verbusen Review of Duel at Diablo

Duel at Diablo (1966)

Exploitative Western with Racial Morality Themes

[7/10 · 30 September 2017]

I DVR'd films with James Garner in it, and this film was recorded from the MGM channel as a result. When it started with the Bowie knife slashing the screen, I knew this would be a different western. The title cards were really weird, they used a white font similar to those I've seen on low budget drive in films next to a custom dark font that just seemed weird but interesting, it beckoned low budget to me. Then I watched the aerial shots of the beautiful scenery, which were amazing in HD, good job by MGM in presenting this film, watch it in this format and not on low quality like on a Youtube, it's a difference to the overall enjoyment. So I quickly reasoned, yes it's kind of low budget but the people involved considered it more then just a cheap western. The next scene starts with violence and graphic (for the time) torture, I knew pretty fast that this would be exploitative as far as the action goes. Spoilers, I predicted to my wife when the soldiers are riding out on the mission that 90 percent would die, and I nailed it. The morality tales concern race and mixed race relationships. The Indians are presented as really ruthless and willing to be killed off in droves which seemed over the top. The arrows are shown multiple times hitting soldiers in all body parts, however they did that, it was a very effective effect. I'm guessing they played the arrow scenes in reverse. Funny blooper that I caught, Poitier is twirling his pistol and when he puts the gun back in the holster he misses the holster and has to quickly pull it back and reset it. I'm surprised that wasn't re-shot but I guess the low budget comes into play. The woman character is played by a European with a thick accent and so is the Army Officer, which lowered my suspension of belief but I guess is plausible. Poitier's role seems unnecessary since the racial morality is already being addressed with the white woman and her mixed race child, luckily, it doesn't get over the top on the morality issues to the point that it detracts from the action. I noticed only one other black soldier and he has no lines and is only seen briefly which also made me question why Poitier is the only Buffalo Soldier around. Weaver's role is schizophrenic, one scene he's a total bigot, the next scene a caring husband. For those who like character actor roles, I enjoyed seeing William Redfield, he reminds me in this movie of a character I would be like, realistic. There is a tread in there about Garner's murdered Indian wife that loosely ties it all together but there are some bad plot holes and character motivations that I didn't think were realistic. With all that said, the film is entertaining and if you are looking for some good action check it out. 7 of 10, for this unconventional western, entertaining.