Line #7 Film/DEFAWesterns

Context Film / DEFAWesterns

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1	[[quoteright:343:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/defa.jpg]]
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3	Following on the success of ''Film/DerSchatzImSilbersee'' and other UsefulNotes/{{West German\|y}} {{Western}} movies (most of the based on stories by Creator/KarlMay), the UsefulNotes/{{East German\|y}} DEFA studios produced ten Westerns for the domestic, Eastern bloc and international market. These portrayed the struggle of the [[UsefulNotes/NativeAmericans American Indians]] against the advancing United States as inspirational, but tragic examples of anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist struggle. In keeping with this, the films were not called Westerns, but ''Indianerfilme'' ("Indians movies"). The Native American tribes tended to be depicted as proto-communist in their culture, to further the ideological message the East German government wanted to present.
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5	The films were shot at various locations in Eastern Europe, with, for instance, [[CaliforniaDoubling the Caucasus doubling for the Black Hills of Dakota]]. A few of the films were based on literary works, but most were taken directly from history. And Serbian actor (and later director) Gojko Mitić played the lead in all of them.
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7	[[AC:The DEFA Westerns:]]
8	* ''Die Söhne der großen Bärin'' (The Sons of the Great She-Bear, 1965): Based on the novel by Lieselotte Welskopf-Henrich.
9	* ''Chingachgook, die große Schlange'' (Chingachgook, the Great Snake, 1966): Based on ''[[Literature/TheLeatherstockingTales The Deerslayer]]'' by James Fenimore Cooper.
10	* ''Brennende Zelte in den Schwarzen Bergen'' a.k.a. ''Spur des Falken'' (Burning Tents in the Black Hills or Tracks of the Falcon, 1968)
11	* ''Weiße Wölfe'' (White Wolves, 1969): Sequel to the preceding.
12	* ''Tödlicher Irrtum'' (Deadly Mistake, 1969)
13	* ''Tecumseh'' (1972)
14	* ''Apachen'' (1973)
15	* ''Osceola'' (1973)
16	* ''Ulzana'' (1974): Sequel to ''Apachen''.
17	* ''Blutsbrüder'' (Blood Brothers, 1975): Written by and starring singer/actor Dean Reed, who had defected from the US.
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19	!! These films contain examples of:
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21	* {{Brownface}}: All over the place for the American Natives, who were all portrayed by Europeans.
22	* DawnOfTheWildWest: ''Chingachgook, die große Schlange'' (1740-1745), ''Tecumseh'' (UsefulNotes/WarOf1812), and ''Osceola'' (Seminole Wars of the early 19th century in Florida).
23	* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Four of the ''Indianerfilme'' were directly based on historic events, so many of them appear. Just taking the relevant starring roles by Gojko Mitic: Tecumseh, Ulzana (also in ''Apachen''), and Osceola.
24	* TheWestern: Or rather, TheMoralSubstitute from a Communist perspective.

Context Film / DEFAWesterns