MovieChat Forums > The Professionals (1966) Discussion > So they killed dozens of people...

So they killed dozens of people...

posted 12 years ago by BobbyBenny
6 replies | jump to latest

...for no purpose whatsoever. Basically that's what the ending means.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BobbyBenny 12 years ago

I was joking to a degree.

It is necessary within the context of the story but the fact that they switch sides at the end means all those deaths were essentially needless. It undermined the sort of cheerful feel of the ending to me. The tone of the film didn't really feel in line with the depth and moral ambiguity that you mention. If felt like a fun action adventure film which at times made allusions to real life events and violence. But it lacked the darkness in tone of a Peckinpah film.

It was enjoyable though. It felt like a smart well made entertainment to me rather than a film of artistic depth. A few scenes here and there seemed to imply deeper things, but they were never really explored.

[–] Bilwick1 12 years ago

The novel was less ambiguous. There was the switcheroo--the "kidnapped" wife turns out to be a willing "victim"--but there's no doubt that Raza and his men are evil, and in fact the wife and Raza are trying to screw the millionaire husband out of money.

[–] S_Leone 8 years ago

so how did the novel end?

[–] Techto (1388) 9 months ago

I agree. A lot of people died needlessly and the professionals didn’t even get paid. Bill (Lancaster) was right, the moment he and Henry realized that Maria was with Raza willingly, they should have abandoned their effort.

[–] [email protected] (690) 8 years ago

Considering the cast and story, I had hoped it would have a more serious feel. it reminds me (only a little) of McLintock! in that everything is in place to make a great film, but they wanted to make it light-hearted, and at the end, I just feel like they didn't succeed with the material they had. It's enjoyable, but hard to take seriously.