Old Shatterhand is a 1964 film based on the character Old Shatterhand, written by German novelist Karl May as part of the Winnetou series.
Killings of innocent ranchers indicate the Apaches have broken the peace treaty. Old Shatterhand, blood brother of the Apache chief Winnetou, finds out that ruthless land grabbers did the killings, hoping to start off a war between the Indians and the settlers, and follows the trail right back to the gates of the cavalry's fort.
This film provides examples of:
- 10-Minute Retirement: Old Shatterhand departs from Winnetou in the opening scene to tend to some other non-adventure business. But after his encounter with Tujunga, he decides to turn around and rejoin Winnetou in his quest to resolve the False Flag Operation.
- Angry Collar Grab: Done by Old Shatterhand to the horse dealer when the latter refuses to cooperate.
- Bittersweet Ending: A full-on war between the settlers and the Apache gets prevented but at some cost to human lives.
- Blasting It Out of Their Hands: While rescuing Tujunga from getting hanged, Old Shatterhand shoots the mooks' revolvers out of their hands.
- The Cavalry: An interesting take on the trope where the Cavalry comes in to save the Cavalry gone bad.
- Chatty Hairdresser: The town's barber fills the sheriff in about the latest gossip.
- Combat Breakdown: The Duel to the Death between Winnetou and the Comanche chief goes from jousting, to a spear and ax fight, to a knife melee.
- Combat by Champion: Winnetou, chief of the Apaches, and the chief of the Comanches settle the conflict between the two tribes by a Duel to the Death to avoid further bloodshed.
- Death of a Child: The boy surviving the massacre in the opening scene gets later shot on-screen by a villain.
- Determined Homesteader: The farmer family in the opening scene.
- The Dreaded: The mooks trying to hang Tujunga flee in panic after realizing that it's Old Shatterhand they are up against.
- False Flag Operation: Ruthless land grabbers make it look like the Apaches are going around doing Rape, Pillage, and Burn. Their hope is to prevent a peace treaty between the Apaches and the settlers.
- Feet-First Introduction: The Big Bad is introduced doing a Captain Morgan Pose on a bench with his boots and the spurs in focus while the upper body is still hidden.
- He Knows Too Much: The boy witnessing the massacre in the opening scene gets killed by the baddies so he cannot testify against them.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Tujunga dies blowing up the fort's ammo dump which gives the Apache an upper hand.
- Knife-Throwing Act: Tujunga's third ordeal to manhood is him enduring getting shot at with arrows and axes.
- Mighty Whitey: Sam Hawkens introduces Old Shatterhand to his comrades as the "noble protector of the Indians".
- Nobody Here but Us Birds: While escorting the settler trek through a ravine, Old Shatterhand gets suspicious when hearing the Comanche's bird calls from the ridges.
- Outdoor Bath Peeping: A sinister version with a cavalry soldier watching Paloma bathing at the ponds and chasing after her when she spots him and flees.
- Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: The devious horse dealer gets shot In the Back by one of his contractors.
- Scenery Porn: The prolonged wide shots of the countryside, especially around the waterfalls, are gorgeous to look at.
- Shoot the Rope: Old Shatterhand rescues Winnetou's adopted son Tujunga by shooting the rope tied around his neck to hang him.
- Spiteful Spit: After getting captured at the fort, Tujunga spits in the face of one of the baddies who shouts at him.
- This Means Warpaint: Winnetou and his Apache put on war paint when deciding to attack the fort.
- Tyrant Takes the Helm: After the General leaves the fort to tend to some matters, the Big Bad kills the stand-in officer and takes over.
- Unproblematic Prostitution: The town's brothel is portrayed as a fun place for all involved.
