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IMDbPro

The Mercenary

Original title: Il mercenario
  • 19681968
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
The Mercenary (1968)
A greedy Polish mercenary aids a mine worker and peasant girl as they lead a revolution against the oppressive Mexican Government, and are pursued by an American rival.
Play trailer1:48
1 Video
70 Photos
ComedyWestern
A greedy Polish mercenary helps a mine worker and a peasant girl lead a revolution against the Mexican Government, all while being pursued by an American rival.A greedy Polish mercenary helps a mine worker and a peasant girl lead a revolution against the Mexican Government, all while being pursued by an American rival.A greedy Polish mercenary helps a mine worker and a peasant girl lead a revolution against the Mexican Government, all while being pursued by an American rival.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
5.4K
YOUR RATING
    • Sergio Corbucci
  • Writers
    • Franco Solinas(story)
    • Giorgio Arlorio(story)
    • Luciano Vincenzoni(screenplay and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Franco Nero
    • Tony Musante
    • Franco Giacobini
    • Sergio Corbucci
  • Writers
    • Franco Solinas(story)
    • Giorgio Arlorio(story)
    • Luciano Vincenzoni(screenplay and dialogue)
  • Stars
    • Franco Nero
    • Tony Musante
    • Franco Giacobini
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 41User reviews
    • 32Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:48
    Watch Trailer

    Photos70

    Tony Musante and Franco Nero in The Mercenary (1968)
    Giovanna Ralli in The Mercenary (1968)
    Tony Musante and Franco Nero in The Mercenary (1968)
    Franco Nero in The Mercenary (1968)
    Tony Musante and Giovanna Ralli in The Mercenary (1968)
    Giovanna Ralli in The Mercenary (1968)
    The Mercenary (1968)
    Jack Palance in The Mercenary (1968)
    Tony Musante and Franco Nero in The Mercenary (1968)
    The Mercenary (1968)
    Franco Nero in The Mercenary (1968)
    The Mercenary (1968)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Franco Nero
    Franco Nero
    • Sergei Kowalski - the Polish
    Tony Musante
    Tony Musante
    • Paco Roman
    Franco Giacobini
    • Pepote
    Eduardo Fajardo
    Eduardo Fajardo
    • Alfonso García
    Franco Ressel
    Franco Ressel
    • Studs
    Álvaro de Luna
    Álvaro de Luna
    • Ramón
    • (as Alvaro De Luna)
    Raf Baldassarre
    Raf Baldassarre
    • Mateo
    Joe Kamel
    • Sebastian
    Ugo Adinolfi
    Jack Palance
    Jack Palance
    • Ricciolo - 'Curly'
    Giovanna Ralli
    Giovanna Ralli
    • Columba
    José María Aguinaco
    • Ramirez
    • (uncredited)
    Simón Arriaga
    • Simón
    • (uncredited)
    José Canalejas
    José Canalejas
    • Lerkin
    • (uncredited)
    Juan Cazalilla
    • Mayor
    • (uncredited)
    Remo De Angelis
    Remo De Angelis
    • Hudo
    • (uncredited)
    Alejandro de Enciso
    • Juan
    • (uncredited)
    Tito García
    Tito García
    • Garcia's Cousin
    • (uncredited)
      • Sergio Corbucci
    • Writers
      • Franco Solinas(story)
      • Giorgio Arlorio(story)
      • Luciano Vincenzoni(screenplay and dialogue)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During filming, the crew caught sight of what appeared to be a UFO. They filmed it and sent photos to NASA, who were impressed with the findings, but nothing further came of the discovery.
    • Goofs
      Sergei Kowalski uses a Spanish Astra 400 pistol. The pistol was not introduced until 1921, after the Mexican Revolution.
    • Quotes

      [last lines, after Kowalski has saved Paco from a surprise attack from Colonel Garcia]

      Kowalski aka the Pole: Good luck, Paco! Keep dreaming... but with your eyes open!

    • Connections
      Featured in Denn sie kennen kein Erbarmen - Der Italowestern (2006)

    User reviews41

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    Fast paced revolution
    This film was actually one of my favorites at a student movie theater really many years ago. It was kinda cult and thus shown quite often and the audience could have been always the same. Like many of Corbucci's works it has frequent showings on German TV. IL MERCENARIO is very comparable to the better COMPANEROS which has particularly a much better cast. It's another buddy western with a Nordic (blond) and a Mexican guy where the first is cool and intelligent and the other hot tempered and rather low witted. Compañero Milian is much slicker than Musante who many times prevails just as a fool and is closer to Tuco Ramirez of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY. Nevertheless Musante feels more realistic as a peasant than the grimacing Milian. Nero is more dominating in his role as the mercenary of Polish origin than as the Swedish Peterson of COMPANEROS. He is never really convinced of the revolutionary values. Curly/Ricciolo (Jack Palance) seems pretty superfluous for the plot and serves as a comic relief character with an extra portion of sadism. In the absence of a real lead villain he enters the final duel.

    The pace of the film is fast and the excellent (maybe Morricone's best) and rousing score supports the generous action. Machine guns are roaring and counting the bodies falling seems pretty impossible. Impressing wide screen photography immerses the viewer.

    9/10 with a slight nostalgic bonus. Top 10 Spaghetti Western.
    helpful•19
    3
    • cengelm
    • Jan 9, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1969 (West Germany)
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • United States
      • English
      • Italian
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
    • Filming locations
      • Madrid, Spain
    • Production companies
      • Produzioni Europee Associate (PEA)
      • Produzioni Associate Delphos
      • Profilms 21
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • 1 hour 50 minutes
      • Mono

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