Video - TEX AND THE LORDS OF THE DEEP (1985)

This little-seen spaghetti western/horror hybrid was adapted from the popular Italian comic book TEX which was first published in 1948. The series is one of the most popular Italian comics with translations into numerous languages around the world including a few scattered English editions. This is the only film version and it was supposed to be a pilot for a television series. Sadly, the film flopped and those plans were scrapped. Hopefully we'll get a good release of this oddity on Blu-Ray one day and its cult can grow! 

Lobby Cards and Poster Art for THE MUMMY (1959)

 

Lobby Cards and Poster Art for THE GREEN HORNET (1940)

 

Poster Art for THE MUMMY (1932)

 

The Bloody Pit #232 - TREASURE OF SILVER LAKE (1962)

Among the hidden European cult cinema subgenres, the German Western is one of the least well explored outside of its country of origin. While every film fanatic could list off his favorite Italian westerns most would give a blank stare when quizzed about the German variety. The most successful German Westerns are the adaptations of adventure novels by 19th-century author Karl May. These films usually feature Winnetou, a noble Apache chief, and Old Shatterhand, his white American scout blood brother. In the hopes of drawing attention to these fine movies we present this episode focused on the first big budget Karl May western adaptation from 1962.

Author Holger Haase joins me to dig up the TREASURE OF SILVER LAKE! Unlike many of the dozen or more follow up films in the series, it is available with an excellent English dub making it easy for new American audiences to absorb it. The film rewards the viewer with glorious widescreen color vistas that put many similar productions of the time to shame. The movie introduces Lex Barker as Old Shatterhand and Pierre Brice as Winnetou setting the successful series on its way even as it mangles and twists the source material into shapes more pleasing to the big screen than the printed page. It is an hour and forty-five minutes of action, gunfights and chases with villainy provided by the dastardly Herbert Lom as a murderous bandit intent on gaining the titular treasure. We discuss numerous aspects of the film, take a trip through a lengthy plot synopsis and make fun of a few oddities that German audiences would not have noticed. It’s a fun time!

If you have any comments about this film or German westerns in general thebloodypit@gmail.com is the place to send them. We’d love to hear from you. Thanks for listening. 

If you are interested in Holger's Krimi magazine check it out HERE.

Video - TREASURE OF SILVER LAKE (1962)

Podcast on the way!

Spotted at Wonderfest 2026