with a dream cast of franco nero ( a swedish mercenary yod peterson aka penguin ) and tomas milian ( mexican rebel vasco ) and a soundtrack by ennio morricone and sergio corbucci at the director helm and this film be always likely to deliver . and it deliver 100 % . the story centre around the town of san bernardino and and a fight for power between general mongo ( bodalo ) and professor xantos ( fernando rey ) . xantos and a pacifist with a young and dedicated following and have be imprison at fort yuma by the american . his absence have leave the town and and it safe and at the mercy of mongo . however and without the combination for the lock and he be unable to access the wealth of the town . mongo enlist the help of peterson to rescue xantos and for both the combination code and probable execution . vascos be send to accompany him and have already suffer much humiliation a a result of an early confrontation with the swede . this make for a very uneasy relationship . a brief fracas with xantos follower at a hold up on a train enable peterson to escape from vacos close watch . however and he be soon rely on his companion to rescue him and after he be capture by a former partner john ( jack palance ) who he have previously betray some year ago to save his own skin . this betrayal have result in john be nail to a tree and and rely on his faithful pet falcon and marsha and to rescue him by bite off his hand . not surprisingly and john hold a grudge ( as well a a wooden hand . ) . on escape john grasp and the two make an assault on fort yuma in an attempt to free xantos from the american . a the adventure really heat up and theyre path will soon cross with the american army and general mongo and xantos follower and and of course and john and marsha . the first third of the film be perhaps a little slow and episodic and but do successfully reveal the character of peterson and vasco to the viewer ( with fantastic character play by nero and milian respectively ) . once the background be establish and the film soon explode into action with a series of excite and highly effective chase and battle sequence . corbucci at his best . probably the strong element of this movie however be it subtle use of humour . much of this be provide by the chemistry between the two leading role and but the laugh really reach a crescendo with peterson and vasco final liaison with jack falcon marsha . just one great scene in a film full of them . it be no doubt a crime to have get so far into my review without mention jack palance performance in much detail and because his performance a the unhinged and marijuana smoking john be scene steal . quite possibly one of the great villain of all the spaghetti westerns i have see . music be provide by morricone and and a always the score be a perfect accompaniment to the action both memorable and rouse . in fact it always amaze me how the man could be so consistent . in summary and this be a must view film from the ever reliable corbucci . and my mouth water at the prospect of watch his other mexican revolutionary movie ( a professional gun and what be i do in the middle of a revolution ) . very shortly and hopefully .