Horst_In_Translation Review of The Last Tomahawk

The Last Tomahawk (1965)

Generic and mostly forgettable western with focus on the Indian side

[4/10 · 13 October 2017]

"Der letzte Mohikaner" or "The Last of the Mohicans" and in Germany also known as "Holzauge sei wachsam" is a West German 85-minute movie from 1965, so this one already had its 50th anniversary. Harald Reinl is of course known to many still here in Germany, among other stuff also for his Winnetou films, and this is one of his rare westerns not based on a work by Karl May. But you will find familiar names in the cast, such as Blacky Fuchsberger and Karin Dor. Add to that some more semi-famous Germans and Southern Europeans and you have the cast for this film here. I personally am not a fan of the Winnetou films and I think this one here is clearly heading into a similar direction contents- and quality-wise. I love myself a good western film at times, but this one here is genuinely mediocre from start to finish and the more dramatic moments like the fight at the very end also have a tendency to feel for the sake of it and never really inspired. The casting is tolerable, the actors aren't bad, but also not good enough to elevate the standard material. If there is any reason to see this one, it is certainly not the story, but probably the nature and cinematography. But why deal with the plot and not just go for a nature documentary. Or an actually intense film from the genre like Leone's works for example. Or the Mann/DDL version, certainly the most known. Or maybe even the old black-and-white take on the subject. All these may be better choices. This one here gets a thumbs-down from me. It's definitely not a failure, but there is absolutely nothing memorable in here. Skip it unless you (for whatever reason) like Reinl's approach to westerns. Chances are high you have seen other stuff from him already if you consider giving this one a go as it is really forgotten now and also not too easy to find. I cannot say I am sad about that.