Shalako is a 1968 British-German-American western film directed by Edward Dmytryk. It is based on a 1962 novel by Louis L'Amour.
A hunting party consisting mainly of European aristocrats makes their sport in Apache territory, guided by the unscrupulous Bosky Fulton (Stephen Boyd). Countess Irina Lazaar (Brigitte Bardot) nearly gets killed by the Apaches when she splits from the party, but is saved by Shalako Carlin (Sean Connery), a retired Cavalry officer who promises the Apaches to get the party off their land by sunrise. Most of the party refuses to take Shalako's warnings seriously, so when morning comes, they get attacked. When the battle subsides, Fulton abandons the party and takes most of their resources, stranding them. It's therefore up to Shalako to guide the survivors to safety.
Tropes:
- Appropriated Appellation: "Shalako" means "rainbringer". He was nicknamed so by the Zuni people because he brought rain with him whenever he visited. He decided to make it his name since he liked it better than his actual given one, which is Moses Zebulan.
- Bathing Beauty: While on the plateau, Shalako wakes up in the night and finds a half-naked Irina washing herself. This leads to them spending the night together.
- Get It Over With: Shalako has a one-on-one fight with the Apache Chato to settle things. Shalako beats Chato, who urges him to finish him off and considers it a dishonor when his father concedes defeat and convinces Shalako to spare him.
- I Choose to Stay: The movie ends with Irina deciding to split from the hunting party for good, staying with Shalako instead of going back to Europe.
- Ojou Ringlets: The aristocratic Irina initially has two ringlets of hair dropping over her shoulders, but they come undone as the hunting party's situation becomes more dangerous.
- Playing Possum: Julia tries to escape the Apaches while they are distracted with one of Fulton's men. She drops to the ground and plays dead when she sees them coming toward her. It seems to work as they pay attention to the upended carriage rather than her, but then one approaches, notices her eyelids fluttering and begins torturing her by pouring sand on her mouth.
- Run for the Border: Fulton abandons the hunting party, takes their valuables and makes a run for Mexico. However, he's forced to come back with his tail between his legs when he loses his men and the stuff he stole to an Apache attack.
- The Savage Indian: The Apaches are not so savage that they won't give the party a chance to leave in peace, but they are nonetheless the main threat the protagonists have to contend with. Julia is given an especially grisly fate at their hands, being force-fed sand and then her necklace, choking on it.
- Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Buffalo says he does not like going any higher than his horse and is terrified when the party has to climb up a mountain.
