"Winnetou - 2. Teil" is a West German co-production with several other countries from over 50 years ago. It is directed by Harald Reinl and is based on the Winnetou works of author Karl May. There have been actually several other Winnetou films before this one, but still it is among the most known the series has to offer. But hopefully not among the best as this was a fairly disappointing watch for the most part. It began bearable, but the longer it went, the less interesting it became. I have seen some of these films and I must say the biggest problem here is that in terms of the main characters, there is only 100% good or 100% evil. There are absolutely no shades in there and when we finally find people who have shades (such as Terence Hill's character's dad),then the roles are either too small that it does not make a difference in the grand scheme of things or the characters are just written in a way that has only one intention: make the main characters even more "shadeless". Apart from Mabuse (Barker shows up there too) and Edgar Wallace (some films with Dor),these European westerns were among the most popular the craft had to offer back around that era. So it should be no surprise that this film here also won a Golden Screen. But quantity is no guarantee for quality here I must say and I also personally do not see Pierre Brice as a particularly gifted actor. He lives more through the never-ending goodness and understanding of his character that comes with the most pretentious quotes you could imagine. I don't think this film would be received well if it was made today. So yeah, it may have been famous back then, but it has not aged well at all. Noweher near in terms of quality compared to what Italy and the United States produced at this point and I am writing this as a great Terence Hill (and Bud Spencer fan). Thumbs down and I am glad this was not too long of a film, only slightly over 90 minutes.

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 second picture of Karl May's Winnetou trilogy has everything required on a western movie, the upcoming war over White men and Indians, peace agreement, a white soldier marrying a native girl, ambush, a cruel gang extracting oils, a Fort's soldiers, settlers have been slaughtered by outlaws, for Indians be blamed, the casting are absolutely stellar, Lex Barker, Pierre Brice, Terence Hill, Klaus Kinski, Anthony Steel and Renato Baldini, although the high point is the marvelous breathtaking Yuguslavian landscape, calm clean rivers, blue lagoon, green forests, rocky peaks and a fabulous wide natural cave, like a greatest cathedral, where the showdown took place, apart some contrived scenes the picture allowed us see this amazing place, no blue screen or studio's sets, just shot on the wildest Yuguslavia countryside, not bad at all!!!

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First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 7