The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Brigitte Bardot is Frenchie King of the title, leader of a five-gal band of outlaws, terrors of the West.

Claudia Cardinale is Marie Sarrazin, older sister to four guys who would goof off all day if she wasn’t around to make sure things ran smoothly on their ranch.

After a train holdup, Frenchie finds the title to the Little P Ranch and decides it’s time for her gang to hang up their guns and become ladies again.

Marie finds a valise from the same robbery. Inside it is a map showing that there’s fortune in oil under the Little P.

So she decides to buy it, only to discover it’s already been sold to someone named Doc Miller. That’s the name of the man who bought the ranch; it’s also the alias Frenchie is using to start her new life.

And so the battle between the strong-willed women begins, with Frenchie wondering why Marie wants the ranch so badly and Marie badly underestimating Frenchie’s wild west skills.

Frenchie also has an ace up her sleeve — four pretty and man-hungry half-sisters who can turn the heads of Marie’s four brothers.

Speaking of smitten, that would be describe bumbling sheriff Michael Pollard, who futilely tries courting both women.

Review:

Probably not the film either star would like to be remembered for, but this is a campy delight if you approach it not expecting too much.

And refreshingly different considering the wave of not-very-funny European westerns spawned by the Spaghetti craze.

You’d certainly be hard pressed to find a European Western with more sex appeal, and the cleavage enhancing outfits Brigitte and Claudia squeeze their bodies into enhances the film’s eye appeal.

Oh, and there’s a pretty long cat fight between Frenchie and Marie, with the former’s butler and the latter’s Indian sidekick looking on and making a bet over who will prevail.

Pollard is a delight as the sheriff who keeps losing track of his horse, frantically studies French so he can win Marie over and loses so many other things, he finally handcuffs himself to his pet dog.

In one of the more memorable scenes, Frenchie’s sisters have no luck “torturing” the truth about the Little P ranch out of Marie’s brother.

So Frenchie lines them up, facing away from her, stark naked, and begins firing her rifle until they squeal about the oil.

Directed by:
Christian-Jaque
Guy Casaril

Cast:
Brigitte Bardot … Louise
Claudia Cardinale … Marie Sarrazin
Michael Pollard … The Sheriff
Oscar Davis … Matthieu
Patrick Prejean … Luc
Georges Beller … Marc
France Dougnas … Elisabeth
Teresa Gimpera … Caroline
Emma Cohen … Virginie
Patty Shepard … Little Rain
Leroy Haynes … Marquis
Valery Inkijinoff … Spitting Bull
Marie-Ange Anies … Constance
Micheline Presle … Aunt Amelie
Henry Czarniak … Doc Miller

aka:
Le pistoleras
Frenchie King
Petroleum Girls

Score:
Christian Gaubert

Trivia:

Brigitte Bardot was 37 when this film was made. She would appear in just two more before retiring from acting at age 40. Among the quotes attributed to her: “I am really a cat transformed into a woman … I purr. I scratch. And I bite.”

Claudia Cardinale and Brigitte Bardot were reportedly friends. Another quote attributed to Brigitte:”I already know who’s destined to take my place (as a sex symbol). There can be only one, and one alone. After BB comes CC, no?”

Claudia Cardinale’s deep voice was often dubbed in her early films. Her English speaking voice was first heard in “Circus World,” a 1964 film starring John Wayne.

Memorable lines:

Marie, looking for a loan, and suggesting she visit the bank: “Don’t you believe in banks?”
Aunt Amelie, fetching the money: “I believe in beds. Money should stay where it’s made.”

Maria’s brother, as she entices Frenchie to ride a wild horse: “Are you crazy? He’ll break her in two.”
Maria: “So what, she’s a doctor? It’ll be one patient more.”
Second brother: “And what if she kills herself.”
Maria: “It will be one patient less.”

Sheriff, as he discards his badge: “Know what? The West ain’t no place for a man.”

Elisabeth: “Just think, a man. And a home of our own.”
Virginie: “He’d come home at night. We’d put his slippers on. Fetch him his pipe.”
Elisabeth: “He’d be so happy. So exhausted.”
Frenchie: “But not too exhausted. There are five of us.”

Virginie, who has trouble seeing: “Are you the handsome one?”
One of the brothers: “Yeah, but not so loud. They’ll beat the hell out of me.”

Patty Shepard as Little Rain, a member of the Frenchie King gang in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

France Dougnas as Elisabeth, a member of the Frenchie King gang in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Emma Cohen as Virginie, a member of the Frenchie King gang in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Brigitte Bardot as Louise, shopping for a Sarrazin horse in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Brigitte Bardot as Louise, surprised while bathing in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Brigitte Bardot as Louise, pretending to be Doc Miller in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Brigitte Bardot as Louise, with a get-rich-quick scheme in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Patrick Prejean as Luc, one of Maria’s brothers in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

George Beller as Marc, one of Maria’s brothers in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Unknown actor as one of Marie’s brother in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Unknown actor as one of Marie’s brother in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Claudia Cardinale as Maria, planning to put Louise on a wild horse in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Claudia Cardinale as Marie, performig at the town’s holiday celebration in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)

Claudia Cardinale as Marie, ready for a final showdown in The Legend of Frenchie King (1971)