Winnetou: The Red Gentleman (1964)

Winnetou: The Red Gentleman Poster
Original Title: Winnetou II

Forester, a ruthless oil baron, wants to create a war between the native American tribes and the white men. Old Shatterhand, Winnetou and their sidekick Castlepool try to prevent this.

Introduction
"Winnetou: The Red Gentleman", likewise known as "Old Shatterhand", is a 1964 western film directed by Hugo Fregonese. It is based on the imaginary stories of Winnetou and Shatterhand composed by German author Karl May in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The movie stars Lex Barker as Old Shatterhand and Pierre Brice as Winnetou, and is the 2nd installation in a series of Winnetou films produced in the 1960s. The motion picture combines elements of experience, love, and action as the brave duo work together to secure the interests of Native Americans and protect the peace between different tribes.

Plot Summary
The story starts with Old Shatterhand, a western engineer, arriving in the land of the Apaches to begin a study commissioned by a railroad business. The local Mescalero Apaches, led by their chief, think about the new building to be an invasion of their area. The business's representatives, however, think that they have legal ownership of the land based on a previous agreement. As tensions increase, a conflict between the 2 groups seems inescapable.

Winnetou, an Apache chief and old good friend of Old Shatterhand, becomes aware of the circumstance and, together with Old Shatterhand, takes it upon himself to preserve the peace in between the Native Americans and the settlers. The pair finds a conspiracy by unscrupulous people within the railway business who are profiting from the conflict by selling weapons to the Apaches.

On the other hand, the Mescalero Apaches kidnap a group of tourists, which includes a girl called Mabel Kingsley. Old Shatterhand and Winnetou start an objective to save the hostages and uncover additional evidence of the corrupt people within the business. They manage to save the hostages, and Mabel ultimately falls for Winnetou, including a romantic subplot to the action-packed movie.

As the story unfolds, the duo discovers a more complex plot than they at first prepared for. They discover that behind the conflict stand a group of outlaws, led by Curly Bill and Santer Jr., the child of an antagonist from a previous Winnetou film. The hooligans have actually been developing stress between the settlers and the Apache tribe to mask their prohibited operations and benefit from the turmoil.

Climax and Resolution
The tense climax of the film takes place when Old Shatterhand and Winnetou lead an attack on Curly Bill and his gang, with both the inhabitants and the Mescalero Apaches joining to combat the outlaws. The fights show spectacular, with explosions and gunfire galore. The duo manages to bring peace to the region by eliminating the hooligan gang and exposing the duplicity of the corrupt railroad company members.

With their enemies beat, Old Shatterhand and Winnetou end up being heroes, and the relationship between the inhabitants and the Native Americans is brought back. The railroad business makes a reasonable deal with the Apaches to proceed with their building, and Mabel and Winnetou promise their love to each other. Ultimately, Winnetou and Old Shatterhand shake hands, representing the end of their experience and the promise of a serene future between the inhabitants and the Native tribes.

Conclusion
"Winnetou: The Red Gentleman" is a timeless western movie that mesmerizes audiences with its busy action, heartfelt relationship in between the 2 primary characters, and the underlying message of unity and peace. It has an enduring appeal for fans of the western category and those thinking about the legends and stories inspired by Karl May's works. The movie's stunning cinematography, thrilling action sequences, and engaging storyline make it a must-see movie for anyone interested in classic western cinema.

Top Cast

  • Lex Barker (small)
    Lex Barker
    Old Shatterhand
  • Pierre Brice (small)
    Pierre Brice
    Winnetou
  • Anthony Steel (small)
    Anthony Steel
    Bud Forester
  • Karin Dor (small)
    Karin Dor
    Ribanna
  • Klaus Kinski (small)
    Klaus Kinski
    David "Luke" Lucas
  • Renato Baldini (small)
    Renato Baldini
    Colonel J.F. Merril
  • Terence Hill (small)
    Terence Hill
    Lieutenant Robert Merril
  • Marie-NoĆ«lle Barre
    Susan Merril
  • Eddi Arent (small)
    Eddi Arent
    Lord Castlepool
  • Gojko Miti? (small)
    Gojko Miti?
    White Bird (uncredited)
  • Ilija Ivezi?
    Red