"Gun Brothers" director Sidney Salkow's "Gun Duel in Durango" qualifies as a routine but entertaining horse opera about a notorious bank robber who reforms. Later, he makes himself a credit to his community. Although this swiftly-paced, little sagebrusher boasts few surprises, Salkow and scenarist Stevens don't deviate from the formula. While it relies ostensibly on clichés, Salkow delivers a sturdy oater. The production values look good enough.
George Montgomery plays two-gun packing desperado Will Sabre in "Gun Duel in Durango ". Initially, like the typical western villain of the 1950s, Sabre wears black from his Stetson to his boots. The first time we see him, Sabre is on the lam, fleeing from Kansas into Texas with his former gang in hot pursuit. Jake Dunsten (Steve Brodie of "White Heat") has taken over leadership of the gang. While the gang watches, Dunsten pays a harmless old-timer the sum of $20 for information regarding Sabre's whereabouts. Afterward, the trigger-happy Dunsten shoots the old guy twice in the back. The gang don't approve of Dunsten's cold-blooded murder. Nevertheless, Dunsten defends his deed! He argues the old timer could have identified them to the Texas Rangers. Meantime, Sabre stays ahead of Jake and the gang. Our hero stumbles onto a covered wagon with a corpse inside it and a destitute adolescent, Robbie Donovan (Bobby Clark of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"), armed with a repeating rifle. Robbie has carved a six-foot grave out for dead father. Sabre conceals himself in the open grave with Robbie so he can get the drop on Dunsten and his old gang. An irate Dunsten gives Will 30 days to rejoin them, and then the gang skedaddles. Hiding in the grave is symbolic for Will because it implies death and rebirth. Will is no longer the same man. Earlier, Sabre had rubbed his initials off the grips of his six-shooters on some rocks. Now, he decides to masquerade as the youth's uncle. Robbie agrees to countenance Sabre's deception. Not long after Jake's gang rides off, Texas Rangers gallop up and ask Will about the gang. Will refuses to inform on his old cronies much to Robbie's chagrin.
After the Rangers depart, they ride smack into an ambush. Jake's second-in-command, Larry (Don 'Red' Barry of "Shalako"), isn't elated with Jakes decision to lay in wait for the lawmen. They wound a couple before Sabre shows up.When Robbie and Will pull into Durango, Will has shed his six-guns and adopted a different name. Now, he calls himself Dan Tomlinson, but the local lawman, Sheriff Howard (Frank Ferguson of "Johnny Guitar") has some suspicions about him. Meantime, Will convinces the manager of a local bank to hire him as a cashier, since he used to work in a gambling hall. When he isn't counting money at the bank, Dan spends his time out at a nearby ranch run by Judy Ollivant (Ann Robinson of "The War of the Worlds"), who knows Sabre because he used to work with him. Robbie has a difficult time getting used to being at the ranch. At one point, he takes a horse and tries to ride away. Robbie's horse stumbles and throws him. Reluctantly, Robbie gives in and agrees to stay at Judy's ranch and attend classes in Durango. Eventually, Jake learns about Sabre's masquerade in the bank and he abducts Robbie so he can force Will to help him. Predictably, Sabre has to open the vault and lets the gang steal the loot in the dead of night. Once he gets Robbie back, Will wants to go after Jake and the gang. Sheriff Howard tries to prevent him from going, but Will refuses to be thwarted in his aim. Our hero infiltrates Jake's hide-out and prompts a showdown with Jake. The despicable Jake seizes Larry and uses him as a shield when Will surprises them. Will has climbed atop their hide-out, and he opens fire on them, killing Larry as Jake stands behind him. Will wounds Jake and takes him into town. The Governor hears about Will's conduct and provides him with a pardon.
For the record, Stevens wrote 49 screenplays, and several were westerns, including "The Texas Rangers," "Border Legion," "Massacre River," "Colorado," "Horizons West," and "The Cimarron Kid." Furthermore, Stevens contributed material to the Bela Lugosi classic "Dracula." Montgomery makes a stalwart hero, while Steve Brodie is a genuine villain. "Gun Duel in Durango" draws its title from a shoot-out that occurs when Jake's gang makes their first attempt to rob the bank. Comparatively, "Gun Duel in Durango" isn't as good as either "Black Patch" or "Masterson of Kansas."
George Montgomery plays two-gun packing desperado Will Sabre in "Gun Duel in Durango ". Initially, like the typical western villain of the 1950s, Sabre wears black from his Stetson to his boots. The first time we see him, Sabre is on the lam, fleeing from Kansas into Texas with his former gang in hot pursuit. Jake Dunsten (Steve Brodie of "White Heat") has taken over leadership of the gang. While the gang watches, Dunsten pays a harmless old-timer the sum of $20 for information regarding Sabre's whereabouts. Afterward, the trigger-happy Dunsten shoots the old guy twice in the back. The gang don't approve of Dunsten's cold-blooded murder. Nevertheless, Dunsten defends his deed! He argues the old timer could have identified them to the Texas Rangers. Meantime, Sabre stays ahead of Jake and the gang. Our hero stumbles onto a covered wagon with a corpse inside it and a destitute adolescent, Robbie Donovan (Bobby Clark of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"), armed with a repeating rifle. Robbie has carved a six-foot grave out for dead father. Sabre conceals himself in the open grave with Robbie so he can get the drop on Dunsten and his old gang. An irate Dunsten gives Will 30 days to rejoin them, and then the gang skedaddles. Hiding in the grave is symbolic for Will because it implies death and rebirth. Will is no longer the same man. Earlier, Sabre had rubbed his initials off the grips of his six-shooters on some rocks. Now, he decides to masquerade as the youth's uncle. Robbie agrees to countenance Sabre's deception. Not long after Jake's gang rides off, Texas Rangers gallop up and ask Will about the gang. Will refuses to inform on his old cronies much to Robbie's chagrin.
After the Rangers depart, they ride smack into an ambush. Jake's second-in-command, Larry (Don 'Red' Barry of "Shalako"), isn't elated with Jakes decision to lay in wait for the lawmen. They wound a couple before Sabre shows up.When Robbie and Will pull into Durango, Will has shed his six-guns and adopted a different name. Now, he calls himself Dan Tomlinson, but the local lawman, Sheriff Howard (Frank Ferguson of "Johnny Guitar") has some suspicions about him. Meantime, Will convinces the manager of a local bank to hire him as a cashier, since he used to work in a gambling hall. When he isn't counting money at the bank, Dan spends his time out at a nearby ranch run by Judy Ollivant (Ann Robinson of "The War of the Worlds"), who knows Sabre because he used to work with him. Robbie has a difficult time getting used to being at the ranch. At one point, he takes a horse and tries to ride away. Robbie's horse stumbles and throws him. Reluctantly, Robbie gives in and agrees to stay at Judy's ranch and attend classes in Durango. Eventually, Jake learns about Sabre's masquerade in the bank and he abducts Robbie so he can force Will to help him. Predictably, Sabre has to open the vault and lets the gang steal the loot in the dead of night. Once he gets Robbie back, Will wants to go after Jake and the gang. Sheriff Howard tries to prevent him from going, but Will refuses to be thwarted in his aim. Our hero infiltrates Jake's hide-out and prompts a showdown with Jake. The despicable Jake seizes Larry and uses him as a shield when Will surprises them. Will has climbed atop their hide-out, and he opens fire on them, killing Larry as Jake stands behind him. Will wounds Jake and takes him into town. The Governor hears about Will's conduct and provides him with a pardon.
For the record, Stevens wrote 49 screenplays, and several were westerns, including "The Texas Rangers," "Border Legion," "Massacre River," "Colorado," "Horizons West," and "The Cimarron Kid." Furthermore, Stevens contributed material to the Bela Lugosi classic "Dracula." Montgomery makes a stalwart hero, while Steve Brodie is a genuine villain. "Gun Duel in Durango" draws its title from a shoot-out that occurs when Jake's gang makes their first attempt to rob the bank. Comparatively, "Gun Duel in Durango" isn't as good as either "Black Patch" or "Masterson of Kansas."