Apachen

East German western from 1973 with a revenge plot involving the massacre of Apache by white mercenaries in the employ of both the US and Mexican governments in which the heroes are Apache. Well directed and beautifully shot, apparently in Romania and Uzbekistan, and the eighth of twelve westerns from the point of view of various tribes starring, and in this case co-written by, Gojko Mitic, who was a star in Eastern Europe because of these films.

APACHES was made in a communist country during the cold war and it's easy to see what the angle may have been, how the "white eyes" villains could represent capitalism, especially during a scene in which the Apache steal the water and horses from a band of travelers, leaving them stranded in the desert, then sit back and watch as they kill each other off. They are self-centered and greedy, thus unable to cooperate long enough to survive a bad situation. The indigenous tribes, known for boundless generosity to those not their enemies, not having a concept of private property, could easily fit the socialist ideal. Not the reality, mind you, but the ideal.

What's really funny, though, is that this movie, by the standards of what we know today, really doesn't play like propaganda. It feels much more authentic than any Spaghetti Western I've seen on the subject--NAVAJO JOE immediately comes to mind--and at times even plays like "Blood Meridian" from the point of view of the Indians. It was supposedly based on research of a real-life massacre that occurred at the beginning of the Mexican-American war.

The costumes and production design are great and the action scenes are great and despite all my prattling about sociopolitical context, it's an entertaining western, which I'm sure is what it was intended to be. The villain looks a lot like the Italian actor Piero Lulli, smokes a giant cigar, and uses a whip. The music sometimes reminds me of Spaghetti Westerns, especially Stelvio Cipriani's score for THE UGLY ONES, but ultimately has a style all its own.

The First Run DVD has a ten-minute trailer featuring scenes from this and other East German westerns that ends by announcing, "All this material will be restaurated soon." I'm definitely anxious to find out how soon.

So, I decided to write few lines for the IMDb review service again. I reckoned not to write lately at all because of my sight failure (age connected, I presume) but anyway let's proceed.

Who is Gojko Mitic and is there such thing as "Macho Legacy" coming from the Balkans (for those who lack geographical orientation this is part of Eastern Europe, running from the Alps to the Bosphorus with Istanbul and sometimes historically was first time called Europe). Gojko Mitic comes from a small town in Eastern Serbia near the Bulgarian border. He has the looks of a typical Shopi from the region. Other famous figures from the region are nowadays Bulgarian Premier Bojko Borisov, etc.

Hell, I forgot my point. Mitic's films, as a rule made by resemblance with spaghetti western, were shot in the mid-1960s to mid-1970s and after that he lost significance as Movie Star (for reasons I am not well aware). But in this 15 years period he was really something on the Big Screen, while I remember the full saloons from that time and it was always difficult to get tickets for his movies. In Eastern Europe Gojko Mitic was an action star with caliber and popularity of the great French actors of the adventure cinema such as Alain Delon, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jean Marais, Lino Ventura, etc.

The westerns themselves were produced by Deutsche Film (DEFA) of Eastern Germany and shot respectively at different locations in Eastern Europe but mainly in former Yugoslavia (not as someone mentioned in far eastern Uzbekistan). Gojko Mitic get noticed in some small appearances at the Winnetou franchise series and then was offered the leading role in the DEFA westerns. Whomever it concerns and because I am staunch physiognomy reader, here in Apachen (1973) and its sequel Ulzana (1974) the tandem Gojko Mitic and Colea Rautu (Romanian actor playing an aging whiskey drinking Indian) look much alike another odd couple from a most remembered Hollywood movie - i.e., Rocky (1976) with Sylvester Stallone and Burgess Meredith (an aging boxing trainer). So be it!

Lastly, there was a very popular song in Bulgaria from the 1990s about Gojko Mitic with trailer from his movies. Enjoy your time!

Western. Production picture of the East German film studio DEFA, created with the participation of socialist Romania and the mighty Soviet Union. The eighth painting out of twelve, which I intend to see and revise. I first saw this western on Channel One, which played all these Westerns on New Year's holidays in the mid-2000s (yes, at that time Channel One was not mired in the endless unwatchable crap and endless repetition of the "Home Alone" series, of which you can watch only the first three parts ), so I remembered this western very well, and this review was a great opportunity to revisit it. The main role was again played by the Yugoslavian actor, "Honored Indian of the Soviet Union" Goiko Mitic. And here is my brief opinion - revenge on the insidious pale-faced. I will say right away that there are no flaws in the picture, but there is a small clarification, which I will highlight in a separate paragraph, but for now, let me focus your attention on the expressive merits of this western. So, here they are: 1. Scenario - the picture tells about a strong and brave warrior of the Apache tribe Ulzatse, whose tribe (including women and children) is dealt with by the insidious pale-faced only because deposits of silver and gold were found on the lands of the Indians, which attracts villains of all stripes, and behind them and the army. The surviving warriors of the tribe, together with Ulzana, vow to take revenge on the pale-faced murderers for the crime, and on their way there will be only blood, both their own and others', death, losses. The final turned out to be worthy. The script does not contain many twists, although one of them even surprised me a bit, for which I can only praise the writers, including the director Gottfried Colditz himself. The script is simple, which is very good for a western. Everything is clear from the very beginning, both future actions and the motivation of the heroes. 2. Nature - this time the studio changed traditions, and the field shooting took place not in Yugoslavia, but in the Soviet Union, more precisely in the Uzbek ASSR, not far from the ancient city of Samarkand, where nature is very similar to the Southwest of the United States. The views turned out to be magnificent, there is even nothing to argue with, and the operator skillfully demonstrates this, highlighting the best and striking shots with their beauty. 3. Entourage - decorations, costumes, atmosphere - everything literally screams about this historical era, when the Apaches found themselves between two fires - the growing United States and Mexico, which is losing its position in this region, the Apache dwellings correspond to historical prototypes, the tense atmosphere, contempt for the Indians , the misanthropic laws of the United States are on display in all their glory. 4. Music - this time I can only praise the music, for it is full of Indian motives and emphasizes the most important scenes of this picture. Apart from the picture it will be hard to listen to it and whether it will work out, but within the framework of the picture - that's it. 5. Fights, chases, skirmishes - at the level of the picture "The Trail of the Falcon", only here they still take the number, because there are much more similar scenes here. They are fast-paced, dynamic, with more blood here than in any previous western, though I would like more. The chases are exciting, and the fights are kept in suspense, although their outcome can be guessed almost from the very beginning. These scenes, starting with the previous picture "Tekumze", are only getting better in quality! A little about the main characters: 1. Ulzana performed by Goiko Mitich is a mighty and brave warrior of the Apache tribe, who vows to take revenge on the insidious pale-faced people for the bloody massacre they committed over his fellow tribesmen, which he does throughout the whole picture. He manifests himself as a reasonable and experienced warrior who does not rush into the heat of battle without thinking through everything to the smallest detail. And again Goiko performs all the tricks on his own and plays at a high level. Bravo Goiko! 2. Nana performed by Kolea Rautu is an old warrior of the Apache tribe (by the way, a real historical figure), who, with his experience and decisive actions, becomes Ulzana's right hand. At first it seems like a funny old man, but this is only at first. The old tiger still has teeth, and even the claws are sharpened to a shine. The actor on the screen was no less convincing than his character. 3. Johnson performed by Milan Beli is a pale-faced, insidious villain who led and committed a mean crime against the Apaches, for which he must be punished. He has influential intercessors, but this will not save him. Greedy, arrogant, proud, unpleasant. Milan very convincingly played this villain. Here I can only praise. Well, of course, fights, chases and shootouts do not look as exciting today as they did in the year of release, but we will make a discount, because all the westerns of this studio deserve it. Well, next time we will continue to follow the life and struggle for the home of the brave Ulzana, who will again be played by Goiko Mitic. It will be in the picture "Ulzan". As a result, we have a good western with the inimitable Goiko Mitic, with an excellent and simple script, excellent surroundings, good music, exciting dynamic scenes and excellent acting.

Here stars the famous chieftain Apache named Ulzana seeking vengence and battling a vicious scalphunter called Johnson and his henchmen in the region of Picos Altos, Mexico , where dangerous people are looking for copper . As an Apache tribe of the Mimbrero led by Ulzana is peacefully settled when they go to Santa Rita village to buy and sell products .Then a group of American/Mexican cutthroats attack and kill the peaceful Indians carrying out an extremely violent slaughter. But Ulzana escapes and he seeks revenge against his enemy.

Indian Eurowestern is loosely based on the legendary Apache warrior . A violent , gritty Western that enjoyed success in the Eastern countries. It shows the life of an Indian tribe , the sufferings , feats , attacks and a bloody massacre, including creepy scalphunting .The picture has thrills , emotion, action-packed , assaults and violence . Exciting though it is , the film isn't without its thoughful side , it has drama and action in equal measure . It is is well starred by Gojko Mitic one of the most known and most loved players in Eastern countries. He was born on June 13, 1940 in a village of the previous Yugoslavia , now Serbia. His first roles were as an Indian secondary in the known Winnetou/Old Shatterhand films as Winnetou or Treasure of the silver lake, Winnetou 2 Last of the renegades, The Vultures, Winnetou: The last shot . His first main role was as Tokei in the movie from the East German : Sons of the Great Bear. This was the beginning of a long career playing Indian chieftians such as Severino , Last Mohican's Chingachcook , Blutsbruder , White Feather , Tahmahkera , Ulzana and even the famous Winnetou in TV. They were all successful but he was always dubbed because of his accent . Mitic became a charming man among the women because of his attractive and glamour , and even playing the heroic slave rebel called Spartacus . His movies became popular in Germany , Yugoslavia and even the USA.

It has an atmospheric as well as thrilling musical score , and the catching score remembrance Spaghetti Western soundtrack . And an evocative cinematography , but a remastering being really necessary because of film copy is washed-out . Shot in Samarkand , Uzbekistan , Romania and the wonderful Yugoslavian lanscapes .Ulzana feat was also adapted by Robert Aldrich in 1952 as Ulzana's Raid with Burt Lancaster , Bruce Davison , Jorge Luke and Joaquin Martinez as Ulzana . This motion picture titled Apachen 1973 had a sequel titled Ulzana 1974 , being regularly directed by Gottfried Kolditz , cowritten by Gojko Mitic and financed by Deutsche Production or Defa. I would like to recommend it to those who appeal Pasta/Paella Westerns usually filmed in Spain.