Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Winnetou - 3. Teil" or "Winnetou: The Last Shot" is, as the title already gives away, the third chapter from the Winnetou franchise and it had its 50th anniversary last year. As such, it is a German language movie that was produced by West Germany, Italy and Yugoslavia, like some of the other installments. The director is Harald Reinl, not yet an Oscar nominee at this point, but easily among Germany's most successful filmmaker. The ending in this film may be among the most emotional moments from the franchise, but the really sad thing is that the rest of the film, which means everything that happens in the 75 minutes before, does not work in a way that lets the ending appear really heartfelt and authentic. The stories and characters are as generic as in the previous (and later films) and Brice is once again very forgettable as the title character. I wish they could have cast somebody else. The talent is not there in terms of Brice, just the looks, and this description also fits this film (and the franchise in general). It is all about the costumes, landscapes and sets where the action takes place. But the actual plot and story fall very short just like the acting and writing in these films in general. They have not aged well at all by today's standards and compared to some other western films from back in the day, especially American ones. I do not recommend "Winnetou III". Not at all.
ma-cortes
Again the unforgettable Winnetou and Old Shatterhand in a dangerous adventure set on wonderful outdoors is this German/Yugoslavian co-production . Adventures , action , crossfire and gorgeous Yugoslavian exteriors magnificently photographed . This is a thrilling and stirring adventure based on Karl May trilogy with two agreeable characters as Old Shatterhand and Winnetou, being stunningly played by Lex Barker and Pierre Brice respectively . As always , and at the beginning , there takes place an emotive meeting between Winnetou (Pierre Brice) and Old Shatterhand (Lex Barker who married Spanish Carmen Cervera who subsequently wedded Baron Thyssen) . It deals with a land baron and his hoodlum Rollins (Rick Battaglia) , a ruthless bandit , both of whom spread a reign of terror and attempt to take Indian lands , expelling them from their territories . As powerful owners want to create a war between the native American tribes and the white men . The settlers moving westward, attempt to break the friendship between the whites and the Indians and wage war among them . Old Shatterhand, Winnetou and their sidekick , the ordinary Sam Hawkens (likeable Ralf Wolter who carries out the comic relief) try to prevent this . Winnetou and Shatterland have an encounter with governor (Carl Lange) of Santa Fe who promises peace and free lands for Indians . Then , the warring Jicarillos' chief, White Buffalo (Dusan Antonijevic) , allies with villain Rollins and the latter kills Quick Panther (Slobodan) , White Buffalo's son , stabbing him in the back with Winnetou's knife , then Winnetou is accused of the murder . It is up to Old Shatterhand to save his friend . Old Shatterland frees his faithful half-brother and both of whom are on the trail to chase the nasty Rollins but they are double-crossed . In spite of troubles caused by bandits , they get escape . Later on , Winnetou attempts a treaty of peace and prepares a summit between the Indian tribes , Jicarillos, and Mescaleros Apaches along with band of Rollins but he is betrayed . At the end , there occurs a breathtaking epilogue by means of shootouts , merciless pursuits and a surprising death , Winnetou , although we all know that he is immortal and following a lot of episodes .This Western/Adventure results to be one of the best episodes about one of the series of popular German made Western , featuring the duo formed by valiant ¨Old Shatterhand¨ and shiny ¨Winnetou¨ , both of them repeat their same notorious roles as dignified as always . This enjoyable saga benefits from sensational adventures , shootouts , fireworks , exciting combats, larger-than-life characters and spectacular scenarios shot in Atelier, Spandau, Berlin, Germany (studio),Grobnicko Polje, Croatia ,Kredarica, Lukovo, Plitvice, Yugoslavia ,Postojna cave, Radmanove Linice valley, Stobrec quarry, Yugoslavia,cement factory, Solin, Split, Croatia and Trogir , Croacia .Winnetou-Pierre Brice repeats , as usual, his excellent and immortal role to be continued in a TV series. Lex Barker scores especially high marks , though he plays as a serious and intelligent frontiersman . Enjoyable relationship between Old Shatterhand and Winnetou is quite match . Pierre Brice is sensational as Winnetou , he is descendant of old French nobility , after enlisting as volunteer to the French Army and fighting in Indochina, he attended acting lessons and got a first small role in some film . In 1962, a German producer searched for an actor who should play the Native American chief Winnetou on a Western movie adapted from novels by Karl May and got to know Brice at the Berlin Film Festival . He got the role and portrayed "Winnetou" in ten more movies with his co-star Lex Barker as "Old Shatterhand". These very successful productions made him a superstar in Germany, winning several awards such as Bambi or the Golden Otto of teenager magazine "Bravo". Furthermore , received Germany's Cross of Merit, First Class as one the most popular Frenchmen in Germany . Although appearing on countless other movies and TV shows, he will always be best remembered as "Winnetou", whom he also played at the Bad Segeberg open air theater.The highbrow Lex Barker who like his co-star and good friend Pierre Brice started a singing career and released several records and played the most part of series : ¨Apache gold(1963)¨ by Harald Reinl, ¨Apaches last Battle(1964)¨ by Hugo Fregonese, ¨Last of renegades(1964)¨, ¨The desperate trail¨, ¨Old Surehand¨ (1965) directed by Alfred Vohrer, ¨Old Shatterland(1966)¨ by Harald Philipp, ¨In the valley of death(1968)¨ by Harald Reinl . Stewart Granger as ¨Surehand¨ took the role in two occasions , he starred a diverse character but the role is pretty similar to Old Shatterland , he plays with mirth and sympathetic manner as ¨Among vultures¨ and ¨Winnetou and Surehand¨ . Besides , Rod Cameron starred only one : ¨Old Firehand¨ in which chemistry between stuffy Cameron and Brice is inexistent . The film displays a colorful cinematography and a catching as well as sensitive musical score , though with excessive use of synthesizer by Martin Bottcher , series's ordinary , being eventually replaced in some episode by Peter Thomas . The motion picture well produced by customary Horst Wendlandnt was professionally directed by Harald Reinl who realized various Karl May titles , besides he was a German thriller expert called Krimi - Edward Wallace adaptation- and filmed another Western as ¨The last Mohican¨ and an epic rendition , ¨Nibelungen ¨ starred by Terence Hill and his wife Karin Dor ; unfortunately Harald Reinl died a few years ago , he committed suicide in Santa Cruz De Tenerife , Islas Canarias . Rating : 7 , entertaining and spectacular outing . Worthwhile seeing for marvelous landscapes and breathtaking outdoors from Yugoslavia and Croatia.
unbrokenmetal
After the success of the two previous Winnetou movies, completing the trilogy was inevitable and a commercial must, but part 3 was facing a difficult task nonetheless: the audience knew from the novels that Winnetou would die - could that mean the end of the Karl May series or would the screenplay change the story so radically as to let the hero survive? The makers came to the perfect solution: let him die, but regardlessly continue the series afterwards, anyway. It was the least they could do for the novel which was hardly used because obviously it was not very film-able, considering that after Winnetou's death, it continues for another 126 pages with Old Shatterhand's further adventures. I don't think the movie is remembered for much else than the death sequence, though, because the story is too simple: Winnetou and Old Shatterhand ask the governor for help to keep peace, while a villain tries to start war with the Indians. It is an excellent piece of craftsmanship under director Reinl, who really managed to create a style that was distinguishable from all other westerns. But "Silver Lake" and "Winnetou 1" were not exceeded by "Winnetou 3" anymore.
