Shalako
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Movie Reviews of Shalako
Movie Review: Enjoyable off-beat western with strong cast
Summary: 4 Stars
What do you get when you put a Scottish actor, a French bombshell, an American director, and spaghetti western filming locations? A enjoyable off-beat western called Shalako that is not that well known considering the cast. In the 1870s in New Mexico, a hunting party full of European nobles is making its way through an Apache reservation, hunting as they go. But the Apaches have been pushed too far, telling the hunting party they have just one day to leave before they attack. An ex-Army colonel, Shalako Carlin, must lead the group to safety before the Apache war party closes in and finishes them off. For a western that isn't that well known, I was pleasantly surprised with Shalako. Imagine a mix of American and spaghetti westerns and you get this movie. The locations are beautiful, you'll probably spot some from other spaghettis, the action is pretty decent, and the story is simple, but it keeps you entertained from beginning to end. Give this western a try, it's worth a watch.
The ensemble cast full of recognizable names works very well together. In what I think was his only western, Sean Connery plays Shalako Carlin, the ex-Army colonel who finds himself trying to save the lives of the stranded hunting party. Connery seems to be enjoying the part, and it shows. French beauty Brigitte Bardot plays Countess Irina Lazaar, who takes an instant liking to Shalako, even though an arranged wedding with Peter van Eyck's Baron Frederick has been set up. Bardot is good in the part, and as expected, she's easy on the eyes. van Eyck also turns in a good performance as the Baron who finds himself battling with Shalako before finally siding with him. Some other members of the hunting party include an underused Jack Hawkins, a treacherous Honor Blackman, and Alexander Knox and Valerie French as a U.S. senator and his wife. Stephen Boyd is perfectly slimy as Bosky Fulton, the trail guide who abandons the party. In a small part, Woody Strode plays Apache chief Chato and pulls it off in a strange way. Julian Mateos and Don Barry are also strong as Rojas and Buffalo, two men Shalako can count on in such a dangerous situation.
The DVD offers a nice-looking widescreen presentation, but that's about it. No special features or anything are included. Of course, I'd love to see interviews with Connery or Bardot, but that's probably wishful thinking. I would have settled for a trailer or something though. Anyways, Shalako is an exciting western with a very good cast that is not the most well-known western from the 60s, but don't let its obscurity scare you away. Check out Shalako!
Movie Review: Interesting but offbeat Western 3.5 Stars
Summary: 4 Stars
Based quite rigidly on the best selling novel by Louis L'Amour, we find Sean Connery in the lead role here complete with Scottich brogue, that sits OK despite being a dusty, rough around the edges hero. Not often seen on reruns, and I don't know why this film didn't get much exposure, as many people I know haven't seen it, or even heard of it. I'm tempted to say at this point, that this is not a movie that will live long in the memory, but don't be put off - it has a strangely compelling quality and realistic feel, and a better than average script. There a number of violent scenes, most notably the grissly demise of one of the lead characters (I won't say who) at the hands of a vicious band of Indians, and you could draw some comparisons with the content of movies like "Soldier Blue" although that came along several years after this. On the whole this is a good solid western, with great acting pretty much all round, the 60's film style is evident in Ms Bardot's stunning appearance throughout, despite her supposedly being in the dusty back of beyondville, but this is nothing to get too upset about. I was pleased to see this come to the DVD market, and hope it will reach the wider audience it deserves. EnjoyMovie Review: Good Flick.
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a good western. Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot in a western directed by Edward Dmytryk. How could it be bad. In fact, Sean Connery is so good in this that I figure they must have banned him from doing more westerns. Now really, is this a great film? No. Not many westerns stand up to the quality of today's films. But I liked it and I plan to watch it again.Movie Review: The worst film in which Conery worked !
Summary: 4 Stars
Shalako was a film that gathered all the elements to be a master Western, a fabulous cast and an emblematic director as Dymytryk , but that lacked of the basi factor that makes a good movie, a believable script.
I just had thirteen years old when I saw in my favourite movie theatre and I still can remember my absolute disappointment.
Movie Review: Western Movie Nut
Summary: 4 Stars
The plot for this Western was entertaining without the many obvious errors we see in some of todays movies. Actors were appropriate to the script and the setting was aptly staged. As western movies go, I would rate it as a "keeper". Though not as good as "The Quick and The Dead", it still has acceptable entertainment value.