Duel at Diablo (1966)

Director:

Ralph Nelson

Writers:

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

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:

Baby | Arrow Wound | Ambush | Cavalry | Shot In The Back

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)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Armand Alzamora	...	Ramirez (uncredited)
Ralph Bahnsen	...	Trooper Nyles (uncredited)
Jeff Cooper	...	Trooper Casey (uncredited)
Kevin Coughlin	...	Norton (uncredited)
Robert Crawford Jr.	...	Trooper Swenson - Bugler (uncredited)
John Daheim	...	Stableman at Fort Creel (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	...	Wagon driver #1 (uncredited)
Joe Finnegan	...	Wagon driver #2 (uncredited)
Richard Lapp	...	Forbes (uncredited)
Dawn Little Sky	...	Chata's wife (uncredited)
J.R. Randall	...	Crowley (uncredited)
Jay Ripley	...	Tech (uncredited)
Phil Schumacher	...	Burly soldier (uncredited)
Al Wyatt Sr.	...	Miner (uncredited)

Directed by
Ralph Nelson

Writing credits
Marvin H. Albert		(novel "Apache Rising")
Marvin H. Albert		(screenplay) and
Michael M. Grilikhes		(screenplay)

Produced by
Fred Engel	....	producer
Ralph Nelson	....	producer

Original Music by
Neal Hefti

Cinematography by
Charles F. Wheeler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Fredric Steinkamp

Art Direction by
Alfred Ybarra		(as Alfred C. Ybarra)

Set Decoration by
Victor A. Gangelin		(as Victor Gangelin)

Makeup Department
Gustaf Norin	....	makeup artist (as Gustav M. Norin)

Production Management
J. Paul Popkin	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Phil Cook	....	assistant director (as Philip N. Cook)
Emmett Emerson	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Jerry Whittington	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Roydon Clark	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Daheim	....	stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth	....	stunts (uncredited)
Joe Finnegan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bill Hart	....	stunts (uncredited)
Leroy Johnson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan	....	assistant stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Glenn Randall Jr.	....	stunts (uncredited)
Phil Schumacher	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bobby Somers	....	stunt double (uncredited)
Neil Summers	....	stunts (uncredited)
Rodd Wolff	....	stunts (uncredited)
Al Wyatt Sr.	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eddie Armand	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Allan Jacobs	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Richard Carruth	....	music editor

Other crew
Al Wyatt Sr.	....	assistant to director (as Allan Wyatt)

Production Companies

• Cherokee Productions (as A Nelson-Engel-Cherokee Productions)
• Rainbow Releasing (uncredited)

Distributors

• United Artists (1966) (USA) (theatrical) (as A United Artists Release)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (USA) (VHS)
• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1969) (USA) (TV) (original airing)

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:

Lt. Scotty McAllister: You were a pretty good sergeant once, Toller, but now you're just another money grubbing civilian.
Toller: You used to be a pretty good sergeant yourself, McAllister, but now you're just a... rank officer.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Carrie (1976)

Intense Western, Not for the Squeamish

The first & more watchable of 2 intense Westerns from Ralph Nelson, "Diablo" is one of the starkest examples of the tough, realistic Westerns that became popular in the late 1950s. Professional scout Remsberg (Garner) is out for vengeance on the "civilized" men who butchered his Comanche wife. His quest is interrupted when he's tasked to accompany an Army ammo convoy led by ambitious Lt. McAllister (Travers). Along for the ride are wrangler & ex-sergeant Toller (Poitier), shopkeeper's wife Ellen (Andersson), a former captive of the Apache who's regarded with disgust by her white neighbors, and her embittered husband (Weaver). They're intercepted by a large war party of the same Apaches who once held Ellen captive. As with films of this kind from "The Last Wagon" to "Ulzana's Raid," the male lead is a white man who understands the plight of the Indians, sympathizes with them but nevertheless works for the whites. There's nary a letup in the darkness & intensity. Ellen, the tortured, exploited victim of both sides, is no love interest, while the only humor in the film comes in occasional rueful exchanges among the tough guys. But there's plenty of action in scenes as well-done as any of the period & budget. What makes "Diablo" stand out is the clever, seamless depiction of the strategy as the ambushed convoy spars with the wily, ruthless Apache. It's far more engrossing than almost any war movie, including those with budgets many times larger. Andersson doesn't have much to work with but Garner & Poitier play their tough guys with just the right balance between expression & terseness. Weaver makes the most of his limited opportunity to develop the selfish husband who feels sorrier for himself than his wife over her horrifying torment. "Diablo" delivers action & adventure that never lags, along with a strong dose of historical-social awareness, but it's not the ticket for a light evening's entertainment. Director Nelson plays the colonel commanding the relief force.