EL DIABLO

US, 1990, 116 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Edwards, Louis Gossett Jr, John Glover, Joe Pantoliano, Robert Beltran, M.C.Gainey, Miguel Sandoval, Sarah Trigger, Brancome Richmond.
Directed by Peter Markle.

Here is an enjoyable example of having one’s cake and eating it at the same time!

The basic plot line is familiar from many a Western, the abduction of a young woman from a town by Mexican bandit, the hero going in pursuit of her, aligning himself with gunfighters, tracking down the bandit, invading his hideout, shootouts. They are all there.

However, the plotting and the screenplay are very much tongue-in-cheek. The central hero who goes to rescue the abducted young woman is played by Anthony Edwards, a bespectacled young teacher from Boston, somewhat awkward in his manner, naive as well, a reader of the Western stories written by authors like Kid Durango. He has to learn how to fire a gun. His eyes are opened to the variety of types in the West. And yet… He teams up with a gunfighter, a black American gunfighter, played by Louis Gossett, quick on the draw, going on the quest with the teacher, instructing him, it being revealed that he is the source of so many of Kid Durango’s stories but unable to be identified as a black cowboy.

Kid Durango is played by Joe Pantoliano, an enjoyable performance, a somewhat effete long-haired type, eastern seaboard accent, with his typewriter in the West, sitting back and observing and writing the stories – though finally heroic the end.

There is a range of odd types who team up with the teacher and the gunfighter including a preacher played by John Glover. Robert Beltran is the title El Diablo.

And the screenplay was written by horror writer, John Carpenter, whose decade was the 80s with The Thing, Escape from New York. His co-screenwriter hears Tommy Lee Wallace who wrote and directed the third of the Halloween films.

1. The title? The Mexican bandit? His intervention in the town, the abduction, the confrontation?

2. Popular Western stories? The books, the legends of the West? Serious tongue-in-cheek?

3. The screenplay, contribution by John Carpenter in the light of his career and horror films? The serious plotline? The humorous, tongue-in-cheek aspects? Parody? The wit of the dialogue? Creation of characters, placing them in difficult situations, twisting the expectations?

4. The story of Billy Ray, from Boston, age, experience, proper, wearing spectacles, teaching at the school, his place in the town? His fondness for reading Kid Durango books? Getting ready for school, accompanying Nettie, the attraction, the classroom and classes?

5. The group arriving in town, El Diablo, arrogance, his men, the attack, the violence, his abducting Nettie? Billy Ray trying to stop him? Getting his spur? Carrying it is an emblem?

6. The presence of Van Leek, the black cowboy, gunfighter, his skills, manner and style? Teaming up with Billy Ray, the plan for the rescue of Nettie?

7. The character of Van Leek, his stories about his exploits? Trying to teach Billy Ray? Arriving at the town, the bar, the encounter with Truman, the discovery that he was Kid Durango? His typewriter?

8. Truman, rather effete in his manner, writing his stories, going on research, yet comfortable, friendship with Van Leek? Using his stories? Van Leek’s reaction, a white cowboy instead of a black cowboy?

9. The various encounters along the way, criminals, shootouts, the Preacher and the hangings, all joining Van Leek? The attitudes towards Billy Ray?

10. Billy Ray, his determination, yet apprehensions? The confrontations, the shootouts? His learning to shoot?

11. Into Mexico, El Diablo and his men, the shootings? Truman and his fear, saving Billy Ray, please that he was doing a noble thing?

12. Entering into the town, Nettie and her being with El Diablo, Billy Ray and his frustrations?

13. Going through the tunnel, the encounter with El Diablo, his laughing at Billy Ray? Van Leek’s arrival, the confrontation, Van Leek wounded, Billy Ray shooting El Diablo in the back? The comment about that was the way he was facing?

14. Rescuing Nettie, her return, reunited with her mother, thanks to Billy Ray? His becoming a Western hero? And his writing novels?