Spoiler Alert
Not a film which imediately springs to mind as mind as a classic, but IMO Dual At Diablo is exactly that. I''ve heard some say James Carner wasn't a great film actor, but a tv one with Maverick and Rockford to his credit. However, this great western along with other roles proved Garner was a great film actor, playing a widower of a mudered Indian woman, who helps rescue an escaped Indian captive Bibi Anderson and her young child, born to the chief who held her prisoner. Denis Weaver also stars as Anderson's bigoted husband, who it turns out also killed Garner's wife. In the end Weaver dies leaving Anderson free to marry Garner.
The film also has 2 other great performances from Sidney Poitier as an ex soldier and Brit actor Bill Travers as army Officer Scotty MaCallister. It says a lot for Bill as an actor for many yrs as a Scotsman, due to his role in this film, Geordie and The Bridal Path where he played Scots, whereas he was born in England
Dual At Diablo
Re: Dual At Diablo
Don't be listening to those who demean Garner's acting abilities.
He had his limitations like most big stars but when he was in his wheelhouse he shined in films like
The Great Escape (1963), The Wheeler Dealers (1963), The Americanization of Emily (1964),
Support Your Local Sheriff (1969) and Skin Game (1971) to name a few.
The funny thing was that his amiable wise-cracking personae that brought him TV fame translated
well to the big screen but was usually confined to his comedies. For the many dramas that he made
he generally played a sullen, slightly tortured soul, as in Duel At Diablo. He is a fine enough actor
to pull off these roles but regardless it becomes off-setting at times to see Jim Garner all cranky and
monosyllabic.
Gary j.
He had his limitations like most big stars but when he was in his wheelhouse he shined in films like
The Great Escape (1963), The Wheeler Dealers (1963), The Americanization of Emily (1964),
Support Your Local Sheriff (1969) and Skin Game (1971) to name a few.
The funny thing was that his amiable wise-cracking personae that brought him TV fame translated
well to the big screen but was usually confined to his comedies. For the many dramas that he made
he generally played a sullen, slightly tortured soul, as in Duel At Diablo. He is a fine enough actor
to pull off these roles but regardless it becomes off-setting at times to see Jim Garner all cranky and
monosyllabic.
Gary j.