James Hitchcock Sean Connery is not an actor one would normally associate with Westerns, although he was known for his action-adventure roles, especially in the Bond films, so would have seemed well-suited to them. Plenty of Westerners would have been born in all parts of the British Isles, including Scotland, so his accent should not have been a problem. This, however, seems to be his only attempt at the genre, which was to go into a decline in the seventies and eighties."Shalako" was one of a number of European, mostly Italian or Spanish, Westerns from the late sixties. This one is ostensibly set in the New Mexico of 1880, but was actually filmed in Almeria, Spain, and was largely financed by European money, although it had an American director, Edward Dmytryk. (Dmytryk was actually born in Canada but was a naturalised US citizen). Perhaps appropriately, the cast includes an unusually high number of European characters.Connery plays Moses Zebulon Carlin, a frontiersman and former Civil War officer better known by his Indian name, "Shalako". (The name is stressed on the first syllable). He becomes involved with a hunting party mostly composed of European aristocrats, although an American Senator and his wife are also involved, when they inadvertently stray into Apache territory. Shalako warns them of the danger they are in, as the Apache do not welcome outsiders on their land, but they arrogantly refuse to go, believing that it would be cowardly to flee from people whom they regard as "savages". When the Indians attack, the party are double-crossed by their guide Bosky Fulton and his associates who make off with their stage coach, ammunition, supplies and money, and it falls to Shalako to lead them on foot to safety.Unusually for a Western, "Shalako" can be seen as a critique of imperialism. With their jewels, fine clothes and haute cuisine meals, eaten off a formal dining-table and china plates, the hunting party cut incongruous figures in the deserts of the American South-West. With their contemptuous talk of "savages" and "natives", it is clear that they have imported to the New World the same sense of arrogant superiority towards non-white peoples as they would display in their colonies. The film might also make uncomfortable viewing for Americans; the presence of a US Senator among the party makes it clear that in the nineteenth century American attitudes in this respect were essentially no different from European ones and that America's remorseless westward expansion was just another form of colonialism.The film was advertised under the curious slogan "BB + 007 = !!!", playing on its two famous stars, Connery and Brigitte Bardot. Bardot plays the Countess Irina Lazaar, one of the party who becomes romantically involved with Shalako. Irina's nationality is never made clear; her name suggests that she is Russian, but Bardot plays her with a French accent. Actually, I doubt if Bardot, whose English was not good, could have played her with any other accent. BB was always happiest acting in her native language, and although she could be quite good in some English-language films productions such as "Viva Maria!", here she is quite dreadful. Despite the romance that develops between their characters, there is no chemistry between her and Connery and her performance is emotionless and wooden. BB + 007 = ???Seen as an action hero rather than a romantic lead, however, Connery makes a decent cowboy, and there is a good performance from Peter van Eyck as Baron Frederick von Hallstadt, the German leader of the hunting party. At first Hallstadt seems like an arrogant and conceited bully, a Nazi officer transported back in time to the days of the Old West, but after the Indian attack we see another side to his character. He proves to be capable and resourceful with a certain sense of decency, and is responsible for the plan which eventually saves the lives of his party. (Despite his Dutch-sounding name, Van Eyck, originally Von Eick, was himself German. This was his penultimate film- his last was to be "The Bridge at Remagen"- before his early death at the age of 57).Despite the failure of its romantic subplot, and a rather irritating theme song, "Shalako" is not a bad film. The idea of a party of upper- class Europeans stranded in the deserts of New Mexico is an interesting one, the action sequences are well done and overall this is well up to the standards of most "paella Westerns". Had more opportunities come up Connery's career might have taken a different path and we could have had the world's first great Scottish Western hero. We might today be talking about "haggis Westerns". 6/10

zardoz-13 "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.

FightingWesterner A hunting party of European aristocrats is led onto Apache land by arrogant hunting guide Stephen Boyd, in violation of a government treaty. Soon the party is given an ultimatum brokered by G-man Sean Connery. The Europeans stubbornly refuse to leave Apache lands, leading to a violent confrontation and a desperate trek through the hills.This British production is decent enough but it goes on a bit too long. The widescreen photography is excellent, showing off some mighty fine locations and the action is competently handled. However there isn't much sympathy generated by any of the characters in the film.Sean Connery makes an adequate western hero albeit with a Scottish accent, while Woody Strode steals every scene he's in as Connery's number one Apache nemesis.It's true what they say about Connery and Bridget Bardot's lack of on-screen chemistry. Viewers wondering why Bardot has such a loyal cult following won't find any answers here.The worst thing about this film is the awful theme song.

winner55 The premise of the film is just dumb. That a handful of European aristocrats, with an outlaw for a guide, would refuse to escape an Indian reservation when they discover they are about to be attacked by a small Indian army, just because they are racist enough to believe that they are superior to any number of Indians, may not be utterly incredible - racists can get pretty dumb - but it is just incredible enough to make all that follows difficult to swallow. I mean, obviously these people are too stupid to be liked or even pitied - let the Indians massacre them and get it over with.And speaking of racism, it's hard to believe this film was made in the late 1960s, this is the most regressive presentation of Native Americans as "savages" since the 1930s. In fact there are a couple John Wayne oaters from the Lone Star studios of the '30s that present Indians in a much more favorable and humane manner than this.So let's talk about the casting - or let's not, everyone is so badly miscast, you wonder what film the casting director thought needed these actors. They're all well known and respected for other roles in other films - they just don't belong here. The worst case of this - Woody Strode, wholly unbelievable as an Indian warrior with a grudge against Connery's Shalako.And don't get me started on that bizarre, '50s-retro title song! Might actually have been fun if it didn't drag out so bad. Action scenes are below par. Unless you have a Connery crush or a Bardot fetish, better stay away.