Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Winnetou und das Halbblut Apanatschi" or "Winnetou and the Crossbreed" is a West German 90-minute film from 1966, had its 50th anniversary this year, so this one is from the days when Germans were crazy for Indian movies and westerns. Winnetou was far from new to film at this point, so they tried to establish major supporting players next to him like Old Shatterhand in the past. The title character Apanatschi is the best example for this new trend. It was a bit of a breakthrough role for German actress Uschi Glas. But sadly, there is little to her performance in here apart from her stunning looks. And what is there to say about Winnetou himself. I can only repeat myself writing that I do not believe Pierre Brice was the right choice for the character. He definitely fits physically, but he simply does not have enough range and looks extremely pale next to Lex Barker for example, who is a good actor at best too, not a great one. The result is that you really need to try to focus on stories, landscapes and costumes in order to enjoy these Karl May movies from 1960s Germany. But this is difficult enough as the stories are also really mediocre for the most part. Is it May's fault or do you have to blame the one who adapted the material, Fred Denger in this case? I cannot be a judge on that as I have not read the novels. However, the outcome of this Harald Philipp is once again style over substance, like it is the case for many other Karl May films. Not recommended.
ma-cortes
Entertaining Schnitzel/Gibranica adventure co-produced by Germany and Yugoslavia based on Karl May novels about beloved Winnetou and Old Shatterland . Adventures , action , crossfire and gorgeous Yugoslavian exteriors magnificently photographed and in which takes place a new emotive meeting between great leader Apache Winnetou and Old Shatterhand who works as a railway engineer and wagon conductor . This is a thrilling and stirring adventure based on Karl May novel with two agreeable characters as Old Shatterhand and Winnetou , being stunningly played by Lex Barker as measurement expert and Pierre Brice as Apache chief's son respectively . It deals with Old Shatterhand , a railway engineer who works at a western little town , then nasty band led by Curly-Bill sets his eyes on a gold mine whose owner is Mac Haller (Walter Barnes) married to Indian woman and have two children . Violent conflict breaks out between greedy bandits led by Curly-Bill (Ilija Djuvalekovski) when abduct to Apanatschi (young Uschi Glas) and her little brother , because they know where a gold mine is . Only two men, destined to be blood brothers, can prevent all-out facing : chief's son Winnetou (Pierre Brice) and German engineer Old Shatterhand (Lex Barker) . Old Shatterhand , aware the kidnapping and attempts to save the children and kill bandits in an effort to avoid they take their gold mine located at Indian territory . Later on , the desperado outlaws attack the little town and the good guys (Lex Baker , Brice , Gotz George and usual Ralf Wolter as Sam Hawkens) are surrounded by the bad guys . There takes place shootouts and a lot of explosions . Shatterland and Winnetou prepare them a trap by means of explosives at a mine . Meanwhile , Jeff Brown (Götz George) falls in love for the Mestiza girl named Apanatschi (Ursula Glas), Winnitou's sister , in an enjoyable love story . At the end takes place a moving epilogue by shooting and fighting with no much sense . In successive episodes Old Shatterland and his faithful half-brother Winnetou are ready on the trail to undertake new and risked adventures .This is an acceptable eighth episode about one of the series of popular German made Western , featuring the intimate duo formed by valiant ¨Old Shatterhand¨ who decides to save the kidnapped children taken by mean outlaws and immortal ¨Winnetou¨ , both of them repeat their same notorious roles as dignified as always . Highlights of the movie are the spectacular pursuits on riding across marvelous landscapes , the impressive enemy attack over town and breathtaking chase between the train and the nasty gunfighter running along the railroad track . This enjoyable saga benefits from sensational adventures , shootouts , action , emotion , larger-than-life characters and spectacular scenarios shot in Tulove Grede Mountain, Croatia , Zrmanja Canyon, Solin, Split, Croatia and Prezed passage, Obrovac, Radmanove Mlinice, Omis , Rastevic, Benkovac, Yugoslavia . Winnetou-Pierre Brice plays , 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 engineer who joins forces with Winnetou . Enjoyable relationship between Old Shatterhand and Winnetou is quite match . The highbrow Lex Barker 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 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 by Martin Bottcher , series' ordinary , being eventually replaced in some episode by Peter Thomas . The motion picture produced by Rialto Film Preben-Philipse/Horst Wendlandt /Constantin Film was professionally directed by Harald Reinl who directed all kind of genres : action , Western , Wartime , besides he was a German thriller expert called Krimi - Edward Wallace adaptation- . He was a professional director and writer, known for Sergeant Berry (1974), The Oil Prince (1965) and The Whole Truth (1961) , División Branderburg (1960) and Punishment Battalion (1960) . Rating : 6 , acceptable and passable 8º Winnetou entry . Worthwhile seeing for marvelous scenarios and breathtaking outdoors from Yugoslavia including rousing falls , canyon, rivers and mountains ; all of them as spectacular as Almeria- Spain- outdoors where at the same time were shot numerous European Western .
unbrokenmetal
Nice opening sequence: Winnetou rides onto the screen with dramatic music and soon rescues a young boy who is attacked by an eagle. Regrettably, the initial energy is not kept up at the same level. The movie tells the story of Apanatschi (young Uschi Glas) and her little brother Happy who need protection by Winnetou (Pierre Brice) and Old Shatterhand (Lex Barker) because they know where a gold mine is. Bandits with their leader Curly Bill want to know, too - and they stop at nothing and even killed Apanatschi's father.After the classic „Silver Lake", the larger-than-life Winnetou trilogy and the three easy-going movies starring Stewart Granger, „Half-Breed" feels a bit tired to me. Lex Barker and Pierre Brice replay their famous roles, but there are hardly new ideas. More violent action, less feeling, could be the summary of my impressions.
