Okay, so this is one of the most stunningly beautiful westerns I've ever seen, showing a tribe of Apaches really living in paradise, a land of running blue rivers, warm waterfalls and greenery as far as the eye can see. I can see why they'd want to protect it from the invading white man. Lex Barker is trying to score a treaty with them for peace, but Pierre Brice as Winnetou isn't willing to settle so easily, perhaps because he sees the evil in others. The Mexican Mario Adorf also adds to his troubles, an evil man searching for gold in the Apache territory, and brutally murdering anyone who stands in his way. Only Brice's sister, Marie Versini, who is in love with Barker, can get Brice to consider a treaty with Barker and his men, and that can only be accomplished by Barker showing his bravery. When described by the narrator in the beginning, Winnetou is mentioned as a big hearted man who would give all his food to the starving, yet it's obvious that the white man has taken advantage of that which closes his heart to them. We only get to see a bit of the friendship that grows between Barker and Brice, but it gives a sign of hope that would lead to other European films on their relationship. At times in spite of these magnificent vistas and the touching elements, the film becomes very cartoonish with its characters seeming like something out of a Looney tunes short. I have expected the coyote and the roadrunner to show up at some point. One character, a bearded sidekick, reminded me of Mammy Yokum from Lil' Abner with a beard. The sets of the town are so perfectly built up they reminded me of vintage model train accessories, so that's another gorgeous element. The music theme is very lush and epic, really adding to this film's scope.

Well, very interesting you found it hilarious. I'm sure all those German, Dutch and Belgian kids at that time just -loved- it. In fact, I know they did, because when I saw them on tv when I was a kid I couldn't wait for the next one. The movie is naive, but it is also timeless. I have kids of my own now and they just love these movies. (Yes, they did a whole series of them!)

Winnetou I. When i hear this name some of the nicest childhood memories come rushing back to me. when i first saw this movie at the age of seven or so Winnetou became my hero for years to come. Based on the novels written by Karl May german director Harald Reinl came up with one of the first wild west movies who didn´t copy the american movies. The german audience rewarded that and Winnetou I ( followed by II and III ) became a huge success. Actually it became a huge success all around the world. Nonetheless Winnetou I wasn´t Reinls first Winnetou movie. One year earlier he had released the movie "Der Schatz im Silbersee" which became the most successful movie of the season 62/63 beating such movies as James Bond : Dr.No. The story is basically every time the same. The two friends Winnetou and Old Shatterhand try to solve the problems between the red and the white poeple and of course in the end they succeed. Winnetou I is starring Lex Barker in the role of Old Shatterhand and french actor Pierre Brice as Winnetou. They both came up with a very fine performance and especially Pierre Brice, who is now 68, stayed winnetou throughout his whole life. He played Winnetou in several sequels and after the Karl May period started to fade he performed this role on several stages in germany. In my opinion the movies are most fun to watch, when they remind you of your childhood. When you watch them for the first time as a grown up they may seem a bit too naive and cheesy. But even if you might dislike the movie you simply have to love the soundtrack. I am not joking here!!! German composer "Martin Böttcher" came up with the best soundtrack ever composed. Forget the Jurassic Park Theme or the Batman Theme. The Winnetou Theme is much better. In the year 1962 the theme stayed at top of the german charts for more than 17 weeks. It is simply breathtaking and works so well with the romantic landscape ( the movie was shot in Jugoslavia ). Give it a try you won´t be disappointed. 10 out of 10 Hugh Winnetou has spoken!!!

This movie, while it certainly entertains and excites, is very imaginary and not even a remote representation of what would have really happened. It doesn't have to be, I just wanted to get it out there. It has a lso aged quite a lot, and not very much in a good manner, the story is simple, the bad guys are clearly depicted and all in all it just brews down to a generic mush. An exciting one, but still a mush.

Born in Brest,Britanny ,and recently deceased,Pierre Brice is a French actor who is virtually unknown in his native country whereas he is considered an icon in Germany;his resemblance with Alain Delon was probably the main reason which led him to work abroad;the only movie of his which is frequently broadcast on French TV is a horror classic ("Il Mulino Delle Donne Di Piétra"="Le Moulin Des Supplices" ). But,although played by a French actor,Winnetou is not part of French popular culture:Pierre Brice,a Breton ,achieved ,however ,a hard task:portraying an Indian without being ludicrous ,as so many of his peers ;he is not only credible,but he retains dignity and greatness. His legendary friendship with Old Shatterhand (Lex Barker) will be a long time coming but they will become blood brothers -and almost brothers-in-law ,a la "broken arrow" ,had the screenwriters saved Marie Versini's squaw . Action scenes are well directed ,with a good sense of space ;the only irksome character is the photographer ,a very bad comic relief.It's all the more pointless since Shatterhand's mates do not take their fate seriously ,even tied to the torture post . Best scene : Shatterhand ,on the canoe compared by Winnetou to an old toothless squaw for he's made a hole in it,trying to row the boat ashore near the sacred totem.

Now I have not checked the timeline, there possibly is at least another movie adaptation of Winnetou before this movie was made. But this is the first one of a trilogy that quite likely changed the landscape - no pun intended. I may also not be entirely correct, but I'm fairly certain that this is a nice and progressive look on native Americans ... something we did not really get from America - the land where you'd think they should have been eager to give us both sides of the story. I have not read the novels by Karl May (shame on me), but I remember the movies I watched in my childhood fondly. Rewatching them now is really refreshing and while they have aged to a certain degree, the message is still clear! And a good one - giving a moral compass that was really good and helped in creating a mind set. It still has cliches and it certainly is not perfect, but the intentions are more than noble. I really like what they did here and the cast is incredible too. Not sure how this translates and apparently there are english versions that cut out some of the jokes (inappropriate ones if I understand correctly). So many side characters here ... so much fun, but also a lot of action in this one too. One stunt in particular is quite incredible! Someone hanging of cliff and it seems to be the actor himself - there was no green screen back then, so I can only imagine how tough it was to shoot that ... really great work there. Of course there is the obligatory plastic lances, dolls being thrown from high grounds (though I've seen worse ones than are being used here) ... still these are things that you can easily just overlook ... because of the strong story and bond that gets established here ... I hear and see you brother.

It was so nice to remember times when this film was shot in the former Yugoslavia, what is today Croatia. I was not born then but they told me how wonderful it was to work with those people at those times.They filmed at what is today Plitvice Lakes and Dubrovnik, Popovo Polje area. Old people still remember that. I wish making films was simple and nice as it was during those times. It is great to take a ride in the past and revisit those old movies. You the younger generation should do the same. For details of film see the other reviews, everything there has been well said.

WINNETOU, 1963, in Memorium By Alex Dusty-Foot Deleon (Honorary Cheyenne) A classic German Western filmed in Jugoslavia. Viewed on Austrian TV, June 14, 2015. I knew that a German writer by the name of Karl May was an extremely popular writer of American westerns in Germany, and that a number of films based on his iconic "Apache" hero Winnetou had been made, but I had never seen one. When French actor Pierre Brice who incarned Apache chieftain Winnetou in many films, passed away last week (June 6) at age 86 it was big news in the German language press and a series of his films are now on TV here in respectful memorium. Pierre-Louis Baron de Bris (6 February 1929 – 6 June 2015), known as Pierre Brice, was a French actor, best-known as fictional Apache-chief Winnetou in German Karl May films. On Sunday in my hotel room I dutifully watched the most famous one "Winnetou, Part I" also known as "Apache Gold", and was most pleasantly surprised -- former Tarzan Lex Barker, dressed in buckskin and speaking flawless German, great "western" scenery filmed in Jugoslavia (-- shall we call it a Slivović Western) -- great authentic looking costumes and Teepees, good Indians vs evil Paleface intruders, lots of equestrian action and rousing shootouts, lovely Indian damsel in distress, Handsome Lex Barker blood- Brothering with Staunch heroic French Apache warrior Winnetou -- everything you could possibly want from a Western, and a rousing musical score to boot. Extremely refreshing. Can't wait to see WINNETOU 2 and 3. Okay, these Apaches looked more like Plains Indians than Southwest desert Apaches and did not speak Tonto mumbo-jumbo like Jlay Silverheels who played TONTO in The Lone Ranger series but was an authentic Canadian Iroquois -- -- and all the Indians looked pretty much like painted Caucasians, but -- Who cares? -- when so much fun is to be had! Winnetou is a made-up name not in reality associated with the Apache or any other Amerindian language, but the films became so popular that Winnetou is an acceptable official name in Germany. Et alors ... Was denn! Ps: An adviser from Los Angeles suggests calling it a "Sauerkraut Western" to avoid confusion with the better known Spaghetti variety. Why not ...Gettemupp Scalp!.

"Winnetou 1" is packed with images not only I shall remember forever: the train crashing into the house, Nscho-tschi sitting on the edge of the canyon (shot in Yugoslavia as usual for the Karl May productions), Klekih Petra giving his life to save Winnetou, Old Shatterhand freeing Winnetou secretly, and much later becoming blood brothers. This is a myth larger than life, and it is admirable how well balanced it is with all its ingredients, Ralf Wolter playing the funny Sam Hawkens and Mario Adorf the intense villain Santer, while Marie Versini as Nscho-tschi adds a bit of romance. How often do you find a movie that has nothing to improve and you wish you just could see again and again? Yet I do understand people who think this is a naive or even lame flick - they just weren't at the cinema all those years ago, I suppose.

To my mind, "Winnetou I" is the second from the best movies about Winnetou after "Old Shatterhand" ("Apache's last battle"). These movies are different. "Winnetou I" or "Apache's gold" is very romantic, a nice fairy-tale about noble and human Indian and his blood brother. It's idealized story, far from cruel reality. "Old Shatterhand" has some similar features, but it is more realistic. However, I can see both these movies after 40 or 35 years with pleasure despite of the naiveness of both these films as examples of excellent cinema art reminding me about ideals of childhood and youth. Director Harald Reinl is a great master of romantic cinema. This movie is very beautiful with a great deal of poetic. A beauty of nature (filmed in Croatia) is a background for romantic drama. Two contrasting actors - Pierre Brice (Winnetou) and Lex Barker (Shatterhand) - looks excellent together. To my mind, this is the best Barker's movie: he acts with true passion. Unfortunately, he lost it in last Winnetou's movies.. Pierre Brice is very intelligent actor with a good taste and wit some mystery in his noble face. This mystery makes him very attractive. Marie Versini's Nscho-tschi is the best Indian woman I see in the European westerns. He looks excellent alongside Pierre Brice and his acting is touching. Mario Adorf is very strong as villain Santer, Ralf Wolter's comical characterisation is also very good. And music (Martin Boettcher) is very beautiful. .