Horst Wendlandt Movies
A former WWII POW whose productions laid the groundwork for one of Germany's biggest local box-office hits, producer Horst Wendlandt hit a nearly five-decade-long stride with his numerous adaptations of the works of writers Edgar Wallace and Karl May. Born Horst Gubanow to Russian parents in 1922, the future producer became an apprentice at Tobis Filmkunst at the age of 15. Subsequently captured and forced into labor in the French coal mines, Wendlandt joined Arthur Brauner's CCC following the war. Wendlandt's next fateful move would be to Rialto, the company he would eventually run, in 1961. Taking control of the company that had recently acquired the rights to the entire catalog of Edgar Wallace's detective thrillers in 1972, the following years found roughly 30 books translated into films under Wendlandt in the coming years. Serving as a popular showcase for up-and-coming German talent, the Wallace films also proved a lucrative draw at the box office throughout the 1960s. Soon thereafter approached by his son with the idea of adapting 19th century writer Karl May's series of Wild West adventures, a series of popular Eurowesterns followed. Those films, many of which were international co-productions, would eventually lay the foundation for the wildly popular 2002 parody Manitu's Shoe. In late August 2002, Wendlandt succumbed to cancer in Berlin, Germany. He was 80. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 1960
Originally titled Die Toten Augen von London, this German melodrama is the second film version of Edgar Wallace's The Testament of Gordon Stewart. The story centers on a seemingly kindly blind man who covertly controls a sinister criminal organization comprised of sightless henchmen. Actually, he isn't blind at all, but the police are (figuratively speaking) until lovely Karin Baal foils the villain's scheme. Dead Eyes of London was released in the US in 1965 as Dark Eyes of London. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
Even while a series of British second features based on the works of Edgar Wallace was flourishing in the 1960s, Germany was grinding out its own Wallace series. Secret of the Red Orchid top-bills British actor Christopher Lee in a story of a joint effort between the FBI and Scotland Yard. The target of these combined forces is a far-reaching crime syndicate. The stellar international cast includes Klaus Kinski (a semi-regular in the Wallace series), Marissa Mell, and silent film veteran Fritz Rasp. Secret of the Red Orchid was originally titled Puzzle of the Red Orchid. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In this mystery, a young countess almost loses her life. Investigators soon discover that the attempt is linked to a murder that occurred 20-years ago. The plot is based on an Edgar Wallace story. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1961
In this detective film, a Chinese detective breaks up a drug smuggling ring and tries to find the "Daffodil Killer." The drug smugglers had devised the ingenious method of smuggling heroin from Hong Kong in the stems of daffodils. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Christopher Lee, Marius Goring, (more)
- 1962
Although filmed by a joint German-Yugoslav crew, this European western is set in the Southern United States and involves an oddly-named hero, Old Shatterhand (Lex Barker of Tarzan fame). O.S. has a sidekick, Winnetou, an Apache chief played by a rather understated Pierre Brice. The fuel behind the drama is a hidden map that shows where a secret treasure is buried somewhere around Silver Lake. A gang of outlaws headed by Cornel Brinkley (Herbert Lom) is intent on retrieving the map and the treasure. Just as intent on stopping them are Old Shatterhand, Winnetou, and Fred Engel (Goetz George) whose father was killed by the outlaws' leader. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Brice, Lex Barker, (more)
- 1962
This light comedy concerns psychiatrist Lilli Koenig (Maria Schell). Her practice revolves around idle, wealthy women with too much time on their hands who imagine they are suffering from a bevy of complexes. She catches the eye of fashion-photographer Martin Bohlen (Paul Hubschmidt), who longs to zoom in on her with more than just his camera lens. In the darkroom of his lovestruck mind, he develops a scheme to get near the doctor by pretending to suffer from a variety of ailments. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maria Schell, Paul Hubschmid, (more)
- 1963
The German The Squeaker is the third film version of the Edgar Wallace mystery novel of the same name. The title character is an omnipotent "fence" who has cornered the diamond-smuggling racket. The fence travels in polite society under the guise of a wealthy philanthropist. A Scotland Yard detective pretends to be an ex-convict in order to infiltrate the Squeaker's gang and to track down the stolen gems. The Squeaker was one of several German Edgar Wallace adaptations of the 1960s, ground out simultaneously with Britain's long-running Wallace B-picture series. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Heinz Drache, Barbara Rutting, (more)
- 1963
Apache Gold was a German/French/Yugoslav coproduction, originally titled Winnetou I. Teil (British title: Winnetou the Warrior). It was one of a series of European Technicolor westerns based on the "Winnetou" stories of German author Karl May. As in most of these films, French actor Pierre Brice stars as Winnetou, here dedicated to halting the activities of gold raiders in Apache territory. Apache Gold was released on a limited basis in the US by Columbia Pictures; in some cities, the film went directly to television. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lex Barker, Pierre Brice, (more)
- 1963
This mystery is based on an Edgar Wallace tale and centers upon an enigmatic, seemingly supernatural abbot who lives in a tower connected to an abandoned old country manse said to contain a fabulous treasure. It is the black-hooded monk's duty to keep thieves at bay. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1964
German director Alfred Vohrer often based his films on popular novels written by the likes of Edgar Wallace and Johannes Mario Simmel. British novelist James Hadley Chase's book Pay or Die was adapted to the screen for this Vohrer action feature. After denying a crime syndicate 100,000 pounds on demand, a British millionaire is soon dead. His nephew Don (Gotz George), heir to the fortune, is determined to get his vengeance and begins his own search for the guilty parties. It would seem Don has fortune on his side as the gang boss (Richard Muench) is having problems not only among his men, but also with his woman (Hildegarde Knef). ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Götz George
- 1964
Frontier Hellcat was the fourth in a series of 1960s European westerns based on Karl May's "Winnetou" character. Stewart Granger takes over from Lex Barker in the leading "Anglo"-role of the mysterious maverick who wanders from town to town doing the "Lone Ranger" bit. The hellcat of the title is Elke Sommer, a tempestuous frontierswoman who reluctantly accepts Granger's help in attaining safe passage through the Rocky Mountains ("played" in this film by the Alps). The original title of Frontier Hellcat was Unter Geiern; the production was a cooperative effort, with contributions from West Germany, France, Italy, and Yugoslavia. Stewart Granger would star in the "Winnetou" saga again in Rampage at Apache Wells and ld Surehand. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stewart Granger, Pierre Brice, (more)
- 1964
In this western, an entry in the "Winnetou" series based on Germany's Karl May's novels, follows the attempts of two con men to cheat the Apaches out of their oil rights. They are foiled by Old Shatterhand and Winnetou, his Apache partner. The film was made on location in Yugoslavia. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lex Barker, Pierre Brice, (more)
- 1964
This crime thriller contains enough comedy and blood to interest almost any movie fan. Shady underworld thugs gather in a seedy Soho hotel in Room 13 to plan a train robbery. They plan to rendezvous in the mansion of a member of Parliament who is being blackmailed for his ties to the gang 20 years earlier. Simultaneously, a mysterious slasher is murdering women with a straight razor. Jonny Gray (Joachim Fuschberger) is the detective who is called on to solve the robbery and the murders. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Joachim Fuchsberger, Karin Dor, (more)
- 1965
American actor Lex Barker and Frenchman Pierre Brice are teamed once again in the Teutonic western Winnetou, Part III. The noble Indian Winnetou and his friend Old Shatterhand battle settlers who have been duped by an unscrupulous land grabber into a war with the Apaches. They team up against the scheming Rollins (Rik Battaglia) who initially causes the controversy. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Lex Barker, Pierre Brice, (more)
- 1965
In this western, the sixth in the European-produced "Winnetou" series, Old Surehand and his Apache sidekick Winnetou endeavor to capture the outlaws who killed their friend the wagon master. To do so, Winnetou volunteers to guide the leaderless wagon train across the treacherous Indian land himself. Sure enough, they encounter Navajos, but fortunately Winnetou manages to get them safe passage until an avaricious oil swindler tries to cheat local settlers out of their land and ends up killing the Navajo leader's son. Naturally the Indians assume that Winnetou has betrayed them and go to war against the settlers. Fortunately, Surehand rides to the rescue. He is accompanied by the swindler whom he captured. Peace is restored. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stewart Granger, Pierre Brice, (more)
- 1965
This colorful western saga finds Old Surehand (Stewart Granger) and his comical sidekick Old Wabble (Paddy Fox) hot on the trail of a cold-blooded murderer. His brother has been killed, and the heroic duo sets out to bring the varmint to justice. Meanwhile, Surehand must mediate the trouble brewing between the settlers and the Comanche Indians -- who threaten to go on the warpath. Female interest for Surehand is provided by Letitia Roman. The General (Larry Pennell) is the main bad guy in this routine oater. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Stewart Granger, Pierre Brice, (more)
- 1966
Though based on an Edgar Wallace novel, Traitor's Gate was not part of the long-running British series of second features based on the works of Wallace. Albert Lieven plays a London businessman who doubles as a high-tech crook. He organizes an elite gang of thieves to steal the crown jewels. Their escape at sea is complicated by the rivalry between Lieven and his brother Gary Raymond. Traitor's Gate provides an interesting contrast to The Jokers (67), a "mod" comedy in which another pair of brothers pilfer the crown jewels. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
In this western, a brave cowboy and his loyal partner Winnetou agree to help Mexican villagers defend their home from a vicious bandito gang. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rod Cameron, Pierre Brice, (more)
- 1967
If you happened to catch Joachim Fuchsberger in a late-60's film, chances are he was appearing in a Edgar Wallace mystery. The German Hand of Power is no exception to this rule. Fuchsberger plays an inspector in search of an elusive criminal who uses a scorpion-shaped ring, filled with poison, to dispatch his victims. As is customary in films of this nature, the villain is a lot more colorful than his dedicated but drab Scotland Yard pursuers. But Edgar Wallace was averse to promoting a "crime pays" message, so rest assured that the Hand of Power is stilled by the time the film's alotted 88 minutes has passed. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Adapted from an Edgar Wallace story, the plot of The Creature with the Blue Hand concerns an innocent man who is accused of murder. The real perpetrator is, of course, the title character. Since Klaus Kinski plays both roles, it's understandable why the authorities are confused. One of several German-produced Edgar Wallace films, Creature With the Blue Hand was one of the few to attain widespread American release. The film has also been known as Die blaue Hand and The Bloody Dead. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Klaus Kinski
