In the 1969 western 100 Rifles, which was filmed in Almera, Spain under the direction of Tom Gries, Welch played a leader of the freedom fighters. Jim Brown, Burt Reynolds, and Fernando Lamas were included as well.
Due to a love scene between Welch and Brown that broke the Hollywood taboo against depicting interracial sensuality on screen, the film attracted attention and controversy at the time.
Did Raquel Welch not like Burt Reynolds?
Burt Reynolds and Raquel Welch did not get along because of remarks he made during the production of 100 Rifles (1969) that she found offensive. She insisted that she not have any on-screen interactions with Reynolds in this film. The interrogation is when they get the closest. They never made eye contact, even though they were in the same space.
In a scene where he is set on fire, Burt Reynolds performed a stunt on himself and came dangerously close to getting burns on his face. His asbestos-lined coat sleeve, neck, and back of his skull were all covered in raging flames. The film included this cut.
On the original poster, Burt Reynolds is depicted sprawled on a mat nearly naked. It is a recreation of his well-known centerfold from “Cosmopolitan” Magazine in 1972, which has nothing to do with whatever his character performs in the film.
Despite being set to helm this film, Brian De Palma objected to the casting of Yul Brynner (The Deaf Man) and Raquel Welch (Detective Eileen McHenry). He then abandoned the idea.