Dynamite explosions rumble through the vast prairies of the American West. Across the territory of the Mescalero Apache Indian Tribe, a runway is being built for the "Iron Horse". Adventurer Santer, in an attempt to save the money the Great Western Company has put into building the railroad, breaks a treaty with the Indians. He teams up with the Kiowa, the Apache's ancient enemies. But his path is crossed by a young engineer, nicknamed Old Shatterhand, who has been sent to see that the original plans are followed. But is it too late?
Main Characters and cast:
- Lex Barker as Old Shatterhand
- Pierre Brice as Vinnetou
- Mario Adorf as Frederick Santer
- Marie Versini as NschoChi
- Chris Howland as Lord Tuff-Tuff
- Walter Barnes as Bill Jones
Highlights from Filming:
- Pierre Brice was replaced by Yugoslavian stuntman Shimun Jagarinec in the riding shots.
- The actors stayed overnight in hotels in Zagreb, while the stuntmen and dubbers stayed overnight on set in the mountains for the horses.
- Vinnetou's stuntman, Shimun Jagarinets, also played a rank and file Indian.
- The film cost 3 million marks to make, a considerable sum for its time, but the investment paid for itself many times over.
- The filming took place in various locations, including the Mali Alan Pass, Grobničko Polje, the Zrmanja River at Obrovac, and the Krka River Falls at Skradin.
- The Kiowa attack on the Great Western wagons was to be filmed on the plain at Grobničko Polje. The crew was surprised to find the western town where Jürgen Roland filmed his movie "Die Flusspiraten vom Mississippi". Kalinke, the cameraman, had to be careful not to show the Indians from that film in the footage.
- Pierre Brice had to stand in the cold water wearing only an Indian shirt and bathing suit while filming the scene where Vinnetou watches his father fight Old Shatterhand.
- Old Shatterhand's fight with Chief Inchu-chuna was filmed in the Zrmanje River using a camera in a wooden box with a circular boat window.
- The film was shot in 35mm format on the CinemaScope system.
- With a running time of 101 minutes and 26 seconds, the film is the fifth longest among the Maya films.
- Director Reinl refused any gimmicks or body doubles, so Mario Adorf tried his hand at the stunt profession himself. As Santer, he hung above the crater in Tulove Grede, tethered to the rock by a steel cable.
- Maria Versini's first scene was her cinematic death in the arms of her beloved Old Shatterhand.
- Producer Wendlandt decided to make the film just days after the premiere of "Treasure on Silver Lake".
- The film won awards such as the predicate wertvoll (worthy), the Golden Screen for more than three million admissions in 12 months and the Bambi Award for the most commercially successful film of 1964.
- The film premiered on 11. December 1963 at Munich's Mathäser-Filmpalast.
- Shooting lasted 70 days, from July 1, to September 10, 1963.
- The casting for the role of Vinnetou was attended by, among others, actors Horst Buchholz and Christopher Lee.
The film "Vinnetou" is one of the best known and most successful adaptations of Karl May's works, presenting a fascinating story of friendship between a white man and an Indian chief amid conflict in the American West.
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