Horst in Translation (filmreviews@web.de)
"Winnetou und Shatterhand im Tal der Toten" or "The Valley of Death" is the last German-language Winnetou film from the 1960s and also the way it all ended unless you count the Winnetou film Brice made 30 years later. This one has him and Lex Barker once again reunited and the good thing is that they have a lot more screen time than in previous films that were actually no real Winnetou films anymore. Another good thing is that it runs for under 90 minutes, so stays pretty essential. But this is also all the positive there is. I must say I was not too impressed by anything in here other than the landscapes once again, but then again I am not the greatest Winnetou film fan at all. Harald Reinl is back as writer and director and maybe this is a reason why the film did not suck altogether as we was extremely successful and among Germany's most known filmmakers for a long time. He was at the age of 60 when this film came out and it was briefly before his Oscar nomination. In terms of the story and script/plot, I would say that it is about on par with most of the previous films. If you liked these, go check it out. I personally did not like them that much, but I must say that I have seen a lot worse from the franchise. And there are the usual faces again. Ralf Wolter and Rik Battaglia are joined by the stunning Karin Dor as female lead this time. As a whole, I give this one a thumbs-down, but looking at how this is already the 11th movie, it is still surprisingly bearable.
ma-cortes
This is a thrilling and stirring adventure based on Karl May novel with two agreeable characters as Old Shatterhand and Winnitou, being stunningly played by Lex Barker and Pierre Brice respectively . It deals with Mabel Kingsley (Karin Dor who married to director Harald Reinl) arrives at a western little town to clear her missing daddy of the charge that he robbed a shipment of government gold. A scout known as "Shatterhand" (Lex Barker) agrees to escort her in a search for the gold and for clear the disappeared father . They are joined by an army party , an amateur botanist (Arent) and an old partner (Wolter) .There is also an officer from the Army helping the group and he falls in love with the girl in an enjoyable love story . Then there takes place an emotive meeting between and Winnitou (Pierre Brice) and Old Shatterhand when on a cliff edge Winnitou saves him . Old Shatterland and his faithful half-brother are on the trail to discover the gold charge . In spite of troubles caused by bandits led by Murdock (Rik Battaglia who acted as good guy in ¨Winnitou and Old Firehand¨) and a Sioux chief , Winnetou's enemy, they get escape . Old Shatterhand set out on pursuit of the bandits and prepares them a trap . But when Shatterhand rides for Sioux help against Murdock's gang who captured their companions, he finds the tribe's friendly chief succeeded by his hostile son Red Buffalo (Voyo Goric who starred various Indian roles), who proves to be a dangerous enemy . Winnitou then fights against Red Buffalo in an exciting combat . Mabel's party eventually reaches the dangerous ¨Valley of snakes¨ and after that the "Valley of Death" which holds the answers to the mystery of the missing father and hidden gold . At the end takes place a silly epilogue by means of explosions and fire with no much sense .This is a passable episode about one of the series of popular German made Western , featuring the duo formed by valiant ¨Old Shatterhand¨ who agrees to guide the motley group trough Osage Indian territory and immortal ¨Winnetou¨ , both of them repeat their same notorious roles as dignified as always . This enjoyable saga benefits from sensational adventures , shootouts , explosions , larger-than-life characters and spectacular scenarios shot in-Atelier, Spandau, Berlin, Germany ,Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA ,Ivanica, Dubrovnik, Croatia ,Popovo Polje, Roski falls, Yugoslavia ,Zrmanja canyon, Croatia and Zubci, Trebinje, Yugoslavia .Winnetou-Pierre Brice repeats , as usual, his excellent and unforgettable role to be continued in a TV series . Lex Barker scores especially high marks , though he plays as a serious and intelligent frontierman . 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 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 liking 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 . Nice support cast such as the customary nasty Rik Battaglia as Murdock , Karin Dor as Mabel Kingsley and the series usual Ralf Wolter as Sam Hawkens . The film displays a colorful cinematography and a catching , sensitive musical score ,though with excessive use of synthesizer by Martin Bottcher , series' ordinary , being eventually replaced in some episode by Peter Thomas . The motion picture produced by Rialto Productions was professionally directed by Harald Reinl who directed various Karl May titles , besides he was a German thriller expert called Krimi - Edward Wallace adaptation- and realized another Western titled ¨The last Mohican¨ . Rating : 6 , acceptable and passable . Worthwhile seeing for marvelous landscapes and breathtaking outdoors from Yugoslavia and Grand Canyon National ,Arizona , USA.
dinky-4
One of a series of popular German-made westerns featuring the duo of Shatterhand (Lex Barker) and Winnetou (Pierre Brice), this fast-moving saga benefits from grand scenery (in Yugoslavia?), a good musical score, and a well-chosen cast. (Karin Dor, even in a dubbed performance, scores especially-high marks.)Those looking for action of the violent variety will not be disappointed. Swarms of bees and slithering snakes attack unwary travelers, Winnetou engages in a hand-to-hand duel with a rival chief, and fiery explosions rock the aptly-named Valley of Death.Most dramatic of all is the sequence in which the bandits capture an army lieutenant and gleefully whip him into unconsciousness. (This flogging ranks #1 in the book, "Lash! The Hundred Great Scenes of Men Being Whipped in the Movies.") After reviving him with a splash of water, the bandits then tie him between four horses and prepare to draw-and-quarter him.Though often regarded as something of a joke in America during the latter stages of his career, Lex Barker gives evidence here of why he became such a well-respected star in European films.
