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Memorable, crazy movie

Fantastic!

Absolutely the worst movie.

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

Natives of the continent now known as North America had to get guns somewhere, and it took the white man to see that they got them. Trading with the "Indians" didn't bring cash, but other products or sources of food that the white man wanted. Other white men came in, stealing land and other goods, and as civilized society moved west, it was accompanied by a lust for blood. In this western, the conflict between the Apaches and European immigrants turned more violent. James Garner, finding out that his Comanche wife has been scalped, helps out the Swedish Bibi Anderson who became the mistress of an Apache warrior after being separated by arrogant husband Dennis Weaver. With the war between the Apaches and army growing, the transfer of weapons to other troops becomes a struggle it itself with the Indians on their trail, and the battle for survival begins.Enjoyable as a film but disturbing as reflection of our history, this leaves me with mixed emotions. The presence of Sidney Poitier as a well dressed black man involved in the transfer of weapons is simply star status added to the film because his character has no real impact on the plot line other than to seem to keep pulling Garner out of scrapes. British Bill Travets ("Born Free") is an odd casting choice as the leader of this mission. Beautifully filmed on Utah locations, thus must have been stunning on the big screen. The canyons are majestic and the country side truly cinematic. A tense moment occurs as arrow attacks by an unseen enemy begins to blur the soldier's vision because of the hot, bright sun. If this is one of the films that made Brando take notice of the mistreatment of native Americans in films and protest by turning down an Oscar, I would not be too surprised. It never explains why the Apaches were so bloody, only treating them continuously like savages.

"Duel at Diablo" is a gritty, realistic, top-notch Western directed by Ralph Nelson and released in 1966. James Garner stars as the independent scout. Garner is, of course, the quintessential Westerner, and this is his best Western role, in my opinion, more serious than Maverick. Sidney Poitier plays a man contracted by the US Army to break-in horses. Although a black man, he's not at all out-of-place in this yarn (it was apparently a new concept at the time to prominently feature black people in Westerns).Dennis Weaver is also on hand as the made-out-to-be-unlikable merchant who ultimately gets his comeuppance (but who can blame him for how he felt?); Bibi Andersson plays his adulterous wife; and Bill Travers is excellent as the Army commander.Aside from the excellent cast "Duel" is highlighted by magnificent Southern Utah locations and a phenomenal score by Neal Hefti. Some describe this score as offbeat; I suppose it is, but it somehow fits the Western genre. From what other reviewers say it's obviously a love-it-or-hate-it piece. I happen to love it; in fact, I feel it ranks up there with the best cinematic scores. Interestingly, Jerry Goldsmith ripped-off the basic melody of Hefti's composition for his equally-excellent score for "Bandelero!" two years later.The opening and ending sequences with Hefti's great score are memorable and moving. This is great filmmaking.You'll note that Poitier's character and the Army commander are quite at odds with each other, but note how one clearly shows his respect and honor toward the other at the very end."Duel" was one of the first Westerns I was ever exposed to and is therefore the standard by which I judge other Westerns. Because of this I naturally expect gritty realism and objectivity in any Western I view. This explains why I turned "Hondo" off at the 20 minute mark because of its artificial depiction of the Native American. It also explains why I scoff at the goofiness of so many spaghetti Westerns and am bored by their unrealistic, un-captivating story lines. (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the entrancing score to "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly;" it's just that the story itself puts you to sleep)."Duel" also stands the test of TIME. Seeing it today, it's hardly aged at all. Compare this to, say, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and "The Searchers," classics that haven't aged very well.My overall grade for "Duel at Diablo" is A-. Although the first and last acts are strong and compelling, the second act is weak and uninteresting despite the fact that it has lots of Cavalry v.s. Indians action. Regardless, "Duel" ranks up there with the all-time best Westerns like "One-Eyed Jacks," "The Outlaw Josey Wales," "Wyatt Earp," "Nevada Smith," True Grit," "Jubal," "Dances With Wolves," "Purgatory," "Shane/Pale Rider" (essentially the same story), "Bandelero!," "Unforgiven," "MacKenna's Gold" and "3:10 to Yuma." GRADE: B+ or A-

Interesting casting is just one of the assets of this lightning paced, socially relevant Western that features some exhilarating action scenes certain to make the viewer sit up and pay attention.An unlikely bunch of protagonists band together as the Cavalry takes on a mission to deliver some new recruits to a far away fort, while Apache forces are growing very aggressive. James Garner is the scout determined to find out who violated and butchered his Apache wife, Sidney Poitier is the former officer turned gambler roped into coming along, and Bill Travers is the stoic Cavalry lieutenant supervising the mission.It's great fun to see Mr. Poitier in this kind of setting, and he handles his role with his standard dignity and smoothness, while Garner is likable and charismatic as always, and Travers does well as a basically good man who knows the odds are stacked against his men. The supporting cast is equally impressive: beautiful Bibi Andersson is Ellen, the wife of bigoted trader Willard Grange (Dennis Weaver), who has her own compelling subplot: she'd once been kidnapped by Apaches, and bore one of the tribe a son, to whom she tries to return, especially as Willard and other townspeople insist on giving her the cold shoulder. Also appearing are William Redfield as Sgt. Ferguson, Bill Hart as Cpl. Harrington, and John Crawford as Clay Dean. Director Ralph Nelson (who'd previously directed Poitier towards a Best Actor Oscar win for "Lilies of the Field") appears on screen as Col. Foster, using the pseudonym of "Alf Elson", and Richard Farnsworth has an uncredited bit as a wagon driver.Viewers can take note than even while these Indians are portrayed as the antagonists, we can still feel sympathy for the way they are treated, the same way we feel sympathy towards Ellen. Filmed in Southern Utah, this is an absolutely gorgeous film, extremely well shot by Charles F. Wheeler, and given a nicely rousing score by Neal Hefti. Smart and fun at the same time, "Duel at Diablo" does not have one dull moment to speak of, delivering one huge set piece around the midway point and two concurrent showdowns for the big finish. Highly recommended to action and Western fans.Eight out of 10.

Strong portrayals by Bibi Andersson, as Ellen Grange, and James Gardner work here with skillful director Ralph Nelson to create a well acted, beautifully photographed, entertaining Western, even though some mannered performances by other actors as such Sidney Poitier distract from the natural feel Andersson and Gardner bring to the effort.Utah locations are classic aspects of carefully imitated Western icons and tropes exploited to create a fifties look to this lovely film. If the icons seem clichés, they are formulae exploited to create standard entertainment. They do not develop the genre; they simply exploit it, perhaps, with some effectiveness. Counting the codes becomes part of the entertainment—does the film miss any one of them? However, watching Bibi Andersson in any film treats the viewer. Further, I doubt that James Gardner can make a bad movie. Dennis Weaver is perfect as he always is.