SHALAKO

UK, 1968, 113 minutes, Colour.
Sean Connery, Brigitte Bardot, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins, Peter Van Eyck, Honor Blackman, Woody Strode, Eric Sykes, Alexander Knox, Valerie French.
Directed by Edward Dmytryk.

Shalako is a British-produced western, filmed in Spain. It is based on a novel by celebrated western writer, Louis L'Amour.

The film focuses on a group of European hunters who do not understand Indians or the American terrain. When they are trapped by Indians, they rely on Shalako, their guide, to lead them to safety. Reviewers at the time were very critical of the plot which seemed rather implausible, showing the width(**or was that wit?) of the white guide over the Indians. However, allowing for the loopholes in the screenplay, the film is an entertaining and standard western for the undemanding.

The cast, however, was quite extraordinary with Sean Connery teamed with Brigitte Bardot. Stephen Boyd is the sinister presence and there is a strong cast of British character actors in support.

The film was directed by Edward Dmytryk who made an impression in the 1940s with such films as Murder My Sweet and Crossfire. One of the Hollywood Ten, he had to spend some time in Europe directing before returning to make The Caine Mutiny. He had a very successful career in Hollywood during the 50s and early 60s, with such films as The Young Lions and blockbusters like The Carpetbaggers.

1. How successful a western was this, its impact, entertainment value?

2. What were its best features? How conventional a western? Its use conventions, its differences in highlighting European hunters and the coach and the Indians?

3. How important was the use of a wide range of international stars, the impact for the success of this film? The location photography?

4. The importance of the initial list of hunters in the American west? What attitude did the Italians have towards the hunters? Audience response to them? Their arrogance?

5. How did audiences respond to the hunters? The initial themes in hunting the animals? The appearance of class difference, arrogance, the nature of the table talk, the butler? The nobility? How did the audience response change when the hunters bcome violent? Were they sympathetic when being hunted by the Indians or did they deserve to be hunted because of breaking conventions?

6. How did the film present the Indians? Their rights to to their land and the reservation? Hunting the white man, hunting the hunters? Their cruelty? Audience sympathy for their cause? The clash of the Indian chief with Shalako?

7. How interesting a character was Shalako? Sean Connery in the west? how good a western hero was he? Intelligence and strength? Army background and his ability to lead? the nature of his relatlonship with the hunters? The quality of his love for Irina?

8. How did Fulton contrast with Shalako as a villain? Fulton as a smooth villain? Leading the hunters, trapping and robbing them? Letting Julla die? saving himself with the hunters? Did he merit his death?

9. The character of the Baron and his arrogance in leading the party? His relationship with Irina? The style of his party? The baronial style in the west? Audience sympathy for him in his climbing the mountain?

10. The presentation of the American senator and his wite? The criticism of arrogant American senators? Their attitudes towards the Indians?

11. The English aristocracy in Zagget? His relationship with Julia? Her decision to go off with Fulton? The inevitability of his death? Being left by Fulton, tormented by the Indians? the irony of her checking on her jewels? What point was made by these characters? Zagget’s disillusionment and killing of Fulton? Audience response to this?

12. Was Irina a convincing heroine? Her initiative, her hunting capacity, being rescued from the Indians by Shalako, her relationship to the baron and to Shalako? Brigitte Bardot's interpretation of this role?

13. The presentation of the ordinary men of the west, helping hunting parties, robbing the hunters, being massacred by the Indians?

14. The impact of death in this film? The inevitablity of death in the west?

15. How well did the film explore the themes of greed, violence, brittle relationships?

16. What values did the film presuppose in audiences to enjoy it as a western, as a subtle western?