THE FIVE MAN ARMY (1969, directed by Don Taylor)

Ever heard of this one? THE FIVE MAN ARMY would occasionally show up on a cable channel when I was a teenager. I recall seeing it twice, both times through the snow of bad reception.

One of the things about this film that has stayed with me is the brilliant Ennio Morricone score. The opening credit sequence is very clever and Morricone’s music is a large part of it.

THE FIVE MAN ARMY is sort of a ‘spaghetti Western’, though the story takes place in early 20th-Century Mexico.

Peter Graves stars as The Dutchman, a rather enigmatic figure who draws together four other men (a dynamite expert-James Daly; a big brawny all-purpose strong man-Bud Spencer; a quiet Japanese knife expert-Tetsuro Tamba; and a deadly sling-shot toting Mexican rookie-Claudio Gora). The Dutchman wants their help to rob a train. Promising them each $1,000 for their trouble, the rest of the half million dollar shipment is ear-marked to the cause of the Mexican revolutionaries. The Dutchman turns out to be quite the altruist.

Mixing elements of THE WILD BUNCH, the Sergio Leone Dollar trilogy and THE PROFESSIONALS, THE FIVE MAN ARMY is rousing adventure.

While is has nothing new to offer, Don Taylor directs with a sure hand and Peter Graves reminds us that he is a solid actor. The ‘types’ within the five man army are well-defined and likeable. One of the best sequences occurs during the lengthy train hijacking/robbery, when Tetsuro Tamba falls from the train and has to run across country to link back up with it. He negotiates short-cuts and mentally calculates when the train will cross a certain bend and has to struggle mightily to make it back aboard. It’s like a mini marathon run and the scene is very tense and well put together.

A studio release here would be nice. The film was, however, released on video in Greece, and it is from this version (in English, with Greek subtitles) that The Video Junkie obtained their copy. They may be your only opportunity to catch this action film.

If you enjoy Westerns, THE FIVE MAN ARMY is worth a look. If you’re a Morricone fan, this is a must. I remember purchasing the soundtrack on LP in London in 1982. It must be worth a fortune today! Any buyers interested?

Jon Ted Wynne