The classic European Western film The Treasure of Silver Lake (Poklad na Stříbrném jezeře) drew millions of viewers to cinemas and sparked a massive wave of Wild West adventure movies across the continent, according to the article. Distributed by TV Nova, the production turned actors Lex Barker and Pierre Brice into famous stars. However, behind-the-scenes accounts from the production reveal that getting the film made involved severe doubts, casting changes, and dangerous on-set accidents that occasionally put the crew’s lives at risk.
The Plot and Casting Challenges
The story follows the scout Old Shatterhand and Apache chief Winnetou as they help a young man named Fred Engel and his fiancée protect a valuable map from heavily armed bandits. Director Harald Reinl shot the adventure—originally set in the American West—amid the lakes and rocky landscapes of Yugoslavia, according to historical film data from CSFD and IMDb. Neither of the main actors initially wanted their iconic roles. Pierre Brice actively rejected playing Winnetou because he felt the character had too few lines and he was entirely unfamiliar with the novels by a German writer.
“Vinnetou mi zničil život, je to smutné, ale myslím to vážně,” Brice reflected years later in a foreign press interview, noting he should have left the western series much earlier. Before casting Brice, filmmakers considered Christopher Lee and Guy Williams for the role. Lex Barker similarly hesitated before accepting the part of Old Shatterhand, ultimately agreeing only after persuasion from his fourth wife, Irene Labhart.
On-Set Accidents and Dangerous Stunts
Real-life danger frequently shadowed the production. Barker and Brice both loved fast driving and organized wild car races on local roads during filming breaks. During one high-speed run, Brice’s car went into a skid, hit a bridge railing, bounced under an oncoming truck, and slammed into a tree. The French actor was thrown from the wreck and walked away with minor surface injuries, historical reports show. Other cast members also sustained injuries on set. Karin Dor fell from a horse, Götze George suffered an animal bite, and Barker injured his shoulder from the heavy recoil of his rifle.
Did you know? Cameraman Ernst W. Kalinke suffered the most severe on-set injury during the filming of the farm attack. A stray burning torch struck him, and flames partially burned him before a second unit director put out the fire. Kalinke spent eight days recovering in a hospital.
Financial Discrepancies and Notable Film Errors
Financial records show distinct pay disparities among the cast. Actor Herbert Lom received exactly 78,000 marks for his role as the villain Cornel Brinkley, earning significantly more than Brice received for playing the lead Apache chief. Paradoxically, Lom and Brice never actually met during production. A body double stood in for Brice during their single shared camp scene, and the two actors did not meet face-to-face until 42 years later at a film festival in Zlín.
Sharp-eyed film fans can spot several continuity errors in the finished movie. Lord Castlepool hunts for a rare butterfly in America that naturally inhabits only Sri Lanka, and outlaws fire eight-shot revolvers that were not manufactured until the mid-20th century. In another scene, a modern tourist bus drives past in the background on a road behind the villain Cornel. Furthermore, during the final cave scenes, a deceased accomplice of the drowned villain visibly moves on the ground.
Upcoming Broadcast Schedule
Television viewers can watch the digitally restored classic when TV Nova broadcasts the film on Saturday, September 12, at 16:30. Sister station Nova Action will air a rebroadcast on Sunday at 20:30, according to network schedules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed The Treasure of Silver Lake?
Director Harald Reinl directed the film, utilizing Yugoslavian landscapes to portray the American West.
Were Lex Barker and Pierre Brice friends in real life?
While they starred together as Old Shatterhand and Winnetou, they experienced typical actor relationships on location, and Brice and co-star Herbert Lom famously did not meet on set at all.
Where was the movie filmed?
Despite being set in the American West, the film was shot on location in Yugoslavia, utilizing local lakes and rocky terrain.
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