Treasure of Silver Lake

It may not have much to do with the source material (May is probably spinning in his grave), but it's true that this film is the best of all May’s adaptations, maybe because it was the first. The others, which were made in the following years as if on a treadmill, in an attempt to monetize as much as possible the awakened interest in May, have a strongly declining level (except perhaps for the first two episodes of Vinetou). (07/07/2002)

This was the beginning of the cult... Treasure of Silver Lake is the best film of the entire "basic" four Winnetou films, but the subsequent trilogy offers true identification with the heroes. Even so, I probably enjoy this captivating journey to find the treacherous treasure the most to this day... Herbert Lom as the cunning Cornel is as good of a villain as they come, Lord Castlepool is once again a clown that you can’t forget, and the conquest of the ranch... it's just a great and amazing "bang bang" scene. Even if I take away the ubiquitous nostalgia, Treasure of Silver Lake is part of the golden fund of adventure films... (06/27/2004)

The first, and sadly, the last truly good May adaptation. Cheesy, but fun and above all adventurous to the core. The proverbial chemistry between Brice and Barker doesn't work here as much as in later efforts, but paradoxically it helps rather than hurts the result. (02/10/2007)

Immediately after the classic trilogy, the best May festival, nevertheless the quality of Reinl's later works falls just short. The thought that this is "the first one" is, however, still perfectly magical to this day. (08/17/2006)

But yeah, that childlike enchantment with the story, the landscape, and the great characters is still there, and this installment never belonged to my absolute favorites. That doesn't change the fact that anyone who grew up with these movies must still love them because just the opening theme song takes you back a few years and it's a pleasant return. (01/27/2015)