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| “ | Well, God may be on our side; thanks to this here gentleman. Avram, this is my brother, Matthew Diggs. | „ |
| ~ Darryl Diggs introducing his brother, Matthew Diggs to Rabbi Avram Belinski. |
| “ | Well, don't just stare at me! You ain't gonna get away with it like that! Draw, ya stinkin' coward! | „ |
| ~ Matt Diggs challenging Avram to a duel. |
The Diggs Brothers: Matthew and Darryl are the primary antagonists of the 1979 American Western comedy film, The Frisco Kid. Along with their partner, Mr. Jones, they are a couple of con men who con and take advantage of people; especially, foreigners by any means necessary.
They were portrayed by the late William Smith and late George Ralph DiCenzo respectively.
Personality[]
While Darryl tends to be a bit childish and somewhat dim, Matthew appears to be more intelligent, which qualifies him as the leader of the group despite the fact that he's the eldest as well.
However, like their partner, Mr. Jones, both brothers can prove to be very violent, brutish, impatient, sadistic, ruthless, bloodthirsty, proud, cruel, aggressive, intimidating, temperamental, remorseless, and trigger-happy. Their habit of conning and taking advantage of foreigners makes them more cunning, scheming, and strategic. Their recent actions involving pleasurably abusing, robbing, or trying to kill foreigners including religious people like a Rabbi named Avram even when Darryl, for one, tries burning the latter's Torah render them more racial and sacrilegious than ever.
Biography[]
In Philadelphia, one of the Diggs brothers, Darryl tries to get to San Francisco by boat for supposedly visiting both his and his brother, Matthew alias Matt's sick and dying mother since they already supposedly sold their horses and wagon to get boat tickets and are completely broke now, but the boat is already gone since yesterday due to the recent gold rush. Realizing that one of the passengers, Rabbi Avram Belinski having arrived from Poland in order to become the congregation of San Francisco's new Rabbi betrothed to someone's daughter, Sarah Mindl Bender, is an innocent, trusting, yet, naive, and inexperienced traveler with enough money to pay for horses, supplies, and a wagon, Darryl introduces Avram to his brother, Matt and their partner, Mr. Jones who decide to trick him into helping pay for everything to go west to San Francisco.
On their way, when taking a "shortcut" on the road, Matt and Darryl wait for Mr. Jones, hiding behind a tree, to show up and make his move on Avram. Once in sight and after Mr. Jones has snuck in from behind, both Matt and; especially, Darryl watch with sadistic amusement as their partner begins to brutally beat Avram up while robbing him of his remaining $200 and Mezuzah necklace before throwing and leaving him and most of his belongings: suitcase, clothes, and the Torah scattered along the deserted road in Pennsylvania.
A few months later, the Diggs brothers and Mr. Jones enjoy some gambling at a casino in a small town not too far from San Francisco, only to find themselves confronted by Avram once again, having made it alive and well with the help of a bank/train robber with a soft heart named Tommy Lillard he befriended on the way. After Avram takes back his Mezuzah necklace they had stolen from him, Matt is restrained momentarily by Mr. Jones to avoid any confrontation. Then, when Avram demands his stolen money back, the Diggs brothers and Mr. Jones refuse to pay and get into a fight with him. After Avram has taken another brutal beating, Darryl and Mr. Jones help Matt place Avram on the bar where the latter intends to smash his face with a beer barrel once and for all. Luckily, Avram is rescued by Tommy, who holds both the Diggs brothers and Mr. Jones at gunpoint after shooting and emptying the beer barrel clean. After Mr. Jones fails to shoot back at Tommy, both the Diggs brothers and Mr. Jones are forced to give back what they had stolen from Avram and more besides before Tommy runs them out of town.
A few days later, the Diggs brothers and Mr. Jones ambush Avram and Tommy on the beach after a good bath. In order to get his attention and come out of the clear open, Darryl deliberately throws Avram's Torah into the fire before the trio start firing at the duo. During the ensuing gun fight, Matt is grazed on the head before fleeing the scene and Mr. Jones is shot dead on the forehead by Tommy whereas Darryl wounds Tommy before running out of bullets. Thinking that Avram won't shoot against his principles when hesitating to shoot even after saving his Torah from the fire, Darryl uses this to his advantage and tries to reach for the late Mr. Jones's gun, but is eventually shot dead in the chest by Avram in self-defense. Angered by his brother's death, Matt vows vengeance on Avram.
Having followed the duo all the way to San Francisco, Matt is caught by Tommy spying on them through a saloon window and knocks the latter out when trying to find and stop him before challenging Avram to a duel outside under threat of shooting innocent people should the latter refuse to cooperate as he reveals the latter's involvement in his brother's murder to everyone in town.
During the duel, Matt gives Avram the same gun he used to kill his brother with, but when Avram refuses to draw even when Matt angrily demands it, the former threatens to shoot then bash him on the head, both of which he fails to do after Avram tricks him into disarming himself and holds him at gunpoint. When Tommy returns to help Avram out after recovering from his injuries and constantly stops Matt from recovering his gun, Matt tells him to stay out of it and claims that he has a right to duel against Avram in order to avenge his brother's death, but Tommy further justifies the reason for Avram murdering his brother on that day in front of everyone. Luckily, regaining his composure and his faith despite earlier doubts due to having killed a man (Darryl) and chosen to save his Torah over his best friend, Tommy, Avram shows his wisdom and courage in front of the entire community by disarming and exiling Matt from San Francisco under threat of death should he ever return to cause trouble again with a little help from Tommy and the rest of the community.
With Matt gone for good, Avram is free to resume life in San Francisco as the new Rabbi and marry his original betrothed's younger sister, Rosalie Bender instead with Tommy serving as his best man at his wedding.
Trivia[]
- Unlike his brother and Mr. Jones, Matt Diggs's fate remains unknown after his exile from San Francisco.