Adventures , action , crossfire and gorgeous Yugoslavian exteriors magnificently photographed and in which takes place the first emotive meeting between and Winnetou and Old Shatterhand . This is a thrilling and stirring adventure based on Karl May novel with two agreeable characters as Old Shatterhand and Winnetou , being stunningly played by Lex Barker as measurement expert and Pierre Brice as Apache chief's son respectively . It deals with Old Shatterhand , a railway engineer who arrives at a western little town . The building of the Great Western Railroad trespasses Indian territory and it creates strong facing between the railway company and neighboring Apache tribes . When violent conflict breaks out between greedy railroaders and a tribe of Mescalero Apaches , only two men, destined to be blood brothers, can prevent all-out war : chief's son Winnetou (Pierre Brice) and German engineer Old Shatterhand (Lex Barker) . Evil Frederick (Mario Adorf) influences the construction supervisor to re-rout the schemed railroad straight ahead Apache land , breaking the peace treatise . Old Shatterhand , who works as a railway engineer and wagon conductor , aware the scheme and attempts to contact with the Apaches in an effort to avoid war . The desperado outlaws attack the little town but they are surrounded by the good guys (Lex Baker , Chris Howland , Walter Barnes) at the saloon where takes place brawls and shootouts . Later on , Apaches also attack and Winnetou struggles Shatterhand being wounded in neck . In spite of troubles caused by bandits led by Frederick (Mario Adorf who played several Spaghetti Western) being supported by Kiowas who prove to be a dangerous enemy , Winnitou is abducted by the baddies but Old Shatterhand set out on pursuit of the bandits and prepares them a trap and the Apache is freed and they get escape . Then nasty band led by Santer sets his eyes on a gold mine placed on holy Indian land . Meanwhile , Old Shatterland falls in love with the Indian girl named Nscho Tschi (Marie Versini subsequently replaced by Karin Dor who married to director Harald Reinl) , Winnitou's sister , in an enjoyable love story . At the end takes place a moving epilogue by shooting and fighting with no much sense . In successive episodes Old Shatterland and his faithful half-brother Winnetou are ready on the trail to undertake new and risked adventures .
This is an acceptable first episode about one of the series of popular German made Western , featuring the intimate duo formed by valiant ¨Old Shatterhand¨ who agrees to guide the revolt against outlaws located at Indian territory and immortal ¨Winnetou¨ , both of them will repeat their same notorious roles as dignified as always . Highlights of the movie are the spectacular train crash in the saloon , the impressive Indian attack over town and breathtaking chase on canoe in which Shatterhand being pursued by Indians . This enjoyable saga benefits from sensational adventures , shootouts , action , emotion , larger-than-life characters and spectacular scenarios shot in Ivanica, Dubrovnik, Croatia ,Popovo Polje, Roski falls, Yugoslavia ,Zrmanja canyon, Croatia and Zubci, Trebinje, Yugoslavia . Winnetou-Pierre Brice plays , 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 engineer who joins forces with Winnetou . 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 as ¨Surehand¨ took the role in two occasions , he starred a diverse character but is pretty similar to Old Shatterland , he plays with mirth and sympathetic 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 . The film displays a colorful cinematography and a catching as well as sensitive musical score 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 scenarios and breathtaking outdoors from Yugoslavia including rousing falls , canyon, rivers and mountains ; all of them as spectacular as Almeria- Spain- outdoors where at the same time were shot numerous European Western .
