Simply A Masterpiece

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

This is my second Winnetou Western and unfortunately, it doesn't whet one's appetite for more in the series. Pierre Brice seemed more authentic as an Indian in this film compared to "Winnetou and Old Firehand", but then again, we're talking about a Frenchman portraying an Apache Chief. I saw this picture under the title "Rampage at Apache Wells" and that's a bit of a misnomer as well. There was one Indian attack that caused some damage but it was over pretty quickly. Try as they might, I didn't really get a sense of the blood brother connection between Winnetou and Old Surehand, Stewart Granger. In his early fifties, Granger didn't look like the rugged Western type to be pulling off a role like this. The plot of the story seemed reasonable enough, settlers heading to Shelly Lake are encouraged by a promise of free land from the Utahs in exchange for a share of the grain and meat they intend to produce. When a slick shyster going by the name of The Oil Prince (Harald Leipnitz) instigates the Indian tribe against the settlers, the opposing sides have a falling out until Surehand can expose the outlaw and his henchman Knife (Slobodan Dimitrijevic). It all plays out in expected fashion with little in the way of suspense, in a cautionary tale that warns me to stay away from Westerns in which the principal players go by the names of Pierre, Slobodan, Harald and Milan.

I must admit I am not really a fan of foreign westerns- and as an American- why should I be!? ..but this one really takes the cake- I could not even finish watching this rotten tomato...totally fake voices, poor audio dubbing, actors that are the fakest excuse for Indians I have ever seen..an almost blatant disregard for a coherent plot..constant injections of idiotic scenes which have little or nothing to do with the story...lousy script, terrible actors..just FAKE, FAKE , FAKE in every respect...how I made it through an entire hour I do not know..How in the world these other people can give this movie a good review is beyond me- but it just goes to show that the vast majority of these reviews are from people who would not know a good movie if it walked up behind them and bit them in the gluteus maximus

This is the second "Winnetou" western I've seen, and though I have yet to see more of the series, I'm getting the feeling they are more or less the same. Stewart Granger actually makes a good hero - though starting to age, he has both a charm and a heroic presence that fits this particular "Hand" hero he plays. Other than that, it's more of the same - nice scenery, but bogged down by a leaden pace, blatant padding (especially toward the end) plus comic relief that's both utterly unfunny and childish. There is some interest in seeing a young Terence Hill, several years before he became a European superstar, and there is some amusement to see HIM being the one slapped and punched around for a change!

This Winnetou movie contains a story with whole look at Winnetous opposite OIL PRINCE Harald Leipnitz. Stewart Granger's script gave him a rather passive position. Heinz Erhard (piano-player) could turn it into a comedy, but he fails sometimes. Terence Hill ads the famous actor set, surrounded by the famous soundtrack. Psychological cruelty enriches the Winnetou plot and turns newer aspects in an attractive western.