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Shalako | 
 enlarge | Director: Edward Dmytryk
Actors: Sean Connery, Brigitte Bardot, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins, Peter Van Eyck
Studio: MGM (Video DVD)
Category: DVD
List Price: $9.98
Buy New: $2.75
You Save: $7.23 (72%)
New (72) Used (19) Collectible (1) from $2.75
Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 18293
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Full Screen, Letterboxed, Subtitled, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 113 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: M102769
ISBN: 0792860551
UPC: 027616905796
EAN: 9780792860556
ASIN: B0001GF2KQ
Theatrical Release Date: November 6, 1968
Release Date: May 25, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Saddle up for a raucous and robust western adventure (Variety) that packs strong action (Film TV Daily) and the crackling chemistry of screen icons Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot! Based on the novel by Louis L Amour Shalako is a handsome (Variety) rousing western (Motion Picture Herald) that delivers nonstop thrills with both barrels blazing!Gutsy gun-slinging Shalako (Connery) is a loner who looks out for number one until he finds himself rescuing and falling for a beautiful countess (Bardot) under attack by Apache Indians. But when Shalako discovers that the countess is part of a European hunting party that refuses to be led to safety he must summon all his courage to fight the Apache and save the woman he loves or die trying!System Requirements: Running Time 113 MinFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre:nbsp;WESTERN/MISC. Rating:nbsp;PG UPC:nbsp;027616905796 Manufacturer No:nbsp;M102769
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 LOOKS BETTER AS THE YEARS GO ON October 14, 2008
Kay's Husband (Virginia, U.S.A.)
br / br /This movie was based on one of the stronger Louis L'Amour books, a book to stand beside HONDO for its strength of hero. Unfortunately, the film is only a pale representative of the book. One thing I find strange in some of the listed reviews is the statement of the film being atypical as in "offbeat" or "unique". The plot of the book and movie can be seen as truly western in approach and outlook, nothing strange in either one that would warrant or support an 'offbeat' or 'unique' tag. br / br /The book opens in the year 1882, with Shalako coming down out of the Sierra Madres Mountains of Mexico, out of Sonora desert, through dangerous Apache country. This movie though filmed in Spain has a sweeping scope to it and offers good backdrop to L'Amour's western story, be it book or movie. The film has several notable actors and for the most part all aquit themselves very well. Foreign hunting parties such as portrayed in the book and movie were not unusual or unique at all in western history, and had been ongoing since as far back as 1832, when Karl Bodmer's party traversed the northern plains region. Later one of the largest ranches of the American west, the XIT or Ten in Texas, was completly foreign owned, with the same to be said of some northern plains ranches as well. Employing such famous men as Buffalo Bill and Wild Bill Hickok for guides on their hunting parties, numerous foreigners for numerous years roamed all over the western United States. br / br /The 1960s were an era of independent producers filming in foreign countries and some locations did not really fit the western motif as well as others. For me, this movie is almost a shadow of DUEL AT DIABLO as far as location is concerned, which was also shot in Spain. Both films have a raw, adventureous feel to them that while not identical to our west do provide excellent locale for the sweep and grandeur of the American west. br / br /Having all of L'Amour's works in hardcover, I read Louis L'Amour books frequently and enjoy watching all variety of western movies, with SHALAKO being of my favorites. Though it doesn't give justice to the L'Amour book it does offer good entertainment value. Nothing strange at all about that. br / br /If you enjoy western movies then you should find a couple hour's entertainment here. br / br /Semper Fi.
 Shalako September 28, 2008
Harry Brewer (S'port, La.)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Sean Connery's only Western is certainly an oddity. The failure isn't Connery's fault, he acquits himself rather well. Most might think it very strange that he was cast in this role but the casting was of Connery was perfect. The movie is based on the novel of the same name written by Louis L'Amour; the character of Shalako from the book had an European background , for reasons that escape me at the moment, he immigrated to America. In fact, much of the film follows L'Amour's novel closely. As it states in the opening credits of the film many Europeans visited the West on hunting expeditions. br / br /Where the movie fails should be blamed on the production company. It was a British film company that was produced this they didn't have much experience for this endeavor. Edward Dmytryk (Broken Lance, The Caine Mutiny) was chosen to counter this lack of experience. But Dmytryk hadn't directed but a handful of Western up to this point. The casting of Brigitte Bardot was simply atrocious. I'm not saying she couldn't act but English was not her language. She certainly was easy on the eyes but this does not make her right for the role. The casting of the British hunting party had no problems; Peter Van Eyck (Von Hallstatt), Honor Blackman (Lady Daggett) Jack Hawkins (Sir Daggett) were all Brits portraying Brits. Nothing wrong with Stephen Boyd playing the nefarious heavy, Bosky Fulton. But Woody Strode (Chato) as an Indian was another BIG stretch. Strode was an underrated actor he was adequate in the role but it was completely wrong. I know, it isn't the first time an Indian was portrayed in the movies by someone who didn't have a drop of Indian blood. br / br /The scene that has stayed with me the most (40 years, in fact) is when the Indians catch the coach. The last survivor is Lady Daggett when she's straddled by a brave she attempts to bribe him with an expensive piece of jewelry. This is funny to the brave he forces her to swallow it she dies. This was brutal for 1968 I still find it chilling. br / br /But for all the things wrong with the movie it's still decent. Connery is great at anything he does I love watching actors cast against type. Connery was trying hard to break his James Bond image so I'm sure that led to his accepting the role. He normally would do another movie between his 007 films these were considerably different than what he had become famous for. The transfers are great so the movie looks great. It's shown in the wide screen format (2.35:1) hasn't any bonus features except for subtitles.
 Shalako September 14, 2008
Crusz (Sydney)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The 5 stars are not for the director, actors, performance, or script translation. It's for the feeling it invokes when I watch it. br /I first saw this movie as a kid on the big screen. Quite an adult movie for one so young but they were the days before PC when kids actually had fun. Snuck into the cinema on a lazy Sunday afternoon with my friends. Bikes piled in a heap outside. BB gun safely tucked under a bush. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and I'm just glad I can watch it again on DVD. Thank you Amazon for making this available and dare I say affordable.
 It Stinks July 22, 2008
L. Cabos (planet earth)
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This was an all European production based on a Louis Lamour novel and that's the most decent thing I can say. Well, to be fair Connery does acquite himself well as a western hero. Everyone else is truly wasted. An oddity as a film at best.
1968 Survival Western with Sean Connery Brigitte Bardot (and Valerie French) July 16, 2008
! Durrkk (Ohio/PA border USA)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
DIRECTOR: Edward Dmytryk br /WRITERS: Louis L'Amour (novel) and Clarke Reynolds (screenplay) br /CAST: Sean Connery, Brigitte Bardot, Sephen Boyd, Honor Blackman, Jack Hawkins, Woody Strode and Valerie French br /RUNTIME: 1 hour 53 minutes br /LOCATIONS: Spain br /COUNTRY: UK/West Germany br / br /THE STORY: A pompous group of European nobles on a hunting vacation in New Mexico are beset by a band of Apaches who don't appreciate them trespassing on their lands. After the Europeans are abandoned by their cowboy guides they are helped by an intrepid loner named Shalako (Connery). Can they make it out alive? br / br /As you can see, this European film has a lot going for it. It's based on a Louis L'Amour novel and has a great cast. Yet, it bombed when it was originally released and I admit not liking it much the first two times I viewed it, but then maybe that's because I saw it on a crappy taped-from-tv vhs hampered by commercials. I decided to give it another chance and bought the excellent dvd; after all, how can you go wrong with Sean Connery and Brigitte Bardot? br / br /The opening is reminiscent of "Duel at Diablo" and the rest of the film resembles "Hombre," which were both released in the late 60s as well; so if you're a fan of those films you'll likely appreciate "Shalako." br / br /Although there's quite a lot of good Western action, the story tends to plod along despite the mere 110-minute runtime (minus end credits). This is what turned me off the first two times I saw it, perhaps mainly because I didn't understand a lot of the heavily-accented dialogue. With the dvd, however, I was able to use the subtitles and understand the slow drama of the story. I highly recommend this. br / br /The film is a story of arrogance and betrayal -- the arrogance of the Europeans who have no respect for the "lowbred" cowboys or the Indian "savages," and the betrayal of the American guides, headed excellently by Stephen Boyd (Messala in "Ben-Hur"). But to my pleasure, "Shalako" is mostly a survival story. For some reason I love survival stories, like "Sands of the Kalahari" and "Flight of the Phoenix". This brings to mind other survival-themed Westerns like "Escape from Fort Bravo," "They Came to Cordura" and "Duel at Diablo." br / br /Can you believe Woody Strode, a black man, is cast as the main Native American antagonist? It works, believe it or not, as he looks convincingly Indian. br / br /THE BABE REPORT: Of course, Brigitte Bardot is one of the most beautiful women to ever grace God's earth. With the exception of one bathing scene she's dressed to the hilt throughout. But -- man -- she has such a cute, pouty face and incredible locks of full blond hair. Honor Blackman, who played Pussy Galore in "Goldfinger," is also on hand. I never thought she was all that beautiful, although I like her as an actor. br / br /Of great interest to me was the appearance of the underrated brunette Valerie French. She played the incredible hottie in "Jubal" (1956) when she was 28. "Shalako" was her final film and she was 40 at the time of release. She's mainly a background character but she does have some lines and you'll catch quite a few good glimpses of her. As far as I'm concerned she's just as beautiful as Bardot, if not more, albeit brunette. And, no, it makes no difference that she's 40. br / br /FINAL ANALYSIS: In light of my initial bad impression of "Shalako" due to seeing it on a crappy taped vhs and the numerous mediocre reviews, I fully expected to not like "Shalako." I was wrong. This is a good late-60's Western. I don't like the Spanish locations (as Spain just can't cut it as a stand-in for the American West) and the story does tend to plod a bit, especially if you suffer from ADD; but, other than that, I found the film quite worthwhile for all the above reasons. br / br /Some critize the ending as ridiculous, but I liked it. Would it likely happen in real life? Probably not. But I didn't find it all that unbelievable. In other words, the filmmakers pulled it off. It's a good MOVIE ending. That's why they went with it. br / br /GRADE: B
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