonso García
- Franco ResselStuds
- Álvaro de LunaRamon
- Raf BaldassarreMateo
- Joe KamelSebastian