and The Band to play the Crackers, the film"s literal band of outlaws. Brigitte Bardot was earmarked for the role of sultry showgirl Belle Starr. Drummer Ginger Baker was attached to star too. None of them did. ABC Pictures eventually optioned it and hired surrealist four-man comedy troupe the Firesign Theatre to punch up the script. The US group"s satirical radio broadcasts and comedy albums – made by hippies, for hippies – would go on to be influential across the audio-comedy spectrum. This was going to be their big break in Hollywood.