Karl May movies
Encyclopedia
Karl May films are films based on stories and characters by German author Karl May
(1842-1912). The characters Old Shatterhand
, Winnetou
, and Kara Ben Nemsi
are very famous in Central Europe
.
In most of the film versions the novels were reworked to a great extent, some movies using only the names of characters invented by Karl May For example, in the book "Der Schatz im Silbersee" (The treasure of Silver Lake) the main character was called "Old Firehand" - in the movie he was renamed "Old Shatterhand" (played by American actor Lex Barker
) after the more famous character. The movies Old Shatterhand
(Apaches Last Battle) and "Winnetou und sein Freund Old Firehand" (Thunder at the Border) are not based on any of May's works, but were completely invented by the screenwriter
s. Several TV productions, such as Das Buschgespenst and Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi
, were much closer to the novels.
In foreign distribution, most of the movie titles were not translated directly into the target language, but new movie titles were made up. For American distribution the makers of the movie posters also invented some new color formats such as Flaming Arrow Color for the movie "Der Schatz im Silbersee" http://www.martin-boettcher.net/clip03a.jpg and Apache Color http://www.martin-boettcher.net/clip04a.jpg for Winnetou 1. Teil (called Apache Gold in America).
The silent movies of the 1920s are now probably lost.
For 10 movies in the 1960s, German composer Martin Böttcher
wrote landmark film score
s, whose success also helped the movies' international success and influenced the Italian movie industry to make Western
movies of their own and create a whole new genre, the Spaghetti western
(whose most successful composer Ennio Morricone
came to fame just after Martin Böttcher).
Michael Herbig's 2001 film Der Schuh des Manitu
satirized the Karl May films of the 1960s to great commercial success in Germany.
Karl May
Karl Friedrich May was a popular German writer, noted mainly for adventure novels set in the American Old West, and similar books set in the Orient and Middle East . In addition, he wrote stories set in his native Germany, in China and in South America...
(1842-1912). The characters Old Shatterhand
Old Shatterhand
Old Shatterhand is a fictional character in western novels by German writer Karl May . He is the German friend and blood brother of Winnetou, the fictional chief of the Mescalero tribe of the Apache...
, Winnetou
Winnetou
Winnetou is a fictional Native American hero of several novels written by Karl May in German, including the sequels Winnetou I through Winnetou IV....
, and Kara Ben Nemsi
Kara Ben Nemsi
Kara Ben Nemsi is a fictional character in the works of Karl May, best-selling 19th century German writer...
are very famous in Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
.
In most of the film versions the novels were reworked to a great extent, some movies using only the names of characters invented by Karl May For example, in the book "Der Schatz im Silbersee" (The treasure of Silver Lake) the main character was called "Old Firehand" - in the movie he was renamed "Old Shatterhand" (played by American actor Lex Barker
Lex Barker
Lex Barker was an American actor best known for playing Tarzan of the Apes and leading characters from Karl May's novels.-Early life:...
) after the more famous character. The movies Old Shatterhand
Old Shatterhand (film)
The film Old Shatterhand is a very successful Eurowestern based on the character Old Shatterhand invented by German novelist Karl May. It is a French, Italian, Yugoslavian, West German co-production filmed in 70mm. With about 5,000,000 DM in production the film was the most expensive Karl May...
(Apaches Last Battle) and "Winnetou und sein Freund Old Firehand" (Thunder at the Border) are not based on any of May's works, but were completely invented by the screenwriter
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
s. Several TV productions, such as Das Buschgespenst and Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi
Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi (TV series)
Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi was a German television series broadcast from 1973 through 1975. It featured a hero inspired by British explorer Sir Richard Burton .The protagonist was portrayed by Karl Michael Vogler...
, were much closer to the novels.
In foreign distribution, most of the movie titles were not translated directly into the target language, but new movie titles were made up. For American distribution the makers of the movie posters also invented some new color formats such as Flaming Arrow Color for the movie "Der Schatz im Silbersee" http://www.martin-boettcher.net/clip03a.jpg and Apache Color http://www.martin-boettcher.net/clip04a.jpg for Winnetou 1. Teil (called Apache Gold in America).
The silent movies of the 1920s are now probably lost.
For 10 movies in the 1960s, German composer Martin Böttcher
Martin Böttcher
Martin Böttcher is a German composer, arranger and conductor.-The beginning:Böttcher began taking piano lessons at an early age. But his first passion was flying, and he wanted to become a test pilot...
wrote landmark film score
Film score
A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...
s, whose success also helped the movies' international success and influenced the Italian movie industry to make Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
movies of their own and create a whole new genre, the Spaghetti western
Spaghetti Western
Spaghetti Western, also known as Italo-Western, is a nickname for a broad sub-genre of Western films that emerged in the mid-1960s in the wake of Sergio Leone's unique and much copied film-making style and international box-office success, so named by American critics because most were produced and...
(whose most successful composer Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
came to fame just after Martin Böttcher).
Michael Herbig's 2001 film Der Schuh des Manitu
Der Schuh des Manitu
Der Schuh des Manitu is a 2001 German parody of western films. Directed by Michael Herbig, it is a film adaptation of the Winnetou sketches from his Pro Sieben television show Bullyparade.-Background:...
satirized the Karl May films of the 1960s to great commercial success in Germany.
Cinema films
(American film titles in brackets)- 1. Auf den Trümmern des ParadiesesOn the Brink of ParadiseOn the Brink of Paradise is a 1920 German film directed by Josef Stein and featuring Carl de Vogt in the title role of Kara Ben Nemsi. Béla Lugosi appeared in a supporting role...
(-) (On the Brink of Paradise) (1920), dir.: Josef Stein (silent filmSilent filmA silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
) - 2. Die TodeskarawaneCaravan of Death (film)Caravan of Death is a 1920 silent German film directed by Josef Stein and featuring Carl de Vogt as Kara Ben Nemsi. Béla Lugosi played a supporting role...
(Caravan of Death) (1920), dir.: Josef Stein (silent) - 3. Die TeufelsanbeterThe Devil WorshippersThe Devil Worshippers is a six-chapter 1920 silent German film directed by Marie Luise Droop and featuring Carl de Vogt in the title-role of Kara Ben Nemsi. Later horror-star Béla Lugosi is being seen in one of his first supporting roles in a film...
(The Devil Worshippers, informal) (1920), dir.: Ertugrul Moussin-Bey (silent) - 4. Durch die Wüste (Through the Wasteland) (1936), dir.: Johannes Alexander Hübler-Kahla (first sound film)
- 5. Die Sklavenkarawane (-) (1958), dir.: Georg MarischkaGeorg MarischkaGeorg Marischka , was an Austrian actor, screen writer, director and film producer for cinema and television.- Life :...
/ Ramón Torrado (first color film) - 6. Der Löwe von Babylon (-) (1959), dir.: Johannes Kai (= Hanns Wiedmann) / Ramón Torrado
- 7. Der Schatz im Silbersee (The Treasure of Silver Lake) (1962), dir.: Dr. Harald ReinlHarald ReinlHarald Reinl was an Austrian film director. He is especially known for the movies he made based on Edgar Wallace and Karl May books .He started his career as an extra in the mountain-films of Arnold Fanck...
- 8. Winnetou 1. Teil (Apache Gold) (1963), dir.: Dr. Harald Reinl
- 9. Old ShatterhandOld Shatterhand (film)The film Old Shatterhand is a very successful Eurowestern based on the character Old Shatterhand invented by German novelist Karl May. It is a French, Italian, Yugoslavian, West German co-production filmed in 70mm. With about 5,000,000 DM in production the film was the most expensive Karl May...
(Apaches Last Battle) (1964), dir.: Hugo FregoneseHugo FregoneseHugo Fregonese was an Argentine film director who worked both in Hollywood and in Argentina.... - 10. Der Schut (The Shoot or Yellow Devil) (1964), dir.: Robert SiodmakRobert SiodmakRobert Siodmak was a German born American film director. He is best remembered as a thriller specialist and for the series of Hollywood film noirs he made in the 1940s.-Early life:...
- 11. Winnetou - 2. Teil (Last of the RenegadesLast of the RenegadesLast of the Renegades is a 1964 German Western film directed by Harald Reinl and starring Lex Barker.-Cast:* Lex Barker - Old Shatterhand* Pierre Brice - Winnetou* Anthony Steel - Bud Forrester* Karin Dor - Ribanna* Klaus Kinski - David 'Luke' Lucas...
) (1964), dir.: Dr. Harald Reinl - 12. Unter Geiern (Frontier Hellcat) (1964), dir.: Alfred VohrerAlfred VohrerAlfred Vohrer was a German film director and actor. He directed 48 films between 1958 and 1984.He was born in Stuttgart, Germany and died in Munich, Germany.-Selected filmography:...
- 13. Der Schatz der AztekenDer Schatz der AztekenDer Schatz der Azteken is a 1965 West German, French and Italian western film adventure directed by Robert Siodmak.-Cast:*Lex Barker ... Dr. Karl Sternau*Gérard Barray ... Count Alfonso di Rodriganda y Sevilla...
(The Treasure of the Aztecs) (1965), dir.: Robert Siodmak - 14. Die Pyramide des SonnengottesDie Pyramide des SonnengottesDie Pyramide des Sonnengottes is a 1965 West German and Italian western film adventure directed by Robert Siodmak, based on a book by Karl May.-Cast:*Lex Barker ... Dr. Karl Sternau*Michèle Girardon ... Josefa...
(Pyramid of the Sun God) (1965), dir.: Robert Siodmak - 15. Der Ölprinz (Rampage at Apache Wells) (1965), dir.: Harald PhilippHarald Philipp-Selected filmography:* Manhattan Night of Murder * Um Null Uhr schnappt die Falle zu * The Blonde Connection * Angels of Terror * Hurray We Are Bachelors Again -External links:...
- 16. Durchs wilde Kurdistan (The Wild Men of Kurdistan) (1965), dir.: Franz Joseph Gottlieb
- 17. Winnetou - 3. TeilWinnetou - 3. TeilWinnetou – 3. Teil is a 1965 West German and Italian film directed by Harald Reinl.- Cast :* Lex Barker – Old Shatterhand* Pierre Brice – Winnetou* Rik Battaglia – Rollins* Ralf Wolter – Sam Hawkens* Carl Lange – Gouverneur...
(The Desperado Trail) (1965), dir.: Dr. Harald Reinl - 18. Old Surehand 1. Teil (Flaming Frontier) (1965), dir.: Alfred Vohrer
- 19. Im Reiche des silbernen Löwen (Fury of the Sabers) (1965), dir.: Franz Joseph Gottlieb
- 20. Das Vermächtnis des InkaDas Vermächtnis des InkaDas Vermächtnis des Inka is a 1965 Spanish, Italian and German western film adventure directed by Georg Marischka based on a book by Karl May.-Cast:*Guy Madison ... Jaguar / Karl Hansen*Rik Battaglia ... Antonio Perillo...
(Legacy of the Incas) (1965), dir.: Georg Marischka - 21. Winnetou und das Halbblut Apanatschi (Half-Breed) (1966), dir.: Harald Philipp
- 22. Winnetou und sein Freund Old Firehand (Thunder at the Border) (1966), dir: Alfred Vohrer
- 23. Winnetou und Shatterhand im Tal der Toten (Winnetou and Shatterhand in the Valley of Death) (1968), dir.: Dr. Harald Reinl
TV-series / -films
- 1. Mit Karl May im OrientMit Karl May im OrientMit Karl May im Orient is the title of a six-part television series about the themes of the literary works of Karl May. The show was originally broadcast in 1963 by the German broadcaster ZDF...
- 1963, 6 episodes - 2. Kara Ben Nemsi EffendiKara Ben Nemsi Effendi (TV series)Kara Ben Nemsi Effendi was a German television series broadcast from 1973 through 1975. It featured a hero inspired by British explorer Sir Richard Burton .The protagonist was portrayed by Karl Michael Vogler...
- 1973/75, 26 episodes - 3. Mein Freund WinnetouMein Freund WinnetouMein Freund Winnetou is a German television series....
(My Friend Winnetou - French: Winnetou le Mescalero) - 1980, 14 episodes - 4. Das Buschgespenst - 1986, 2 episodes
- 5. Präriejäger in Mexiko - 1988, 2 episodes
- 6. Winnetous Rückkehr - 1998, 2 episodes
- 7. Winnetoons German animated series - 26 episodes :de:WinneToons
Discography
- "Wilder Westen - Heißer Orient" - Karl-May-Filmmusik 1936 - 1968
- Bear Family Records BCD 16413 HL - 8 CDs with 192-pages movie-book
- "Winnetou Melodie - Martin Böttcher dirigiert seine großen Karl-May-Erfolge" (1971/1991)
- Convoy (east west records, Time Warner, distributed by Karussel Musik & Video GmbH, 849 824-2
Literature
- Michael Petzel: "Karl May Filmbuch", Karl-May-Verlag, BambergBambergBamberg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located in Upper Franconia on the river Regnitz, close to its confluence with the river Main. Bamberg is one of the few cities in Germany that was not destroyed by World War II bombings because of a nearby Artillery Factory that prevented planes from...
, ISBN 3-7802-0153-4
External links
- Mondo-Esoterica.net - reviews (in English) of the 1960s Karl May films, and their DVD releases.
- Rialto Film The website of Rialto Film who produced many of the Karl May films.