Last of the Renegades

This film essentially starts with Apache chief "Winnetou" (Pierre Brice) riding on horseback to meet a Native American tribal chief of the Assiniboine about joining comprehensive peace talks with America. Along the way, he encounters a young Assiniboine maiden named "Ribanna" (Karin Dor) being attacked by a bear and rushes in to save her. Grateful for his help, she introduces herself and reveals that she is the daughter of the Assiniboine chief. His bravery strengthens his cause, and he convinces the Assiniboine chief to collaborate with several rival Native American tribes to negotiate peace with the American government. Additionally, while he's there, he frees three American soldiers held captive by the Assiniboine, including one named "Lieutenant Robert Merrill" (Terence Hill), who just so happens to be the son of the officer in charge of a nearby Army garrison. However, there is a wealthy oil baron named "Bud Forrester" (Anthony Steel) who has been causing chaos among the Native Americans to claim their lands--and he'll stop at nothing to sabotage all peace efforts. Rather than reveal more, I'll just say that I enjoyed this particular installment of the Winnetou series a bit more than the three films that came before it, especially due to the romantic drama involving Winnetou, Ribanna, and Lieutenant Merrill. Additionally, just like its three predecessors, it also features beautiful scenery and background music. In any case, I enjoyed this film for the most part, and I've rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

"Winnetou 2" is the lucky one of the Winnetou trilogy, because in between the tragic events of part 1 and 3, none of the central characters needs to die. So it's a somewhat easier going show with a lot of great actors: a very young Terence Hill (then still Mario Girotti), Klaus Kinski, and notably Karin Dor ("The Green Archer", "You Only Live Twice") as Ribanna who falls in love with Winnetou but is expected to marry Lt.Merril for the sake of peace. Very impressive are the scene with countless extras (i.e. the meeting of the Indian chieftains) and in the cave when Winnetou comes to the rescue of Ribanna - and Merril whom he doesn't bear a grudge, that's noble Apaches for you. Director Reinl would take Lex Barker and Karin Dor into an even scarier place later with "Castle of the Walking Dead" ("Die Schlangengrube und das Pendel"). To sum it up: "Winnetou 2" was a good sequel that disappointed none of the audience, therefore part 3 was immediately on the schedule.

This one is regarded as one of the best "Karl-May-Movies" and is my personal favorite too. Lex Barker and Pierre Brice as the famous friends Winnetou and Old Shatterhand - as dignified as always. Supported by young Terence Hill in an early important part and the best cast ever seen in a May-Movie: Klaus Kinski, Anthony Steel, Karin Dor and the gorgeous yugoslavian actors Mirko Boman and Gojko Mitic. There is an emotional and thrilling story about Winnetou and his love Ribanna. Director Reinl - husband of Ribanna-performer Karin Dor - did an excellent job: There are great shootings of the landscape and the romantic May-feeling is stronger than ever before or after this little masterpiece.

There are many films surrounding Winnetou (and Old Shatterhand), but this is th second movie of a trilogy that I rewatched after many years. And the movies hold up more than well. In this case it also has to do with the casting. Apart from the original actors in the respective roles, we get Klaus Kinski and Terence Hill ... a great addition - and another evil white man, who replaces Mario Adorf from the first one.

There may be certain things that age the movie, but the performances and the jokes (not all pc friendly I reckon but with the heart in the right place) really elevate this above other movies from that time frame. Having a native American front and center and being a good guy with morals, be friends with a white guy ... well that is a nice thing. While the cast is international, there is no real original audio track ... like the italo western, everyone was talking in their own language and later dubbed. But still you have mainly a german acting group here and a lot of voices I personally recognize from my childhood.

Great message overall - something that was not as front and center in American movies at that time as it should have been.

This is an epic western-adventure-movie. It is highly entertaining and has in fact the potential of being a lot better than it is. Dances with Wolves reminds me a lot of this movie. And with a better script and stronger directing Winnetou II could have been a timeless piece of art like the Costner movie. The yugoslavian landscape seems a bit out of place sometimes, but the movie has a lot of the "Karl May - feeling".