Ben Larson
I spent a lot of my formative years in Arkansas, and I may have even went diamond hunting - I can't recall. The civil war soldiers in this film go hunting for diamonds in Arkansas.The film sports numerous names. Some variation of Demon, Shadow, Thunder, or Diamon Mountain, or something indicating the presence of the Chikara.Captain Wishbone Cutter (Joe Don Baker) of The First Arkansas Calvary returns from the war to find a Yankee Major (Bud Davis) living with his wife (Linda Dano). So he heads off looking for the diamonds some dying soldier told him about.Along the way they find Drusilla (Oscar nominee Sandra Locke, in-between The Outlaw Josey Wales and The Gauntlet). Now, I thought this may be a gay film as they spent time discussing whether to take Drusilla along or leave her behind. Since Locke was listed as one of the top sex stars of 1969 by Playboy magazine, I found this discussion puzzling.Well, they head to the cursed mountain, and they find diamonds along with the curse - too bad.
classicsoncall
I saw this picture under the title "Curse of Demon Mountain', and it fits as well as any of the other multiple titles this one goes by. All the while I'm watching I get the impression it's a fairly adequate mystical Western with unseen enemies thwarting Captain Wishbone Cutter's (Joe Don Baker) quest to cash in on a fellow soldier's dying rant about valuable stones hidden somewhere up on the Buffalo River. If nothing else, the film would have hooked me with it's early inclusion of The Band's 'The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down', but as I sit here and think about the story's conclusion, I'm riveted by the ending that insinuates Sondra Locke's character as the mystical force that destroys the diamond hunting trio. What I'm left to contemplate is how a modern update of the picture with today's camera work and special effects could really take it from it's B film origins and vault it into a major A-list horror Western. You wouldn't even have to change the script all that much, just eliminate the confounding jump cuts and patches of missing dialog. Get the PETA folks on board with an adequate handling of the way those horses go over the cliff and you've got a winner. You know, I'm getting excited just thinking about it.
merklekranz
The tape I ordered was to be 114 minutes and titled "Curse of Demon Mountain". The tape I received was 90 minutes, words were bleeped, it was recorded in EP mode, and the title was "Diamond Mountain". Now for the bad news. The quality of this tape is basically unwatchable. It's not the first disappointment I've had with this film. I previously ordered a DVD, which proved to have no audio. Maybe the movie really is cursed? From what I can gather, it is a very different kind of western. If you wish to see it, you might want to double check what you are getting before committing to buy, as I know I will if I decide to give this a third try...... Update. I finally was able to purchase a watchable DVD copy. Still bleeped, and of poor quality, but nevertheless watchable. "Curse of Demon Mountain" is a movie that has a lot of wasted potential. It's a shame, because the story is intriguing, but the acting, editing, and lack of a quality print drags it down. - MERK
HumanoidOfFlesh
After the battle in American Civil War the dying Virgil Cane tells Confederate officer Wishbone Cutter about diamonds hidden in a cave along the Buffalo River.Coming back Cutter finds his wife and her new husband.After violent fight he sets out with his Irish-Cherokee companion Half-Moon O'Brian and geologist Amos Richmond to find the diamonds.Along the journey they meet a young woman Drusilla Wilcox in a nearly catatonic state and take her with them.As they head up into the mountain Half-Moon realizes that it is the Mountain of Demons,which is cursed by the spirit of Chikara who promised to kill all who ventured into its domain."The Spirit of Chikara" is an interesting mix of ugly western and eerie horror.The acting is believable and the climax is very surprising.The scene of two horses falling down from the slope is shocking and unsettling.8 out of 10.
AD
