El valle de los cuchillos largos

This is a co-production Spanish-Italian-German with a varied cast formed by actors of diverse countries . The classic James Fenimore Cooper's novel is brought to screen is this Western adventure and in Spaghetti style . The picture takes several liberties and is partially inspired on the known novel . There happens Indian wars between Hurons , Mohawk , settlers and army , while the tribes allied fight to each side . The story is about a dying tribe called the Mohicans in which only two are left , Uncas (Daniel Martin) and Chingachgook as well as one adopted white man named Hawkeye (Anthony Steffen) . But the father Chingachgook is killed by the Magua's hoodlums . On their way they intercept Indians led by Magua attacking a small regiment in command of captain Bill Hayward (Joachim Fuchsberger) including the two daughters (Karin Dor as Cora and Marie-France as Alice) of Colonel Munroe (Carl Lange) on their way to a fort . The three men lead the survivors to the fort while love stories take place but the War continues . Meantime , the fort is besieged by the Indians allied a group of bandits who want to take a hidden gold . Later on , there takes place an impressive explosion that buries partially the fort . Later that , at the end occurs a violent fighting between Unkas and Magua by saving the life of Cora .

This is an exciting film , plenty action , thrills , fights , love and breathtaking outdoors from Almeria . Acceptable action sequences with rousing attacks and spectacularly realistic battles . Charismatic performance for all casting . The notorious Spaghetti actor , Anthony Steffen is good as Hawkeye . Anthony Steffen may be a name best remembered by Spaghetti Western aficionados, but in his day, from the mid-'60s to the early '70s, Steffen was one of the most popular actors of the genre — at the time cheap B movies, now revered cult classics. The handsome, Italian-born — actually at the Brazilian embassy in Rome — Antonio Luiz de Teffè von Hoonholtz began working in films as a studio messenger for Vittorio De Sica . From there, Steffen began acting in sword-and-sandal epics, later moving onto the Western genre , where he found his niche . Unlike fellow Spaghetti star Clint Eastwood, however, Steffen never became a top international box-office attraction . Special mention for Karin Dor , director's wife , she is wonderful and Daniel Martin as honorable Unkas and Ricardo Rodriguez as Magua as an appropriately villainous in a powerful performance . Look for secondary actors usual of Spaghetti Western as Frank Braña , Rafael Hernandez and Chris Huerta , among others . Colorful cinematography by Francisco Marin reflecting splendidly the sunny exteriors from the haunted city of Cuenca and Almeria where in the 60s and 70s were shot hundreds of Spaghetti Westerns . The motion picture was regularly directed by Harald Reinl who directed in similar style various episodes of ¨Winnitou and Surehand¨ based on Karl May novels . Other versions about this classic story ¨The last Mohican¨ are the followings : 1922 , mute adaptation by Maurice Tourneur and Clarence Brown with Wallace Beery as Magua ; the classic 1936 by George B Seitz with Randolph Scott as Hawkeye ; 1985 TV movie by James L Conway with Steve Forrest and Ned Romero . Of course , the best rendition was directed by Michael Mann (1992) with Daniel Day Lewis , Madeleine Stowe , Jodhi May and Wes Studi as Maua .

Although the original storyline was during 1758, during the French and Indian war. So as to not confuse anyone. The time was advanced up to the 1870's out west in America. Major Haywood's rank has been lowered to that of A Captain.

There are American white bad men, who lush after gold. The yellow stones and dust, Magua is still a bad Indian, he wants Cora. Unmasked will fight Magua , the loser must die. The winner gets Cora. I was cheering for Magua. The fight with tomahawks was rather good. Then they ended up with spears. Not the female singer. If you read the book you knows what happens. I will not tell how it ends. The DDLewis movie was based on the 1936 movie NOT the book. I did enjoy this movie.

White bandits, with the help of the Iroquois tribe, under their chief Magua, attack the Mohican tribe and cause a bloodbath, seriously wounding Mohican chief Chingachgook who manages to reach his son Unkas and his blood brother Hawkeye, a famous ranger. Unkas vows to avenge his father.

A cash transport is attacked by the bandits and the Iroquois, but the soldiers manage to retreat to the nearby fort. Colonel Munroe provides them with defense assistance. However, he is worried about his two daughters Cora and Alice, who are on the way to the fort with Captain Hayward and some soldiers.

To Captain Hayward, Magua poses as Munroe's messenger, with the task of leading the entire commando to the fort via safe routes. In the gorge of the "black vultures" the group is attacked by the Iroquois, but Unkas and Hawkeye come to their aid. However, they cannot prevent Magua from escaping with Cora as a hostage. Unkas pursues Magua and catches him. But to save Cora's life, he has to let Magua go and returns to the fort with her and the others, where an attack by Indians and bandits is now ready to escalate.

The Last Tomahawk ("Der letzte Mohikaner" or "The Last of the Mohicans) is helmed by Harald Reinl, the director of the excellent Winnetou series, and this 1965 western based on James Fenimore Cooper's oft-adapted book follows similar lines with superb cinematography, camera work, an alluring Almería scenery, humour, a fast-moving plot and a romantic feel running throughout. The action is very exciting and inventive. The finale with the dynamited landslide crushing the fort is a show stopper. It's not just the scenery that is good but the whole film- the story and the efficient way it moves. It's not a nature documentary but a good western yarn with good performances all round. The actor who plays the villainous Magua steals the scene, though.