"Shalako" was the last of four westerns "Raintree County" director Edward Dmytryk helmed during his long, eventful Hollywood career. "Broken Lance" (1954) came first, "Warlock" (1959) followed, and "Alvarez Kelly" (1966) was third. Former James Bond actor Sean Connery and sexy French bombshell Brigitte Bardot co-starred in this handsomely produced and elegantly lensed horse opera. Connery and Bardot kiss about 70 minutes into the outdoor action. This horse opera appears to have been shot primarily on location. As westerns go, "Shalako" contains a sufficient amount of shooting and killing to keep you stimulated. The slaughter of guard dogs is incredibly sadistic considering the method the Native Americans use. Honor Blackman's demise is gruesome but befitting her treacherous character. Basically, this is a good sagebrusher but rarely as sensational as it should have been. This Indians Versus Settlers plot was popular during the 1950s. The U.S. Cavalry is conspicuously absent from this oater. Villains appear on both sides in "Shalako" and provide suitable obstacles for our heroes. The story is fairly straightforward. Apaches attack a party of European aristocrats on safari in the Southwest after they trespass onto their reservation. Dmytryk's western never wears out its welcome, and a few surprises crop up. The supporting cast is exceptional, including Peter Van Eyck, Jack Hawkins, Woody Strode, and Stephen Boyd.
"Shalako" opens with a Louis L'Amour preface. Essentially, the best-selling American novelist explains that Europeans enjoyed hunting game in the American West. The leisurely opening credits show a mindful Shalako riding lonesome through barren territory. Dmytryk cuts to a noisy hunting party. They have a cougar at bay. Irina Lazaar (Brigitte Bardot) bags the beast while evil Bosky Fulton (Stephen Boyd of "Ben Hur") watches. The Baron Frederick Von Hallstatt (Peter Van Eyck of "The Longest Day") celebrates Irina's marksmanship. Later, the reckless Irina leaves her companions to chase coyotes. What neither she nor her companions realize is murderous Apaches are on the prowl. Meantime, Moses Zebulon 'Shalako' Carlin (Sean Connery of "Thunderball") has maintained a low profile and observed the Apaches without attracting their attention. The Indians torture and kill West, the man Fulton sent to watch over Irina. Shalako saves Irina from the Native Americans after they kill her guide. Shalako kills one, smashes another with his rifle, while Irina shoots a third brave. Later, they find the unfortunate West staked out, squatting backwards over a huge arrow.
The Apaches in "Shalako" are more savage than noble, but they know when to quit. Meantime, they show no qualms about slaughtering guard dogs. After he saves the Countess, Shalako explains he has come to escort the hunting party off the reservation. Irina takes Shalako to the new encampment. Our hero warns the Baron they must be prepared to leave the reservation. Shalako is an ex-Army man who attained the rank of colonel. Sir Charles Daggett (Jack Hawkins) refuses to cut short their hunting trip. Bosky refuses to run either. The pompous Senator Henry Clarke (Alexander Knox of "You Only Live Twice") feels nobody should be bound by their honor to keep a promise to a savage. Shalako considers the Europeans "stone, dumb, useless trouble," but he feels Irina is "too beautiful to die." We learn Daggett financed the safari so Julia (Honor Blackman of "Goldfinger") could play matchmaker between Irina and the Baron. Daggett and Julia quarrel, and he consigns her fate wishfully to the Apaches. This serves to foreshadow Julia's grisly death later at the hands of the Apaches.
Shalako leaves the temporary camp on Irina's horse before dawn. Chato's Apaches spring a morning raid, burning wagons, killing dogs, and people. This scene has enough violence to pass muster, but the body count is moderate considering what Spaghetti western might have had. The Europeans and Fulton's men believe they have repulsed the marauding redskins. Actually, shrewd Shalako created smoke signals that compelled the Native Americans to retreat. Fulton takes Julia and his men abandon Daggett and company. They blast holes in their water barrels and leave them without cartridges. Happily, Shalako had them stockpile water and ammunition. He leads the survivors to a mountain. They scale it and take up positions against the Indians.
The craggy Spanish scenery stands out splendidly, and Tom Moore's sensational widescreen cinematography captures the epic proportions of the arena. Aside from Connery and Bardot, the cast contains several other well-known thespians, such as 1940s B-movie star Don "Red" Barry and Julian Mateos of "Return of the Seven." James Bond stunt man Bob Simmons staged the combat scenes, particularly the lively roughhouse between Connery and Strode during the final quarter-hour. "His Majesty O'Keefe" composer Robert Farnon provides an atmospheric orchestral score, but the title song seems out of place for a western in the 1970s.
"Shalako" opens with a Louis L'Amour preface. Essentially, the best-selling American novelist explains that Europeans enjoyed hunting game in the American West. The leisurely opening credits show a mindful Shalako riding lonesome through barren territory. Dmytryk cuts to a noisy hunting party. They have a cougar at bay. Irina Lazaar (Brigitte Bardot) bags the beast while evil Bosky Fulton (Stephen Boyd of "Ben Hur") watches. The Baron Frederick Von Hallstatt (Peter Van Eyck of "The Longest Day") celebrates Irina's marksmanship. Later, the reckless Irina leaves her companions to chase coyotes. What neither she nor her companions realize is murderous Apaches are on the prowl. Meantime, Moses Zebulon 'Shalako' Carlin (Sean Connery of "Thunderball") has maintained a low profile and observed the Apaches without attracting their attention. The Indians torture and kill West, the man Fulton sent to watch over Irina. Shalako saves Irina from the Native Americans after they kill her guide. Shalako kills one, smashes another with his rifle, while Irina shoots a third brave. Later, they find the unfortunate West staked out, squatting backwards over a huge arrow.
The Apaches in "Shalako" are more savage than noble, but they know when to quit. Meantime, they show no qualms about slaughtering guard dogs. After he saves the Countess, Shalako explains he has come to escort the hunting party off the reservation. Irina takes Shalako to the new encampment. Our hero warns the Baron they must be prepared to leave the reservation. Shalako is an ex-Army man who attained the rank of colonel. Sir Charles Daggett (Jack Hawkins) refuses to cut short their hunting trip. Bosky refuses to run either. The pompous Senator Henry Clarke (Alexander Knox of "You Only Live Twice") feels nobody should be bound by their honor to keep a promise to a savage. Shalako considers the Europeans "stone, dumb, useless trouble," but he feels Irina is "too beautiful to die." We learn Daggett financed the safari so Julia (Honor Blackman of "Goldfinger") could play matchmaker between Irina and the Baron. Daggett and Julia quarrel, and he consigns her fate wishfully to the Apaches. This serves to foreshadow Julia's grisly death later at the hands of the Apaches.
Shalako leaves the temporary camp on Irina's horse before dawn. Chato's Apaches spring a morning raid, burning wagons, killing dogs, and people. This scene has enough violence to pass muster, but the body count is moderate considering what Spaghetti western might have had. The Europeans and Fulton's men believe they have repulsed the marauding redskins. Actually, shrewd Shalako created smoke signals that compelled the Native Americans to retreat. Fulton takes Julia and his men abandon Daggett and company. They blast holes in their water barrels and leave them without cartridges. Happily, Shalako had them stockpile water and ammunition. He leads the survivors to a mountain. They scale it and take up positions against the Indians.
The craggy Spanish scenery stands out splendidly, and Tom Moore's sensational widescreen cinematography captures the epic proportions of the arena. Aside from Connery and Bardot, the cast contains several other well-known thespians, such as 1940s B-movie star Don "Red" Barry and Julian Mateos of "Return of the Seven." James Bond stunt man Bob Simmons staged the combat scenes, particularly the lively roughhouse between Connery and Strode during the final quarter-hour. "His Majesty O'Keefe" composer Robert Farnon provides an atmospheric orchestral score, but the title song seems out of place for a western in the 1970s.