Shalako

Rating:
Summary: There's A New Guy At MGM And He's So Out Of Touch!
Review: Another DVD from MGM that is widescreen (That's Great) but it's not ANIMORPHIC ( Enhanced For Widescreen T.V.'s ). This seems to be the trend for MGM now and it doesn't make any sense. Previous releases were animorphic. I can only assume there's a new guy in charge and he's an idiot! ( The other recent titles are "Follow That Dream" and "The Magnificent Seven Ride!".If this bothers you as much as it does me then send an email to MGM. These movies deserve better treatment.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting but offbeat Western 3.5 Stars
Review: 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. Enjoy

Rating:
Summary: Bardot and Connery Rule!!Great Classic Western!!
Review: Brigette Bardot and Sean Connery Rule in this great classic western.It's a must see!!

Rating:
Summary: Widescreen but NOT Anamorphic
Review: MGM has suddenly stopped making these older films Anamorphic (Enhanced for Widescreen T.V.'s)which doesn't make sense. Other recent titles include "Follow That Dream", "A Minute To Pray, A Second To Die" and "The Magnificent Seven Ride!". If this bothers you as much as it does me, send an email to MGM.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty Good Western and a bit unique
Review: Okay. Before we bought this I didn't know it existed. My wife did. Watching it on DVD my wife said that she was seeing parts of it that were totally new to her. When she saw it on TV it had many scenes cut (for time I imagine).
Speaking of time. It's NOT 113 minutes. More like 125 minutes.
Was Connery any good? Yes. His accent didn't bother me and he was the tough guy though not as proactive as some heroes. He used his instincts more than his gun. A plus in this film.
It was more fun though to see the length of Bardot's hair vary from scene to scene and be amazed at how heavy and PERFECT her eyemake-up always remained. If you've seen Pam Anderson lately in 'VIP' you'd think this was her mom or something. They are quite alike.
That said it's a pretty brutal western. There is a great deal of on-screen violence. Arrows fly. Flaming arrows hit more than wagons. The champagne isn't quite chilled to perfection either (you'll get this joke if you see the movie)

Honor Blackman's character has a tragic death scene (shocking for it's brutality and unexpected). It was one of the more unusual I have seen on screen (and in a western). This was Peter Van Eyck's last movie. He even looks ill for most of it.
Don't expect the calvary/U.S. Army to rescue anyone. They are talked about, but never appear. That can be a good thing.
The price is right and it's an obscure piece. You can show it to friends and say ....hey Sean Connery was in a Western!

Rating:
Summary: Connery better than expected
Review: Sean Connery does a much better job in this western than I could have imagined. He plays his role in a Randoph Scott fashion. At this point of his career Connery is ruggedly handsome. He even speaks more clearly than he usually does. Bardot plays the role of a countess with grace and style. Her usual child-like qualties which set her apart from other screen beauties arn't apparent here.

The entire cast is excellent, however, the script is flawed and far fetched so while there are many good moments the picture ultimately doesn't click. This doesn't mean it is a poor movie. It simply is another run of mill western.

Rating:
Summary: One to miss
Review: Sean Connery is one of my favorite actors (Molly Macquires). How he was ever talked into this movie. Brigitte Bardot plays Bardot. The New Mexicoesk landscapes and some favorite actors(Jack Hawkins) is about the only redeeming grace of this western that plods along. Somehow the pouty lips and wispy hair could not carry this movie out of the boring canyons.

Rating:
Summary: Good Flick.
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: 007 & BB go way out West!
Review: With the cast this movie has--Sean Connery, Brigitte Bardot, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Honor Blackman, Peter van Eyck, Valerie French, and Woody Strode--and based on a novel by Louis L'Amour (and with a foreword by him) this should have been a much better Western than it is! It's a slow moving tale of a hunting party that becomes the hunted party. Shalako (the name means "rain bringer" in Zuni Indian), played by Connery, rescues a group of European noblefolk on a hunting expedition in New Mexico in the 1880s after they run afoul of hostile Apaches, who like to hunt, too; they like to hunt the "white-eyes," whether European or home-grown, who invade their territory!

This DVD has no bonus features at all, not even the theatrical trailer! Just a scene selector menu. But the image quality is quite good and you have a choice of widescreen or full frame. Sean Connery looks good in his buckskins and six-shooter, in his prime before the gray beard and bald pate. Brigitte Bardot is simply gorgeous, as is Honor Blackman (GOLDFINGER, THE AVENGERS TV series.) I recommend this DVD as a novelty item mostly, for Connery fans (it's his only Western--if you don't count OUTLAND!) and Bardot fans (it's her only Western, too--if you don't count LES PETROLEUSES, a French-Italian oater!)

I first saw this movie at my favorite drive-in theater in '68, and the only thing I remembered about it was Bardot's modestly demure bare back scene, until I saw it again on this DVD edition. This movie is just rather forgettable! It was filmed on location in Spain, and Spain doesn't look anything at all like the American Southwest, a fact European "Western" makers should realize, and that any John Ford fan can attest to!