Famous Western isn't quite as good as I remembered it - terrific central idea, of course, and that incredible cast and theme song, but far too many scenes aiming for significance with the mercenary characters sitting around going "gee it's hard to be a gunslinger".
But still it remains mightly entertaining, full of conflict. Yul Brynner is an imposing lead, Steve McQueen is great, Charles Bronson steals every scene he's in (though they cheat by giving him scenes with children), James Coburn and Robert Vaughan very likeable.
I was surprised seeing it again how much screen time was given to Horst Buchholz, a handsome German who never quite made it. This and The Bridge on the River Kwai kicked off the great "guys on a mission" action cycle of the 60s: The Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare, Dark of the Sun, etc
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