Apache Gold (1965)

Admirable film.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Born in Brest,Britanny ,and recently deceased,Pierre Brice is a French actor who is virtually unknown in his native country whereas he is considered an icon in Germany;his resemblance with Alain Delon was probably the main reason which led him to work abroad;the only movie of his which is frequently broadcast on French TV is a horror classic ("Il Mulino Delle Donne Di Piétra"="Le Moulin Des Supplices" ).But,although played by a French actor,Winnetou is not part of French popular culture:Pierre Brice,a Breton ,achieved ,however ,a hard task:portraying an Indian without being ludicrous ,as so many of his peers ;he is not only credible,but he retains dignity and greatness. His legendary friendship with Old Shatterhand (Lex Barker) will be a long time coming but they will become blood brothers -and almost brothers-in-law ,a la "broken arrow" ,had the screenwriters saved Marie Versini's squaw .Action scenes are well directed ,with a good sense of space ;the only irksome character is the photographer ,a very bad comic relief.It's all the more pointless since Shatterhand's mates do not take their fate seriously ,even tied to the torture post .Best scene : Shatterhand ,on the canoe compared by Winnetou to an old toothless squaw for he's made a hole in it,trying to row the boat ashore near the sacred totem.

WINNETOU, 1963, in MemoriumBy Alex Dusty-Foot Deleon (Honorary Cheyenne)A classic German Western filmed in Jugoslavia. Viewed on Austrian TV, June 14, 2015. I knew that a German writer by the name of Karl May was an extremely popular writer of American westerns in Germany, and that a number of films based on his iconic "Apache" hero Winnetou had been made, but I had never seen one. When French actor Pierre Brice who incarned Apache chieftain Winnetou in many films, passed away last week (June 6) at age 86 it was big news in the German language press and a series of his films are now on TV here in respectful memorium. Pierre-Louis Baron de Bris (6 February 1929 – 6 June 2015), known as Pierre Brice, was a French actor, best-known as fictional Apache-chief Winnetou in German Karl May films.On Sunday in my hotel room I dutifully watched the most famous one "Winnetou, Part I" also known as "Apache Gold", and was most pleasantly surprised -- former Tarzan Lex Barker, dressed in buckskin and speaking flawless German, great "western" scenery filmed in Jugoslavia (-- shall we call it a Slivović Western) -- great authentic looking costumes and Teepees, good Indians vs evil Paleface intruders, lots of equestrian action and rousing shootouts, lovely Indian damsel in distress, Handsome Lex Barker blood- Brothering with Staunch heroic French Apache warrior Winnetou -- everything you could possibly want from a Western, and a rousing musical score to boot.Extremely refreshing. Can't wait to see WINNETOU 2 and 3.Okay, these Apaches looked more like Plains Indians than Southwest desert Apaches and did not speak Tonto mumbo-jumbo like Jlay Silverheels who played TONTO in The Lone Ranger series but was an authentic Canadian Iroquois -- -- and all the Indians looked pretty much like painted Caucasians, but -- Who cares? -- when so much fun is to be had!Winnetou is a made-up name not in reality associated with the Apache or any other Amerindian language, but the films became so popular that Winnetou is an acceptable official name in Germany. Et alors ... Was denn!Ps: An adviser from Los Angeles suggests calling it a "Sauerkraut Western" to avoid confusion with the better known Spaghetti variety. Why not ...Gettemupp Scalp!.

It was so nice to remember times when this film was shot in the former Yugoslavia, what is today Croatia. I was not born then but they told me how wonderful it was to work with those people at those times.They filmed at what is today Plitvice Lakes and Dubrovnik, Popovo Polje area. Old people still remember that.I wish making films was simple and nice as it was during those times.It is great to take a ride in the past and revisit those old movies.You the younger generation should do the same.For details of film see the other reviews, everything there has been well said.

Winnetou I.When i hear this name some of the nicest childhood memories come rushing back to me. when i first saw this movie at the age of seven or so Winnetou became my hero for years to come. Based on the novels written by Karl May german director Harald Reinl came up with one of the first wild west movies who didn´t copy the american movies. The german audience rewarded that and Winnetou I ( followed by II and III ) became a huge success. Actually it became a huge success all around the world. Nonetheless Winnetou I wasn´t Reinls first Winnetou movie. One year earlier he had released the movie "Der Schatz im Silbersee" which became the most successful movie of the season 62/63 beating such movies as James Bond : Dr.No. The story is basically every time the same. The two friends Winnetou and Old Shatterhand try to solve the problems between the red and the white poeple and of course in the end they succeed. Winnetou I is starring Lex Barker in the role of Old Shatterhand and french actor Pierre Brice as Winnetou. They both came up with a very fine performance and especially Pierre Brice, who is now 68, stayed winnetou throughout his whole life. He played Winnetou in several sequels and after the Karl May period started to fade he performed this role on several stages in germany. In my opinion the movies are most fun to watch, when they remind you of your childhood. When you watch them for the first time as a grown up they may seem a bit too naive and cheesy. But even if you might dislike the movie you simply have to love the soundtrack. I am not joking here!!! German composer "Martin Böttcher" came up with the best soundtrack ever composed. Forget the Jurassic Park Theme or the Batman Theme. The Winnetou Theme is much better. In the year 1962 the theme stayed at top of the german charts for more than 17 weeks. It is simply breathtaking and works so well with the romantic landscape ( the movie was shot in Jugoslavia ). Give it a try you won´t be disappointed.10 out of 10Hugh Winnetou has spoken!!!