Duel at Diablo (1966)

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

Marvin H. Albert (novel)
Marvin H. Albert (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 July 1966 (UK)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Lieutenant McAllister is ordered to transport several ammunition wagons to another fort through Apache...

Plot Keywords:

Apache | Tortured To Death | Marital Strife | Loss Of Husband | Ambush

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Garner	...	Jess Remsberg (scout)
Sidney Poitier	...	Toller (contract horse dealer)
Bibi Andersson	...	Ellen Grange
Dennis Weaver	...	Willard Grange (Fort Creel freighter)
Bill Travers	...	Lt. Scotty McAllister
William Redfield	...	Sgt. Ferguson
John Hubbard	...	Major Novak - CO, Fort Creel
Ralph Nelson	...	Col. Foster (CO, Fort Concho) (as Alf Elson)
Bill Hart	...	Cpl. Harrington
John Hoyt	...	Chata (Apache chief)
Eddie Little Sky	...	Alchise - Apache warrior
John Crawford	...	Clay Dean (Fort Concho marshal)

Also Known As:

Ralph Nelson's Duel at Diablo (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono | Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | UK:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #21219) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Johnson Canyon, Kanab, Utah, USA

Company:

Cherokee Productions

Quotes:

Chata: You white eyes want us all dead, but when I die, it will not be as a reservation Indian. I will die Apache - killing my enemies.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Carrie (1976)

A fairly violent western, with touches of discrimination and prejudices working themselves into the story

"Duel at Diablo" filmed in 1966, has a cast of both American and international players and touches of violence coupled with prejudices. It makes for an interesting mix and provides the viewer with a tense depiction of the usual struggles of the Apaches against the US Cavalry. James Garner plays Jess Remsberg, an Indian scout now out looking for the man or men that raped and killed his Indian wife. Sidney Poitier adds an excellent portrayal of a former Army sergeant who has quit the job of soldering in exchange for breaking horses, and selling them to the Army. Bill Travers and Bibi Anderson provide the international flavor in the cast, and Dennis Weaver gives the viewer a chance both to detest him and feel some sorrow for his warped prejudices toward those he considers inferior or below his status.

The group of troopers heads out across the desert to another fort in the area, but are headed off by a group of Apaches that have jumped their reservation. Garner does find out the identity of the man who was responsible for the rape/killing of his Indian wife, but in order to extract his revenge, he must first make it to the canyon of Diablo and rescue the beseiged group of Army troopers from being killed by the Apaches.

Good, tense story, sweeping vistas of the Utah landscape, and two actors, Garner and Poitier, delivering masterful performances.