this film be actually one of my favorite at a student movie theater really many year ago . it be kinda cult and thus show quite often and the audience could have be always the same . like many of corbucci work it have frequent showing on german tv . il mercenario be very comparable to the good companeros which have particularly a much good cast . it another buddy western with a nordic ( blond ) and a mexican guy where the first be cool and intelligent and the other hot temper and rather low witted . compañero milian be much slick than musante who many time prevails just a a fool and be closer to tuco ramirez of the good and the bad and the ugly . nevertheless musante feel more realistic a a peasant than the grimacing milian . nero be more dominate in his role a the mercenary of polish origin than a the swedish peterson of companeros . he be never really convince of the revolutionary value . curly or ricciolo ( jack palance ) seem pretty superfluous for the plot and serve a a comic relief character with an extra portion of sadism . in the absence of a real lead villain he enter the final duel . the pace of the film be fast and the excellent ( maybe morricone best ) and rouse score support the generous action . machine gun be roar and count the body fall seem pretty impossible . impress wide screen photography immerse the viewer . positive with a slight nostalgic bonus . top 10 spaghetti western .