Der Schuh des Manitu
| Der Schuh des Manitu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Michael Herbig |
| Produced by | Michael Herbig |
| Written by | Michael Herbig |
| Starring |
Michael Herbig Christian Tramitz Rick Kavanian Sky du Mont Marie Bäumer Hilmi Sözer |
| Music by | Ralf Wengenmayr |
| Edited by | Alexander Dittner |
| Distributed by | Constantin Film |
Release dates |
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Running time | 82 minutes (original edition), 88 minutes (extended edition) |
| Language | German |
| Budget | 4,500,000€ |
| Box office | $64,300,000 |
Der Schuh des Manitu (English: Manitou's Shoe) is a 2001 German parody of western films. Directed by Michael Herbig, it is a film adaptation of the Winnetou sketches from his ProSieben television show Bullyparade.
Plot
Abahachi (Michael Herbig), chief of the Apache, and his blood brother Ranger (Christian Tramitz) are an inseparable pair since Ranger saved Abahachi from a speeding train on an unguarded railroad crossing. When they aim to buy a pub with the monetary help of Shoshone chief Stinking Lizard ("Listiger Lurch" in the German original - "Cunning Amphibian") through real estate agent Santa Maria (Sky du Mont), the deal (and pub, which is just a prop-up facade) collapse, and Stinking Lizard's son, who has delivered the loan, is killed by Santa himself. Upon their return to the Shoshone tribe, they find themselves set up by Santa Maria and are unjustly charged with murder.
Bound to two stakes and awaiting their execution, Abahachi remembers a secret treasure kept inside a large, shoe-shaped rock called Manitou's Shoe (a reference to Treasure of the Silver Lake), which Abahachi intends to recover in order to reimburse Stinking Lizard. The map leading to the treasure was left to Abahachi by his deceased grandfather (also Herbig, in the extended "Extra Large" version), and in a drunken rout following his demise it was divided into four parts, which were distributed among Abahachi himself; his effeminate gay twin brother Winnetouch (also Herbig), the propietor of a beauty ranch; Abahachi's Greek friend Dimitri (Rick Kavanian); and his former "hough school" honey - and Ranger's fledging love interest - Ursula (Uschi). Unfortunately, Santa and his right hand Hombre have overheard the blood brothers' plans and decide to get the treasure for themselves. They enable the two captives' escape, in which they inadvertently kill Stinking Lizard's pet rabbit, prompting the Shoshone chief to declare war on them.
In their quest, Abahachi and Ranger, gradually joined by their friends, are pursued by Stinking Lizard and his braves, and are eventually captured by Santa, who retrieves the treasure, a golden necklace with a giant blue diamond. Abahachi, Winnetouch & Co. win back the necklace, only to lose it again in subsequent mishaps. Hombre, however, who has in the meantime bonded with Winnetouch, returns the embezzled gold to Stinking Lizard, ending the hostilities, and Santa ends his life in a mudtrap. Uschi, while pregnant by Ranger, urges him to set off with Abahachi, and both heroes ride into the sunset for new adventures.
Cast
- Michael Herbig as Abahachi/Winnetouch/Grey Star (extended version only)
- Christian Tramitz as Ranger
- Sky du Mont as Santa Maria
- Marie Bäumer as Uschi
- Rick Kavanian as Dimitri
- Hilmi Sözer as Hombre
- Irshad Panjatan as Schoschone-Chieftain Listiger Lurch (Cunning Amphibian)
- Siegfried Terpoorten as Jim
- Oliver Wnuk as Jack
- Tim Wilde as John
- Robinson Reichel as Joe
Uncredited Actors
- Natalia Avelon as young Uschi
- Friedrich Schoenfelder as the Narrator
- Diana Herold as Blonde Squaw
Background
The film borrows from the parodies of Mel Brooks like Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Blazing Saddles, and Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Its humor consists largely of blatant anachronisms, scenes such as the character Ranger getting stopped by a sheriff for "fast riding" and being asked for his "riding license", or Santa Maria connecting the dots on a map by using a feather with a marker-tip. Greek character Dimitri owns a mule named Apollo 13 (his twelve brothers—and subsequently, he as well—were killed by speeding trains), and for lack of a hatchet the Shoshones, a Native American tribe, dig out a folding-chair as a replacement.
The film has several references to the Karl May films of the 1960s and to Herbig's own TV show. It features many puns that are difficult to translate into English. In the German version, Abahachi, Ranger and Winnetouch all speak with a light Bavarian accent that is predominant in the Bullyparade-Show, which is mentioned by the barkeeper at the saloon by "You must be Ranger, the man with the Southern States slang".
Many scenes have been shot in Almería, Spain, at the same places that can be seen in many movies of Sergio Leone. Most of the Indians in the movie are actually Spanish. The Shoshone chief is played by an East Indian, for humorous effect, and his two advisors are Native Americans. According to Herbig's comments, some Spanish can be heard on the DVD, and he was never entirely sure if the Spanish actors really knew what kind of movie they were participating in.
The Mexican Hombre is played by Hilmi Sözer, a Turkish-German actor. Diana Herold, a photo model and regular extra performer on Herbig's show Bullyparade, performs a cameo role as a blonde squaw. The role of Abahachi's and Winnetouch's mother was performed by German comedian Anke Engelke in the film's Extra Large version; and French actor Pierre Brice (in his role as Winnetou) is humorously referred to as their father. The "guest" appearance by Winnetou author Karl May was performed by Alexander Held.
Michael Herbig's following movie, the science fiction parody Traumschiff Surprise – Periode 1, features a prequel scene to Der Schuh des Manitou due to time travel.
Winnetou novels
“Der Schuh des Manitu” parodies a series of wild west adventure novels of the 19th century German author Karl May.
The main topic of these novels is the deep friendship of a fictional Apache chief (Winnetou) and his white settler companion and blood-brother, (Old Shatterhand), who are both exemplary virtuous and stand together to keep the peace between Indians and immigrating White settlers. Der Schuh des Manitu spoofs the friendship motif in the Winnetou novels and in their 1960s film adaptations which has largely led to high, but sometimes idealised and cliché ridden admiration of Native Americans in Germany. Many shots of the original Winnetou movies feature Old Shatterhand and Winnetou riding side by side, accompanied by romantic orchestral music (which is also happening in the parody).
Winnetou’s main objection against European settlers is their "greed". He dislikes that they want to take all the land for themselves and cannot share with the natives. A recurring opponent is the bandit Santer who kills Winnetou's father and sister, probably the namesake of Santa Maria in the parody.
There is also a movie called "Winnetou and the Half-Blood Apanatschi" (English title: "Half-Breed") based not on a May novel but using his characters - the name of the movie's main character Abahachi is probably based on this. So is the name of Uschi, Abahachis's old love, hinting to the name of actress Uschi Glas who used to play Apanatschi.