Must See Movie...

Great Film overall

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

WINNETOU & THE OIL PRINCE is one of the later German-made Winnetou westerns, lacking the presence of former Tarzan Lex Barker but featuring Stewart Granger who gives a fine, relaxed, and likable performance as Old Surehand. The plot concerns a ruthless oil baron busy going about oppressing the Indian tribes, at which point Surehand and Winnetou step in to sort him about. This is a colourful, fast-paced and exciting little film with lots of action and charisma to see it through.

This is my second Winnetou Western and unfortunately, it doesn't whet one's appetite for more in the series. Pierre Brice seemed more authentic as an Indian in this film compared to "Winnetou and Old Firehand", but then again, we're talking about a Frenchman portraying an Apache Chief. I saw this picture under the title "Rampage at Apache Wells" and that's a bit of a misnomer as well. There was one Indian attack that caused some damage but it was over pretty quickly. Try as they might, I didn't really get a sense of the blood brother connection between Winnetou and Old Surehand, Stewart Granger. In his early fifties, Granger didn't look like the rugged Western type to be pulling off a role like this. The plot of the story seemed reasonable enough, settlers heading to Shelly Lake are encouraged by a promise of free land from the Utahs in exchange for a share of the grain and meat they intend to produce. When a slick shyster going by the name of The Oil Prince (Harald Leipnitz) instigates the Indian tribe against the settlers, the opposing sides have a falling out until Surehand can expose the outlaw and his henchman Knife (Slobodan Dimitrijevic). It all plays out in expected fashion with little in the way of suspense, in a cautionary tale that warns me to stay away from Westerns in which the principal players go by the names of Pierre, Slobodan, Harald and Milan.

A later entry in the so-called (due to being German-made) "Kraut Western" series of Karl May novels-turned-films, this one doesn't quite measure up to some of the others, but does have a few things to recommend it. Granger takes on a role very similar to one that Lex Barker had portrayed in prior films, that of a buckskin-clad adventurer, frequently joined by his trusted Indian friend Brice. Here they must aid a wagon train of settlers who are being misled and mistreated by a greedy oil baron (Leipnitz) who wishes to lay claim to the land they are heading towards. Leipnitz sticks them with an impostor for a scout, plays a spy (Hill) in their midst and then turns the Indians, led by Popovic-Mavid, against them. Granger is solid, though he brings a more effete quality to the series than rugged, macho Barker did (something not aided by his flouncy scarf.) Brice is one step away from being unintentionally funny with stoic demeanor, sudden appearances and his pigeon English. In one scene, he says, "Surely, my friend…" and one almost waits for Granger to say, "Stop calling me Shirley!" in response. He also has an awfully haphazard moment or two performing an otherwise surprisingly thrilling rescue on a raging river. Leipnitz has a terrific look, all clad in black leather and with a neatly trimmed beard. His villainy adds to the film. Hill is handsome and decent, but doesn't get the amount of screen time or showcasing he would command a few years later. Weissgerber is a middle-aged pioneer woman while Meril is a young lady falling for Hill. Both women are okay, but can't help but pale next to previous ladies in the series such as Elke Sommer, Daliah Lavi and Karin Dor. There is some atrocious (and annoying) "comic relief" with Weissgerber's brother, a meek, cowardly composer of operas and Srdoc, a 48 year-old, is ineffectively cast as a crotchety and decrepit old man. As in most of these films, the bulk of the dubbing is laughably bad, with many of the characters sounding like grizzled, growly-voiced cowpokes, no matter what they look like. Still, there are things to enjoy here. The scenery (though not that of the western U.S. – tulips pop up in one scene!) is stunning. There are some great shots of a rushing river and waterfall. Unusual approaches to action and mayhem are present, for example there is a mute assassin called "Knife", for obvious reasons, and a general difference in tone from the standard western films, which are being emulated. It doesn't always work, but it's usually entertaining on a modest level. Sadly, the title rampage is cut short rather quickly, making for a somewhat anticlimactic denouement. The best of the Karl May filmizations is "The Treasure of Silver Lake".

This is the second "Winnetou" western I've seen, and though I have yet to see more of the series, I'm getting the feeling they are more or less the same. Stewart Granger actually makes a good hero - though starting to age, he has both a charm and a heroic presence that fits this particular "Hand" hero he plays. Other than that, it's more of the same - nice scenery, but bogged down by a leaden pace, blatant padding (especially toward the end) plus comic relief that's both utterly unfunny and childish. There is some interest in seeing a young Terence Hill, several years before he became a European superstar, and there is some amusement to see HIM being the one slapped and punched around for a change!