Eureka! releases seven German rough-and-tumble high-adventure flicks from the sixties based on Karl May books, all starring Lex Barker. ADVENTURE CALLS: KARL MAY AT CCC is out now on Blu-Ray.
Introduction
The name might not be well known in modern-day America, but in Germany, past and present, adventure writer Karl May is everything, remaining a household name and a bookshelf filler. Publishing a mountain of novels in the late 19th century, the heroes and their adventures, especially gunslinger Old Shatterhand and his Apache blood-brother Winnetou, across the American West. While interest in his work has been slightly tainted by Hitler’s fascination with the characters (as noted, May is incredibly popular, no matter the reader), he has remained a cultural Teutonic benchmark. Outside of the original publications, this hasn’t been higher than in the 1960s, when the production house CCC released dozens of May adaptations, including seven collected by Eureka in the “Adventure Calls! Karl May at CCC” box set. And what a wonderful set it is, with seven (or five, depending on how you look at split films) filled with thrilling high adventure, commentaries, talks, and archival features.
The Films
As this is a huge set, seven films over four discs, and you have only so much time in the day, I’m going shorter on my write-ups, writing about each set of adventures – they fall into three categories, together. Overall, these films are highly entertaining action/adventure flicks, filled with old-school serial energy, an Indiana Jones of the sixties (or earlier, technically). They are filled with good-ol-punch ‘em action bits, back and forths of the sterling good guys: Lex Barker in all of the films, essentially the same character with the different names (May said was based on his own adventures. Spoiler alert: he was in jail, not fighting around the world), mustache twirling villains often played by Rik Battaglia, Ralf Wolter as a comic sidekick, lead women with big eyes and dark hair (often Marie Versini, but includes others like Bond Girl Karin Dor) big set-pieces, and more. Just rip-roaring old-school fun. Though they do feature often less than flattering stereotypes of Non-European/descent folks, at least it’s often factioned with plenty of good and bad folks in either camp. All the films were shot on location, with some stage work, in Spain and Yugoslavia, using the countryside to great effect with these wonderful widescreen vistas. These all might be made quickly and loosely, but they work so well, arriving exactly as intended to great effect. Readers, I was excited and thrilled, getting into the sheer serial adventure.
Those sets of films:
Old Shatterhand (1964 w. Ladiaslas Fodor, R. A. Stemmle; d Hugo Fregonese) & Winnetou and Shatterhand in The Valley of Death (1968; d Harald Reinl, w. Herbert Reinecker, Harald Reinl)
The third and eleventh (and last) films in CCC’s Winnetou (Native American leader and hero, joined by various other heroes) series are the first here, but you need not watch the first two or the middle ones (I didn’t!). Lex Barker, former Tarzan and our American Name across all the films, joins Winnetou, played by Pierre Brice; yes, a Frenchman in brownface (leading lady is a Palestinian in make-up). Let it be said, Barker is a fantastic leading man for this sort of thing. The chisled jaw and sense of justice of adventure. As a former Tarzan, he’s able to tap into the Pure Adventure Character, in the same vein Harrison Ford will pull from iconically two decades later.
The plot of the first finds White nogoodnicks using Comanches to make Apaches look bad to take land from them, imbroiling and the US Army. It’s up to Winnetou and Old Shatterhand (noted above as a Mary Sue self-insert by May) to destroy the plotting, clear the Apaches, and bring peace. I mentioned above about stereotypes, but interestingly, the plot banks on White people being racist and using that to portray them as scoundrels. It has expansive landscapes, sweeping moments, and that classic oater energy. With a wonderful supporting cast, one thrill after another, and a gripping plot, I dug it.
The Valley of Death has a slew of groups looking for a lost treasure. It’s been said in the features that it functions as a greatest hits, repeating big moments from the Winnetou series, and it’s a fun ride. It feels more scattershot, trying to raise a fading character, but it works.
The Shoot (1964; d Robert Siodmak; w. Georg Marischka); Through Wild Kurdistan (1965; w and d by Franz Josef Gottlieb; In the Kingdom of the Silver Lion (1965, same)
These three (or two, as the 2nd and 3rd are essentially one film split) find Barker now as “Kara Ben Namsi” for the Orient Trilogy (here just meaning east of Germany, as these are in the Balkans and Turkey, all the Ottoman Empire at the time). Man, did I love The Shoot as a whole lot of forces try to get the upper hand, including the titular villain. My favorite part of these films is the side duo of an English nobleman and his valet. No matter where they are, they act as if at home, with the full complement of master and servant. There’s a wonderful humor in how they act in spite of everything around them.
The second two films deal with Kara Ben Namsi rescuing various men and women in trouble, working through local politics, and stopping schemes for land and power. Lots of fun fights and big moments. Lawrence of Arabia was released around the same time, making a big impact. There is a wonderfully awesome climax in Kingdom that could be straight from Indy. The adventures are big and a blast in all the fights, comic fun, and a knowing, rough and tumble.
The Treasure of the Azteks and The Pyramid of the Sun God (1965, d. Robert Siodmak; w. Ladislas Fodor, R. A. Stemmle, Georg Marischa)
Listed as two films, but technically one film broken into two 100-minute parts. Here, Barker is Dr. Karl Sternou, sent by Abe Lincoln to deliver a letter to support those fighting to keep Mexico from being taken over by Napoleon’s brother. He gets mixed up, along with Ralf Wolter again, within this, and a villain’s plan to try to get access to the Aztec gold. Solid characters and great use of location, and I loved the stage design as well. Out of all these, this hits into the Indy spirit I’ve been going on about.
As should be clear, I had a ton of fun with these films, from square-jawed heroes to wonderfully wide expanses, it’s a good time in high adventure. Are these great films? No, I’ll admit that. But they do exactly what they set out to do with a fantastic energy and sense of awareness.
The Package
Eureka puts the 7 films over four Blu-ray discs. Each disc is placed in its own cardboard fold-out, with an original film poster on each case. The 4 cases are contained in a thick cardboard box. Nestled in the box with the discs is a collector’s book. A thin cardboard slip forms a little box to put the case in, but it’s removable if wanting a clean set-up. Eureka limits the set to the hardbound set to 2000 copies. Spine 350-356.
The Presentation
Gorgeous, but true to its time. Ah, the beauty of the 60s fade, and saturation is absolutely sumptuous. The 1080p HD 4k restorations from original negatives by CCC Film give the feel of what it’d be like projected then; I can see some drive-in fun. From the real locations to the obvious sets and matte paintings (as noted in other reviews, I love this), it looks great. Audio is the original German audio tracks. A few films: Old Shatterhand, The Valley of Death, and The Shoot, have partial dubs from a few sources, so they drift in quality. The partial means it occasionally drops back to German for a line or two. All have newly translated English subs.
The Features
Eureka collects a fine set of new and old features to give the context around the films, giving me an appreciation for yet another area of filmdom I’m not wholly versed in.
On all discs
Introductions (new)
Okay, they SAY introductions, but these are spoiler-heavy as the talks about each film. I highly recommend watching the film before listening to Sir Christopher Frayling talk. Old Shatterhand gets the most at 25m, but it sets up everything that follows with specifics for the others. The Shoot (3m), Temple of the Aztecs (3), Pyramid of the Sun God (4), In Wild Kurdistan (3m), In the Kingdom of the Silver Lion(3m), The Valley of Death (5m). In English.
Trailers (Archival)
Each film has a 4-minute-long trailer.
On Disc with Old Shatterhand & Winnetou and Shatterhand in the Valley of Death
Commentary on Old Shatterhand by David Kalat (new)
Kalat provides a very detailed and interesting commentary laying out all about May and the adventures of this character, the various adaptations, and filming. With plenty to talk about, especially to unversed folks like most viewers, he fills the track from end to end with energetic detail. In English.
Making of Old Shatterhand & The Valley of Death (archival)
Split between the two films, these look back from some time ago, are appreciative and interestingly, hearing directly from the creators. In German (16m)
Dahlia Lavi (archival)
A quick look at Daliah Lavi out and about in society. In German. (2m)
On Disc with The Shoot & Though Wild Kurdistan
Making Karl May’s Oriental Cycle (Archival)
A nice overview of the three films and all that went into making them, great to see the hows of the variety of locations and needs. A great sense of creation and appreciation of May, and a great talk of how they were adapted for film. In German (21m)
Newsreel footage (archival)
The creators at an award ceremony (3m)
On the Kingdom of The Silver Lion Disc
Heroes on Horseback (archival)
Dr Alice Brauner talks about her father’s productions of Karl May at CCC. Another fine look, from the inside perspective, even if one generation off. In German (15m)
Prodigal Son (Archival)
Sheldon Hall talks about Robert Siodmak, from his time working for Hollywood (he directed Son of Dracula, The Killers, and underseen slasher/giallo template The Spiral Staircase) and in Europe. (26m)
On Disc with Treasure of the Aztecs and The Pyramid of the Sun God
Interview with Bernhard Schmid, (archival);
The co-editor of Karl May Verlag talks May and his life, along with how they were adapted. He seemed a little peeved, funny enough, in German. (7m)
Commentary on Treasure of the Aztecs by David Kalat (new)
Kalat gives another great commentary, picking up from Old Shatterhand, focusing on this and talking a bit about the non-commentary films.
Footage Restoration (3m)
Book
60 pages! This impressively bound book features info and photos for each film, along with a series of wonderful essays on the history of Karl May, Lex Barker’s career, the characters’ postwar reclaiming from the Nazis, and more. A fantastic further exploration of what’s presented in the set.
Final Thoughts
Adventure Calls is a great box set for those looking for some old-school adventure flicks. Excellent transfers highlight the majesty of the filmmaking, and Barker is a great leading man, coming in with amazing charisma and the right level of machismo. A solid collection of features, including a thick book of essays, builds the world of these films. Check it out. Adventure Calls! Karl May at CCC is out now on Blu-ray via Eureka!