Woody Strode

A teenager loses his horse in Morocco and gets him back after various daredevil adventures. The Black is stolen from Alec by his former Arabian owners. Alec sets off on an adventure to Arabia to reclaim his beloved horse. Based on the books by Walter Farley. —Lisa

Adventurer gets caught up in a plot to kill Fidel Castro.

In a post-apocalyptic world divided between two groups called the Flockers and the Ravagers, an adventurer and his "pleasure girl" try to find their way to a rumored safe haven called the Land of Genesis.

After a rancher's family is massacred by a gang of outlaws, he assembles a mean team of convicts as his posse to pursue the killers. The life of peaceful rancher John Benedict (William Holden) is torn apart after his family is massacred by a gang of marauding outlaws and his farm is destroyed. He assembles a team of mean, lawless convicts to act as his posse as he pursues the gang responsible for the deaths of his loved ones.

A group of European aristocrats go hunting in New Mexico in the 1880s. Here they quickly come into conflict with the Apaches, who are reluctant to see guests on their reservation. Only the recluse Shalako seems able to save them. Shalako, the hunter and tracker, has to save a party of European hunters who are in danger from an Indian uprising. —John Vogel <jlvogel@comcast.net>

In the final years of the Mexican Revolution, American rancher J.W. Grant (Ralph Bellamy) hires four men, who are all experts in their respective fields, to rescue his kidnapped wife, Maria (Claudia Cardinale), from Jesus Raza (Jack Palance), a former revolutionary leader-turned-bandit. Grant has withdrawn $100,000 in gold coins from his local bank. Henry "Rico" Fardan (Lee Marvin) is a weapons specialist, Bill Dolworth (Burt Lancaster) is an explosives expert, Hans Ehrengard (Robert Ryan) is the horse wrangler, and Jake Sharp (Woody Strode) is a traditional Apache scout, skilled with a bow and arrow. Grant gathers the Rico, Hans and Sharp on his private train and explains that a week ago Raza kidnapped his wife. Grant says that Raza is the bloodiest cut-throat in Mexico. Raza has kept Maria in the middle of the desert in his fortress. The fortress (situated in the Painted Mountains in Mexico) is covered by the desert for 100 miles in every direction, and it would take a battalion a month just to find him. Raza's men know every geological detail of the terrain. Raza has 150 soldiers. Grant offers $1000 per person in advance and $9000 per person if they bring Maria back. Grant says that he has arranged the ransom money of $100,000, but still is not sure if he will get Maria back alive. Rico says that he needs a weapons specialist for the mission and suggests Bill. Bill is in jail for being an adulterer with married women and Rico bails him out for $700. Fardan and Dolworth, having both fought under the command of Pancho Villa, have a high regard for Raza as a soldier. But as cynical professionals, they have no qualms about killing him. They cannot believe that Raza would kidnap a woman, but Grant has the ransom note to prove it. Grant married Maria 4 years ago. A few days ago, she went riding across the border, as she was from Mexico and perhaps missed it. By the time she was found missing, the ransom note arrived. After entering Mexico, the professional track a group of Mexican bandits who confront them in a narrow mountain canyon the next day. The bandits open fire, but Rico was well prepared and had already asked Sharp and Hans to take positions in the surrounding cliffs. They easily dispatch the bandits and take their supplies. Bill wants to shoot the horses as they don't have food and water to feed them, but Hans argues to set them free instead. Bill tells Rico that they are 3 days ride away from Coyote pass, where the Mexican rebels buried 2 million dollars in Spanish Gold. Bill wants Rico to abandon their quest and to go for the gold, but Rico refuses. Rico sends Bill ahead to scout for dangers and he follows with Hans and Sharp. Bill is captured by 3 bandits who rob him and hang him upside down. Rico reaches the location and through signals (an upside down cross) he determines that Bill is in danger. These bandits were colleagues of the ones killed earlier and had found the riderless horses. The bandits prepare to kill Bill, but Rico intervenes. The bandits are killed, and Bill rescued. They realize that this narrow canyon between the mountain, where Bill was captured, is a perfect escape route for them on their way to the US. They know that Raza will take the same route and decide to rig it with explosives. Close to Raza's fortress, the professionals witness soldiers on a government train being massacred by Raza's small army. Raza's men sabotage the rails to stop the train. After a brutal fight, they kill all the surviving Government soldiers and reinstall the rails. The officers of the government are hanged and lynched. Bill explains that the soldiers on the train were Colorados, expert marksmen and expert at torture. A few years ago, they burned and looted a town with 3000 people. When they were done, only 40 were left. Rico's wife was one of the lucky 40. She was stripped naked and made to run through the cactus till her skin peeled off and she died. They follow the captured train to the end of the line. After the bandits leave, they take the train before moving on to the camp, where they observe Raza and his followers - including a female soldier, Chiquita (Maria Gomez) (who had once been in a relationship with Dolworth). They find that the camp has milk, supplied by the goat-keeper. Grant's 2nd in command Ortega (Joe De Santis) had told them that the goat-keeper Eduardo Padillia is a friend and will do anything to help. Eduardo recognizes Oretga's medallion presented by Rico and agrees to help. Eduardo confirms the location of Maria inside the camp. Rico plans an elaborate attack on the camp to provide an escape route with Maria. He hopes to convince Raza and his troops that they are being attacked by the Mexican government, and as they take defensive positions, Rico will escape with Maria. At nightfall, Fardan infiltrates the camp, but he is stopped from killing Raza in his quarters; after witnessing the beautiful Maria, Grant's kidnapped wife, about to willingly make love with Raza, Dolworth is forced to conclude that they have been duped. After bringing Maria back to the train, a shootout starts because it has been retaken by the bandits. These bandits are colleagues of the ones killed earlier by the Professionals. They had taken Hans hostage. The bandits surrender when Rico realizes that they are afraid to hit Maria. Rico drives the train away. Pursued by Raza and his men, the professionals are forced to take refuge in nearby canyon lands. That night, Maria reveals that they haven't rescued Grant's "kidnapped wife" but rather, Raza's lover - that Grant had bought her in an arranged marriage (when Grant bought her father's ranch in Mexico), from which she escaped at the earliest opportunity to return to her true love in Mexico. The following day, Maria hops on a horse and rides off through the narrow canyons to rejoin Raza, but Dolworth sets off explosives he had planted in the canyon walls, which collapse and close off the canyon, preventing her escape. That night Maria tries to seduce Bill to allow her to escape, but he refuses. She appeals to Rico and Bill saying that they served the revolution for 6 years loyally and that Raza speaks very highly of them. Yet, Rico says that he is bound by his promise to Grant. As Raza and his remaining men close in, Dolworth volunteers to stay behind to allow the other professionals to escape with Maria. In the ensuing fight, Raza is wounded and captured, and Dolworth is almost killed by a dying Chiquita, whose pistol has run out of bullets. Bill and Raza catch up with Rico just before the US border. Grant and his men meet the professionals (with Raza and Maria) at the US border. The wealthy rancher tells Fardan that their contract has been satisfactorily concluded. He then orders one of his men to kill the wounded Raza. But before he can fire, Dolworth shoots the guns from his hand. The other professionals step in to protect Maria and Raza. They collect the wounded Raza, laying him on the back of a horse-drawn wagon with Maria at the reins, and send both back to Mexico. Grant angrily turns to Fardan and declares him to be a dishonorable man. Rico retorts that while Rico was born that way, but Grant became that way all by himself. The professionals then ride off, following the wagon across the border to Mexico.

During the thirteenth century, the shy Mongol boy Temujin becomes the fearless leader Genghis Khan, who unites all Mongol tribes and conquers most of Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Mostly-fictionalized account of the life of Genghis Khan (Omar Sharif), the Mongol warlord whose 13th-century armies conquered much of the known world. Named Temujin (Carlo Cura), he was taken prisoner by rival warlord Jamuga (Stephen Boyd), and as punishment, was forced to wear a large round wooden stock that severely restricted his movements. With help from two supporters, wise man Geen (Sir Michael Hordern) and strong man Sengal (Woody Strode), he manages to escape. He now begins his quest to unify all of the Mongol tribes. He faces great success, but his old nemesis Jamuga keeps appearing at various times in his life, leading to a final battle between the two. —garykmcd

In April 1953 at Panmunjom, Korea, a conference between American and Communist North Korean and Chinese forces convenes to discuss halting their three-year conflict. Meanwhile an area in the neutral zone, dubbed Pork Chop Hill by the Americans, is retaken by the Chinese at the cost of the entire American infantry company. Soon after, "K" Company commander Lt. Joe Clemons (Gregory Peck) meets with division commander Col. Davis (Barry Atwater) to receive orders to retake the area and is assured that "L" Company will protect Clemons' flank. Knowing that Pork Chop Hill holds no strategic value, Clemons surmises to friend and co-commander Lt. Suki Ohashi (George Shibata) that the action will underscore the Americans' strength while the peace negotiations continue. Clemons divides the company into three platoons, leading the first, placing Ohashi in command of the second and holding the third in reserve. As the two platoons ascend the hill at dusk, American artillery bombards the crest but the men are nevertheless unnerved to hear a Chinese propaganda broadcaster in the central command bunker calmly call out criticism of their foolhardiness and list statistics of American losses. Unknown to Clemons, back at division headquarters, Davis learns that "L" Company has been delayed getting into position because they have misconstrued their orders to provide support for Clemons' company. Once the American shelling stops, Clemons' men fall under an increasingly heavy enemy barrage and the soldiers are then shocked when bright spotlights from their own position abruptly shine down upon them, escalating enemy fire. The lights go off, and moments later, the radio man informs Clemons they have received an apology from the American group responsible for the spotlights who mistook their location for another. At dawn, still some distance from the enemy trenches and with his platoon severely depleted, Clemons is unable to rouse Ohashi on the radio and sends a messenger in search of the second platoon. Meanwhile, Clemons' men are startled to hear the sound of trumpets blaring, heralding a ferocious assault by the Chinese. When the fighting slows, Clemons finally reaches Ohashi by radio and demands assistance, but Ohashi reports he has lost a quarter of his men and cannot hold his position near the crest if he divides them. Dismayed by the lack of promised support along the hill's left flank, Clemons orders a small squad to provide machine gun cover there. Later, when the nearly decimated squad returns to report to Clemons, he contacts Davis to complain bitterly about the lack of assistance. Davis insists that the crest be taken as soon as possible and ignores Clemons' protest that he has too few men to accomplish the task. Ohashi reports that he has lost nearly half of his platoon and requests the third platoon be activated, but Clemons believes they should be held in reserve as long as possible. Disheartened, Ohashi nevertheless agrees and returns to maintain his position as Clemons is joined by a handful of soldiers dashing up the hill. Clemons is stunned to learn the 12 men are the only survivors from "L" Company, whose two platoons were slaughtered in their attempt to provide delayed assistance to "K" Company. The remainder of Clemons' platoon, joined by the additional men, then rush the next line of trenches and bunker and are relived to find it has already been secured by Ohashi's men. While the soldiers greet one another, the bunker is suddenly hit by numerous artillery shells. Although severely shaken, most of the men survive and angrily insist the shells came from their own side. Realizing the exhausted, demoralized men are correct, and fearing a revolt, Clemons lies, countering that the artillery came from a nearby, Chinese-held mountain. Anxious over the long silence from Davis, Clemons meets with Ohashi to decide upon their next action. Clemons summons Lt. Waldorf (John Alderman) and the third platoon and declares the crest must be taken to avoid the continued attrition of the remaining American forces. Knowing that Waldorf is inexperienced, Ohashi volunteers his men to make a risky bayonet charge against the crest. Clemons promises a diversionary action as well as support and the move is successful. Afterward, Clemons radios Davis' headquarters, which have now come under an intensive enemy barrage. Cut off after hearing Pork Chop Hill has been taken at last, Davis is unaware of Clemons' desperate plea for supplies and ammunition. Soon after, "K" Company's last radio is destroyed, but Clemons is pleased by the arrival of his brother-in-law, Lt. Walt Russell (Rip Torn), commander of "G" Company. The men's reunion is short-lived, however, when Russell reveals he has been assigned to perform a "mop-up" action and not to reinforce "K" Company. Russell is horrified to learn Clemons and Ohashi have only 35 men left from their entire 100-strong company. Moments later, a messenger arrives with news from Davis that "G" Company has been recalled, as Davis believes the hill secured. Clemons sends a terse return message insisting that without Russell's men, the area cannot be held. At division headquarters, Gen. Trudeau demands to know whether his superiors intend to hold the hill, but nevertheless supports the recall of "G" Company. Russell departs, taking Clemons' wounded and leaving as much ammunition as possible. Clemons orders his 25 remaining men to spread out along the crest as the Chinese radio broadcaster informs the Americans they have 45 minutes to surrender or they will be destroyed. Using the radio left by Russell, Clemons contacts Davis to declare that unless they are provided reinforcements, they must withdraw, but Davis responds that he has received no further orders. At the Panmunjom peace conference, the American representative angrily concludes that the Chinese refusal to give up the strategically useless Pork Chop Hill serves as a test of American character, and contacts American Infantry Division headquarters. That night, as the Chinese begin their final assault on Clemons' position, Ohashi is wounded bringing Clemons a report that "L" Company's surviving platoon is providing support. The strength of the Chinese attack forces the Americans into bunkers that they frantically seal against enemy flamethrowers. The tide then abruptly turns when a reinforcement division arrives to clinch the taking of Pork Chop Hill. The film ends with Clemons and the rest of his exhausted men walking down from the hill towards their own front lines as American troops walk up Pork Chop Hill to relieve them.

On a remote rubber plantation Barney Chavez (Raymond Burr) spends much time dodging work and visiting with the bosss wife Dina Van Gelder (Barbara Payton) whom he tells he would like to take away from her husband. When her husband, the boss Klass Von Gelder (Paul Cavanagh) dies from mysterious causes Barney makes a play for Dina but the house maid Larina (Carol Varga) uses ancient magic to cast a spell on Barney. Barney begins to change before his own eyes into a Gorilla and family physician Dr. Viet (Tom Conway) sees that the man is laboring under something he believes is poison. When investigating the rampage of a sukara, local constable Taro (Lon Chaney, Jr.) realizes that Barney is disappearing at night coinciding with ravaging animal killings in the land and he and Dr. Viet work to get to the bottom of the mystery. Barney suffers long lapses of memory loss, and continues to see himself as a Gorilla which shakes his psychological foundation. Barney takes Dina hostage and Taro and Dr. Viet fight to free the woman from the ravages of this strange creature on the loose.