Shalako Reviews

The Connery-Bardot pairing that SHALAKO offers simply can't pump much life into this otherwise typical big-budget western set in 19th-century New Mexico. Connery is a wandering cowboy (his Indian name means "he who brings rain") who comes to the rescue of a snooty group of aristocrats after they run into trouble in Apache territory. It seems they were led there by appropriately dusty trail-boss Boyd in a scheme to make them an easy target for robbery. Connery makes a special effort to come to Bardot's aid, especially since she has two factors in her favor--her royal blood and her obligatory topless scene. The wealthy fools aren't so eager to leave Indian territory, and it takes a bloodletting ambush to change their minds. After putting his life on the line, Connery goes on his way, followed by Bardot, while the rest of her group returns to Britain. Photographed in Spain (looking much like the New Mexico locale, however), SHALAKO is clearly a money-making venture rather than an attempt to contribute to the genre. Initially, Henry Fonda was cast as the lead, but upon realizing he wasn't a box-office name (at least in Connery's league), he pulled out. Connery, turning down the lead in ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE, was offered the role. Bardot also passed on the same Bond picture, missing her chance to play opposite George Lazenby's forgettable Bond. SHALAKO was Bardot's first picture in nearly two years, paying her 350,000 pounds plus 15 percent of the profits, enough to let her sunbathe on the Riviera for another year before getting in front of the camera again.