Reviewed by Colin Jacobson (June 4, 2026)
Does the title of 1969’s Western The 5-Man Army make anyone else hum a famous White Stripes song? Probably not.
Set during the Mexican Revolution, the mysterious “Dutchman” (Peter Graves) recruits accomplices for a heist. He brings in strongman Mesito (Bud Spencer), acrobat Luis Dominguez (Nino Castelnuovo), explosives expert Captain Augustus Bennet (James Daly) and blade specialist Samurai (Tetsuro Tamba).
Hired by Mexican rebels, they plan to rob a train to give the money to support that revolutionary cause – for a fee, of course. This sends the “5-Man Army” on a mission fraught with danger.
If nothing else, Army deserves notice as an early work from Dario Argento. Soon to become famed for horror and giallo flicks, he co-writes this film’s screenplay.
Thus ends the part of the review that finds something interesting about Army. Everything else about the movie seems ordinary.
Even the score from noted composer Ennio Morricone seems forgettable. The music simply echoes Morricone’s prior work and brings nothing noteworthy to the table.
The biggest issue here comes from the lifeless direction of Don Taylor. Army comes packed with plenty of room for action and thrills.
Unfortunately, Taylor never finds spark in any of these moments. He creates a film that seems by-the-numbers and without a hint of flair.
The screenplay from Argento and Marc Richards also lacks inventiveness. We get a one-dimensional band of misfits who embark on a predictable series of adventures.
I do fault Taylor more than the screenwriters. Even with a lackluster script, a better director could’ve added life to the proceedings.
But Taylor just fails to find spirit in this tale. Although the core narrative and theme shows promise, Army fails to ignite.
