Old Shatterhand and Winnetou: Peace in danger due to attack!

Old Shatterhand and Winnetou: Peace in danger due to attack!

The western blockbuster “Old Shatterhand” has once again heated up emotions and not only made the hearts of fans beat faster. In this highly anticipated film, which premiered just a few days ago, a farm raid overshadows the peace between the army and the Apaches. Lex Barker shines in the leading role as Old Shatterhand, while Pierre Brice as his blood brother Winnetou takes the audience into the fascinating world of the Euro-Western. The film will go down in history as the most expensive Karl May Western, with a budget of around 5 million DM, and is a co-production by the West German CCC Film as well as French, Italian and Yugoslavian partners such as Wikipedia reveals.

Old Shatterhand and Winnetou sense that there is more to the attack than initially appears. In order to prevent a possible war between Indians and settlers, the two heroes set out to find the real culprits. This captivating storyline brings not only action but also emotional depth to the screen and inspires a strong sense of community among viewers. The legendary character Old Shatterhand by the well-known German writer Karl May, who has already inspired numerous film adaptations, served as a model Karl May film adaptations.

A creative team

Directed by Hugo Fregonese, supported by screenwriter Ladislas Fodor, the film music is by Riz Ortolani, who underlines the exciting atmosphere of the film with his characteristic style. Other notable cast members include Sam Hawkens, played by Ralf Wolter, and Captain Bradley, portrayed by Guy Madison. The brilliant scenes were shot in the picturesque Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia and Spandau Studios in Berlin, giving the film a distinctive visual appeal, like the ARD media library reported.

The interesting cast list also includes Daliah Lavi, who was hired for a few scenes but surprisingly had to be replaced by a look-alike. A small, curious detail that makes the film all the more exciting. There is also an interesting rivalry in the background, as Artur Brauner from CCC Film also wanted to become part of this popular Karl May series.

A box office hit

“Old Shatterhand” has already made its mark as the second best-selling film in West Germany in 1964 with 7.5 million tickets sold. The audience was also won over internationally, with a total of over 36 million tickets worldwide - a real box office hit! Particularly pleasing is the Golden Screen award, which was presented on October 8, 1965 to over three million viewers within the first twelve months.

The extensive popularity of Karl May films has spanned decades. The first films were made in the 1920s and the transit between the silent films and the color versions has shaped many generations of viewers. Even after the cinema series, some film adaptations were made for television, such as “Winnetou – The Myth Lives”, which underlines the timeless fascination of these stories.

Overall, “Old Shatterhand” not only shows the adventures of the hero of the same name, but also the enduring legacy of Karl May, which is brought to life through the mixture of exciting stories and impressive landscapes. So we can only hope that this film will continue to captivate many viewers!