Guns of Diablo (1964)

Charles Bronson is wagon master Linc Murdock, who’s jolted by a reunion with his past during an expected stop on the way West.

When a settler is injured during a river crossing, the group decides to rest a few days before continuing the trek to California.

During the respite, Linc heads to the nearby town of Devil’s Gap to stock up on supplies, taking along young Jamie McPheeters (Kurt Russell).

Once in town, Linc finds former lover Maria (Susan Oliver) — a woman he thought was dead — now married and working in a saloon.

Years early, Linc was working as a cowhand when he drifted upon the Macklin ranch, run by elderly Ray Macklin (Morris Ankrum) and his three rowdy sons.

Maria and her father were there too, working on the ranch. Linc took an immediate liking to the dark-haired beauty.

The attraction was mutual. Problem was, Maria had already been promised to Ray’s oldest son Rance (Jan Merlin).

On the night Linc planned to leave the ranch and take Maria with him, they were ambushed by the Macklin brothers.

In the shootout that ensued, Maria was accidentally shot. Two of the Macklin brothers were wounded. Thinking Maria dead, Linc rode off.

Now Linc’s hoping to rekindle a love he thought was lost. Or at least rescue Maria from Rance.

Seems he lost his right arm to the wound suffered that night. And he’s been a hateful, angry man ever since.

He’s also eager to get even with Linc.

Charles Bronson as Linc Murdock, looking for a drink and finding lovely Maria in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Susan Oliver as Maria, spotting a young cowboy approaching on foot in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Review:

This is actually a movie culled from the TV show “The Travels of Jamie McPheeters,” which ran for 26 episodes in 1963-64 when star Kurt Russell would have been about 12 years old.

Here, Jamie accompanies Linc to Devil’s Gap, befriends a sickly old man who lives in the hotel where Maria works and tries his best to help Linc once he runs afoul of the Macklin brothers.

But the focus of the film is clearly on Bronson, complete with an extensive flashback sequence telling the story of how he met Maria and made an enemy of Rance Macklin.

All in all, it’s better than average for a telefilm, especially one pulled from a TV series. And Susan Oliver, a blue-eyed blonde in real life, looks especially lovely in the flashback sequences.

Kurt Russell as Jamie McPheeters, the youngster who accompanies Linc to town in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Douglas Fowley as Mr. Knudson, the eccentric old-timer Jamie befriends in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Directed by:
Boris Segal

Cast:
Charles Bronson … Linc Murdock
Susan Oliver … Maria Macklin
Kurt Russell … Jamie McPheeters
Jan Merlin … Rance Macklin
John Fiedler … Ives
Douglas Fowley … Mr. Knudsen
Rayford Barnes … Dan Macklin
Ron Hagerthy … Carey Macklin
Robert Carricart … Mendez
Morris Ankrum … Ray Macklin
Russ Conway … Dr. McPheeters
Maurice Wells … Girard
Mike De Anda … Bryce
Susan Flannery … Molly

Runtime: 91 min.

Jan Merlin as Rance Macklin, eager to strike back against the man who cost him his right arm in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Ron Hagerthy as Carey Macklin, ready to defend his brother Rance in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Memorable lines:

Ray Macklin, as Linc prepares to leave his job on the ranch: “It’s just too bad it had to work out this way.”
Linc Murdock: “Well, a man can’t go against his own sons.”

Ray Macklin: “I just happen to be selfish enough to want her for Rance. He needs her.”
Linc Murdock: “Her father needs her. Your son needs her. Everybody needs her. Anyboy ever think about what she might need?”

Charles Bronson as Linc Murdock, finding a woman he thought was dead in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Morris Ankrum as Ray Macklin, owner of the ranch and father of three rowdy sons in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Rayford Barnes as Dan Macklin, one of the trio of brothers in Guns of Diablo (1964)

Charles Bronson as Linc Murdock and Susan Oliver as Maria, dreaming of a future together in Guns of Diablo (1964)