The performance of Yul Brynner here is basically quiet yet filled with wry observation as the title character out to steal gold so he can purchase ammunition needed for the Mexican revolution against Emperor Maximilian. He proves himself immediately as an expert rifleman, spinning into action after a pensive stand and taking down anybody within seconds as they prepare to fire on him or the revolutionary supporters. Dean Reed played a brave American aligned with the revolutionaries, and Gérard Herter is the highly decorated Austrian colonel determined to take down the revolutionaries no matter the cost.
The middle of a trio of Sabata films (with Spaghetti western legend Lee Van Cleef in the other two), this is enjoyable for its fast moving and violent action sequences, giving another side of the revolution more well known from classics like "Viva Villa", "Juarez" and "Viva Zapata!", yet not as polished. The long action sequences extend this a good 15 minutes longer than it needed to be, but very good photography and a memorably haunting musical score (featuring a sole whistler) helps this maintain the viewer's attention.
The middle of a trio of Sabata films (with Spaghetti western legend Lee Van Cleef in the other two), this is enjoyable for its fast moving and violent action sequences, giving another side of the revolution more well known from classics like "Viva Villa", "Juarez" and "Viva Zapata!", yet not as polished. The long action sequences extend this a good 15 minutes longer than it needed to be, but very good photography and a memorably haunting musical score (featuring a sole whistler) helps this maintain the viewer's attention.