Superior spaghetti western that stars Franco Nero as Kowalski, an ultra-cool, fast gun mercenary with a cunning brain. He throws his lot in with Paco Roman (Tony Musante) a Mexican bandit and some time revolutionary as he tries to stimulate the peasantry to overthrow the repressive government and corrupt landowners. Meanwhile a vengeful Curly (Jack Palance) is on the trail of Kowalski and Roman is having his revolutionary credentials tested by the beautiful radical Columba (Giovanna Ralli). "Il Mercenario" is directed with great pace and vigour by Sergio Corbucci, who goes for a lighter touch, even providing regular flashes of humour. The film is violent with many high body-count gun battles but Corbucci shies away from blood and the portraying the aftermath of such battles. He does, however, deliver some fabulously directed sequences - the brilliant, climatic bullring showdown possibly being the best. Franco Nero is first class as the elaborately moustachioed Kowlaski; ruthless with a gun, fast with a quip and with a striking ability to light a match on the body parts of anyone in his vicinity. Tony Musante has a less flashy role but his character has the more appealing journey and arc. Jack Palance and Giovanna Ralli are very much in supporting roles, but it says much for their abilities that they deliver two highly memorable characters. Rounding everything of is a superb, haunting and elegiac score from the pairing of Ennio Morricone and Bruno Nicolai. ( )