The 5-Man Army (1969)

At the behest of local revolutionaries, a mercenary enlists four specialists in various combat styles to help him rob a Mexican Army train carrying $500,000 in gold.

Directors:

Don Taylor, Italo Zingarelli

Writers:

Marc Richards (screenplay), Dario Argento (screenplay)

Stars:

Bud Spencer, Peter Graves, James Daly

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Peter Graves	...	Dutchman
James Daly	...	Augustus
Bud Spencer	...	Mesito
Nino Castelnuovo	...	Luis Dominguez
Tetsurô Tanba	...	Samurai (as Tetsuro Tamba)
Claudio Gora	...	Esteban
Carlo Alighiero	...	Gutierrez
Giacomo Rossi Stuart	...	Mexican Officer
Dan Sturkie	...	Carnival Barker
José Torres	...	Mexican Spy (as Jose Torres)
Marino Masé	...	Railroad Man (as Marino Mase)
Annabella Andreoli	...	Perla
Daniela Giordano	...	Maria

Storyline

Set during the Mexican Revolution, a man known only as "The Dutchman" has a plan, and brings in four of his old acquaintences, including an old army buddy and a silent Japanese swordsman, to help him out by promising a $1000 reward if it succeeds. The plan turns out to be a fool's mission: rob a train carrying $500,000 in gold that's guarded by dozens of heavily armed soldiers and passes through a steady stream of military checkpoints. Naturally, his friends agree to go along with the scheme.

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Plot Keywords:

italo western | zapata western | gold train robbery | 1910s | bandit gang | 

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Taglines:

[The Five Man Army] ...each with his own brand of violence.

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Western

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Certificate:

M/PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's English dub is the first, and one of a select few, in which Bud Spencer provides his own voice.

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Goofs

One of the soldiers killed on the train opens his eyes as they set up his body to make it look like he is still alive.

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Quotes

Dutchman: Some men die for money, some die for causes. They're gonna die for us.

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Connections

Referenced in Agent Vinod (2012)

User Reviews

Spaghetti Western at Best

The Mexican emissary and former acrobat Luis Dominguez (Nino Castelnuovo) comes to America to summon the outlaw Mesito (Bud Spencer) that is working in a farm; the gambler and expert in dynamite Capt. Nicolas Augustus (James Daly); and the mute Japanese Samurai (Tetsuro Tamba) that has a great skill with knives under the call of their acquaintance Dutchman (Peter Graves) from Mexico with the promise of a reward of one thousand dollar for each one. When the five men reunite, Dutchman explains that there is a big, fat, juice train transporting five hundred thousand dollar for the Dictator General Huerta and the leader of the revolutionary forces proposed them to rob the train to support the peasants and the revolution. However, the plan seems to be impossible to be accomplished since the train is protected by an army, but the five men decide to rob the gold and double-cross the revolutionaries. But some of them have hidden intentions…

"Un Esercito di Cinque Uomini" is a "spaguetti" western at best. The story, with screenplay of Dario Argento, is full of action and betrayals developed in a fast pace and with a great camera work. The result is a funny and entertaining movie, with situations resolved in the most impossible way. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Exército de 5 Homens" ("Five Man Army")

Details

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

20 February 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

The 5-Man Army

Filming Locations:

Desierto de Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tiger Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1