"Winnetou - 1. Teil" is a 100-minute movie from Germany, written by Harald G. Petersson based on Karl May's work and directed by Harald Reinl a couple years before his Oscar nomination. This film was done over 50 years ago and still you find some cast members still alive such as Mario Adorf or Marie Versini. Lead actor Pierre Brice died earlier this year. Like I already wrote in the title, western films and European cinema is always a difficult combination. There are some good examples, but sadly, despite its popularity, this is not one of them. It's been a while since I witness a title character who seemed totally forgettable like Winnetou in this one. Lex Barker does a decent job and certainly elevates the material here. Versini I found totally bland and uninteresting like Brice. Adorf id a truly charismatic actor and he makes up for the fact that his character is really stereotypical in here and wasn't written interestingly at all.
As a whole, this film delivers adequately for the genre in terms of visuals. Costumes, makeup and cinematography are okay, but all this is just another example of style over substance. The acting is mediocre overall and the story is probably the film's biggest letdown. The music is okay, but sometimes sounds almost too epic for what we see. I believe Reinl is among the best Austrian/German directors of his era, so this is quite a letdown. Still German audiences loved it and really many went to see this movie, which was awarded the Golden screen as well. This is certainly also the explanation why there were so many other Winnetou movies or movies based on Karl May's novels. I myself, after watching this one, have to admit i am not too eager to watch them. Thumbs down for "Winnetou Part 1".
As a whole, this film delivers adequately for the genre in terms of visuals. Costumes, makeup and cinematography are okay, but all this is just another example of style over substance. The acting is mediocre overall and the story is probably the film's biggest letdown. The music is okay, but sometimes sounds almost too epic for what we see. I believe Reinl is among the best Austrian/German directors of his era, so this is quite a letdown. Still German audiences loved it and really many went to see this movie, which was awarded the Golden screen as well. This is certainly also the explanation why there were so many other Winnetou movies or movies based on Karl May's novels. I myself, after watching this one, have to admit i am not too eager to watch them. Thumbs down for "Winnetou Part 1".