"Duel At Diablo" had me thinking about Sidney Poitier's role, and I'd love to hear his reason for taking the assignment. Considering his appearance in one of my favorite films, "In The Heat Of The Night", a classic study of racism and cultural fear, I wondered how he reconciled the role of a former black military officer helping the cavalry protect a supply wagon through Apache territory, with all the attendant characterizations of the red man as a hostile, savage brute. But Toller (Poitier) did have character, as demonstrated by the apology to Remsberg (James Garner) after learning of his wife's fate, that was an excellent scene.

Dennis Weaver surprised me with his portrayal of Will Grange, showing a range of ability that far surpasses my singular impression of him as Matt Dillon's deputy, Chester Goode. He figures in somewhat of a story twist when it's revealed that he had a hand in the death of Remsberg's wife. The showdown you were expecting for the entire film managed to play out in a manner that kept Garner's character honorable, even if revenge was served. It was an effective way to handle the conflict.

You know, I'm surprised that an obvious continuity issue hasn't been noted yet regarding the picture. When Remsberg leaves the soldiers for Fort Concho, he's riding a gray horse across the desert, but in the scene when the horse collapses from heat exhaustion, it's brown. A similar error occurs in the Western "Comanche Blanco" near the finale when William Shatner's horse changes color. It makes me wonder why film makers, or even the principal actor, can't remember how the scene started out so it can be finished without an obviously conflicting ending. They must have other things on their mind.

At least it was gratifying to see that mathematical accountability came into play regarding the strength of both the Indian band and the cavalry. As the soldier forces dwindled, references were made to that effect, and you had a sense of the attrition. Contrast that with other Westerns where it often seems like one side or the other winds up with just as many men as they started with.

You know, it wouldn't have taken much to turn this one into a John Ford/John Wayne cavalry Western. Most of the elements were there except the peaks of Monument Valley and a romantic interest for the leading man. Still, the inclusion of Ellen Grange (Bibi Anderson) as a conflicted white woman with an Apache baby added another layer of intensity to a film already chock full of angst driven characters. You knew she would make it to the end of the story, the question being, at what price.

James Garner leaves behind his usual likable rogue that he normally plays for a role in Duel at Diablo as a grim and vengeful scout for the Army who's been told by Lieutenant Bill Travers and graphically shown that his Apache wife has been killed. If he goes on a mission scouting for Travers delivering ammunition and green troops to another fort, he'll meet up with the man who had the scalp, the marshal there, John Crawford.

Garner's not the only who's lived in both the white and Indian world. He rescues Bibi Andersson who's been held captive by the Indians and when he brings her back to her husband, Dennis Weaver, he's not exactly happy to see her. Decent white women were to do the honorable thing back in the day and commit suicide before being defiled by an Indian. Andersson's not welcome back in the white world.

In the end nearly the whole cast is in a desperate battle for their lives against Apaches who have jumped the reservation. Also in the battle is former buffalo soldier Sidney Poitier. And with a whole lot of green troops in the battle, Poitier being around comes in mighty handy.

Duel At Diablo is not a western for the squeamish, it gets pretty graphic at times. The themes that were explored in such films as The Searchers, Trooper Hook, and Two Rode Together are really explored far more here. There's also a little bit of Stagecoach in Duel At Diablo with Garner like John Wayne on a vengeance quest against the people who murdered his family.

Sidney Poitier's part is interesting in that there really is no racial reference as far as his blackness is concerned. In fact Poitier having been in the army and fought the Apaches has just about the same attitudes towards them as the white characters do.

This is a good western, maybe a great one, but not one for the faint hearted.

Lieutenant McAllister (Bill Travers) is ordered to transport ammunition through Apache territory with only a small troop of rookie soldiers to guard them. Along for the ride is ex-scout Jess Remsberg (James Garner) who is trying to track down Ellen Grange (Bibi Andersson) who keeps running off to the Apache and away from her husband Willard Grange (Dennis Weaver). Also there is Toller (Sidney Poitier) who is breaking in the soldier's wild horses.

This is rough and tumble old fashioned western. The men are tough, and the Apaches are tougher. The landscape is even harder. All the characters are stock characters. The good news is that they are played by some of the best actors of all times.