Some cannons have been stolen by a Mexican gang led by Cordoba . Then Captain Douglas (George Peppard) is assigned by General Pershing (John Russell) a dangerous mission , he along with a misfit group (Don Gordon) set off in pursuit outlaw gunfighters on the Texas border , circa 1912 . Meanwhile , Douglas tries to free a Mexican village besieged by nasty band who are devastating the small location. Douglas is decided to take a group of prisoners (Nico Minardos and Pete Duel who committed suicide the next year) and strike a blow against the Mexican bandits . He goes to Territorial Prison where a bunch of misfits and other prisoners get a chance to redeem themselves . Later on , the captain attempts to take the robbed cannons and to trap the bandit Cordoba (Raf Vallone) , being helped by a Mexican officer named Antonio (Gabriele Tinti) and the beautiful Leonora (Giovanna Ralli) .
The story is partially similar to ¨ The professionals¨ by Richard Brooks , adding ¨Dirty dozen¨ by Robert Aldrich with customary outlaw gang formed by an eclectic team with diverse speciality , as dynamite or guns . Far-fetching tale but real action , taut excitement and amusement throughout . The film gets action Western, exciting riding, blow ups , shootouts , it's funny and entertaining , although nothing new but displays a television style. The movie contains some moment of grisly violence and even touching on the relationships between George Peppard and Giovanna Ralli . This is a drab , inferior imitation from the original and enduringly popular ¨The magnificent seven¨ by John Sturges, and results to be a standard actioner fare . George Peppard as two-fisted officer who employs soldier-of-fortune is pretty good and Don Gordon is nice as his obstinate helper . Large support cast mostly formed by American players as John Larch , John Rusell , Pete Duel and Italian as the gorgeous Giovanna Ralli , Raf Vallone and Gabriele Tinti and Spanish with ordinary players from Spaghetti as Aldo Sambrell , Chris Huerta and Barta Barri . Filmed in Spain on location of Hoyo Manzanares , La Pedriza (Madrid) and Andalucia, Almeria, where in the 60s and 70s were shot by the hundred Spaghetti Western . Colorful and glimmer cinematography by the Italian cameraman Antonio Macasoli . As always, breathtaking and memorable musical score by the master Elmer Berstein . The motion picture is regularly directed by Paul Wendkos , a usual TV movie director though also realized some Western for cinema as ¨The face of a fugitive¨ and ¨The magnificent seven ride¨ . Rating : Average .
The story is partially similar to ¨ The professionals¨ by Richard Brooks , adding ¨Dirty dozen¨ by Robert Aldrich with customary outlaw gang formed by an eclectic team with diverse speciality , as dynamite or guns . Far-fetching tale but real action , taut excitement and amusement throughout . The film gets action Western, exciting riding, blow ups , shootouts , it's funny and entertaining , although nothing new but displays a television style. The movie contains some moment of grisly violence and even touching on the relationships between George Peppard and Giovanna Ralli . This is a drab , inferior imitation from the original and enduringly popular ¨The magnificent seven¨ by John Sturges, and results to be a standard actioner fare . George Peppard as two-fisted officer who employs soldier-of-fortune is pretty good and Don Gordon is nice as his obstinate helper . Large support cast mostly formed by American players as John Larch , John Rusell , Pete Duel and Italian as the gorgeous Giovanna Ralli , Raf Vallone and Gabriele Tinti and Spanish with ordinary players from Spaghetti as Aldo Sambrell , Chris Huerta and Barta Barri . Filmed in Spain on location of Hoyo Manzanares , La Pedriza (Madrid) and Andalucia, Almeria, where in the 60s and 70s were shot by the hundred Spaghetti Western . Colorful and glimmer cinematography by the Italian cameraman Antonio Macasoli . As always, breathtaking and memorable musical score by the master Elmer Berstein . The motion picture is regularly directed by Paul Wendkos , a usual TV movie director though also realized some Western for cinema as ¨The face of a fugitive¨ and ¨The magnificent seven ride¨ . Rating : Average .