I consider myself up on westerns, and own quite a few on DVD but damn if this one hasn't slipped by me - I see that it is among the top 50 westerns as voted by the public on IMDB but I don't recall even seeing it on TV. It sounds good plot-wise and even got three oscar nominations - I've never been steered wrong when it comes to a 'blind buy' question here on DVD Talk, so whatdaya think? Add it to the collection?

Thanks in advance!

Yeah it's that whole "hired elite" to save the girl plot, really nice too. Claudia Cardinale:

Bought and watch it tonite. Great western flick. My western collection is very small but I put this on my top ten best western flick. And of course, Claudia Cardinale is very beautiful and sexy in it.

Lee Marvin. Robert Ryan. Burt Lancaster. Woody Strode. Jack Palance. Ralph Bellamy.
Oh, hell yes it's worth a blind buy. Maybe not one of the greatest westerns ever made but certainly one of the most entertaining.

I have the orignal release and liked it alot. I have not heard much about the SE release.

Another for this one.

I'm not even what I would consider a western genre fan - this one is simply a very entertaining movie.

Pretty solid Western. Cardinale looks as good as ever.

Good little western and long awaited for my library. Thats my 66th western film to be added....but plenty more to go.

There is a nice review and thread over at HTF comparing the new special edition to the previous release. Hopefully my local Blockbuster will get a copy so I can use some of the gift cards I accumulated from trading in DVDs last year.

Hell yes, buy it boy!

With stars like Lancaster, Marvin, Ryan, Palance, Cardinale, Strode, Bellamy how could you not buy it?

Seriously though, one of the all time great westerns.

DVD Beaver just put up his comparison of the old version vs. the new SE, and while he agreed with HTF about the sound and extras, he points out that the new edition is cropped on all four sides, feels the old version was slightly sharper and also questions if the new color scheme on the SE is accurate. Looks like I'll be saving a few dollars and keep my old copy:

http://www.compare.dvdbeaver.com/fil...essionals_.htm

I'd absolutely recommend this one to Western fans. I saw The Professionals for the first time just a few weeks ago ... and I'll definitely be picking up the new DVD some time soon.

Thanks for the link but to clarify your statement more clearly on a few points, DVDBeaver did comment they thought the new version of the Professionals had the more accurate colors but questioned if the orange tinge present on the original release wasn't intended. Also the older version appeared darker and sharper but had noticeable edge enhancement, while the new release didn't have edge enhancement but was cropped and softer looking. I would assume the newer special edition would be preferred on a larger screen because on the lack of edge enhancement. Overall DVDBeaver gave neither version of the Professionals the edge on the image.

I don't understand why they would crop the image but it does appear several other studios have done the same thing when reissuing a DVD with an updated transfer. As examples Warner cropped the latest Casablanca Special Edition DVD, and MGM cropped the newest Rocky transfer from the Anthology box set. DVDBeaver did do a comparison on both DVD titles mentioned as well, and noted the cropping on their comments of the discs. However they gave Warner a pass for cropping Casablanca.

I seen the DVD at Best Buy today and almost pulled the trigger on it. I will definetly be getting this one in the next few weeks.

RevKarl, thank you very much for that link! You just saved me from a douple dip. The new 'cropping' is very noticeable in the first set of screen captures... especially on the top, bottom, and left side. So, like you, I'll be keeping my old copy.