Duel (1971) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Richard Matheson (screenplay)
Richard Matheson (short story)

Release Date:

13 November 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

A duel is about to begin between a man, a truck, and an open road. Where a simple battle of wits is now a matter of life and death.

Plot:

A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by a malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.

Plot Keywords:

Truck | Road | Truck Driver | Desert | California

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Dennis Weaver	...	David Mann
Eddie Firestone	...	Cafe Owner
Gene Dynarski	...	Man in Cafe
Tim Herbert	...	Gas Station Attendant
Charles Seel	...	Old Man
Alexander Lockwood	...	Old Man in Car
Amy Douglass	...	Old Woman in Car
Shirley O'Hara	...	Waitress
Lucille Benson	...	Lady at Snakerama
Carey Loftin	...	The Truck Driver (as Cary Loftin)
Dale Van Sickel	...	Car Driver (as Dale Van Sickle)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lou Frizzell	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Jacqueline Scott	...	Mrs. Mann (uncredited)
Shawn Steinman	...	Girl on school bus (uncredited)
Dick Whittington	...	Radio Interviewer (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Spielberg

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Richard Matheson		screenplay
Richard Matheson		short story

Produced by
George Eckstein	....	producer

Original Music by
Billy Goldenberg

Cinematography by
Jack A. Marta		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank Morriss

Art Direction by
Robert S. Smith

Set Decoration by
Sal Blydenburgh		(as S. Blydenburg)

Production Management
Wallace Worsley Jr.	....	unit production manager (as Wallace Worsley)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James Fargo	....	assistant director (as Jim Fargo)

Sound Department
Norval D. Crutcher III	....	sound editor: 2002 restoration
Edwin S. Hall	....	sound
Sam Caylor	....	sound (uncredited)
Dale Johnston	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Jack Kirschner	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Ronald LaVine	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Sid Lubow	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)
Richard Raderman	....	sound effects editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Carey Loftin	....	stunt coordinator (as Cary Loftin)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Pat Eustis	....	camera car operator (uncredited)
Sherman Kunkel	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Richard Belding	....	editorial supervisor

Music Department
Mike Deasy	....	musician (uncredited)
Hal Mooney	....	music supervisor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Alby Thomas	....	transportation coordinator (uncredited)

Other crew
James W. Gavin	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)
Junior Newman	....	mechanic (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal TV

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1971) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1972) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (C.I.C.) (1973) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Cinéma International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• K Films (1973) (France) (theatrical)
• Shochiku Company (1975) (Japan) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Succéfilm AB (1973) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1973) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (1983) (USA) (theatrical)
• CIC Victor Video (1989) (Japan) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures (Spain) (2004) (Spain) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and optical effects

Runtime:

90 min | USA:74 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG (1984) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Brazil:12 | Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | UK:PG (video rating) | Australia:PG | Norway:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Finland:S (1996) | Finland:K-16 (1973) | Finland:K-12 (1984)

Filming Locations:

Acton, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

Trivia:

The license plates on the front of the truck are from other cars the driver had destroyed and kept as trophies. Steven Spielberg said in an interview that, "The driver wanted to destroy a car in every state."

Goofs:

Continuity: During one of the first chases, Mann's seatbelt disappears and reappears between shots.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[radio playing, driving down the road, approaches the truck]
[David coughs, coughs again]
David Mann: Talk about pollution.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Holiday (2006)

Soundtrack:

Bridge (Duel)

One Helluva Ride

This film proves that television can produce a quality film. Much like Spielberg's first big theatrical hit, "Jaws", this film deals with a menace, the driver, that is pretty much unseen for most of the film. It also preys upon our fear of being caught in a desperate situation with no one around to help. Also, Dennis Weaver was perfectly cast as the unfortunate motorist that happens to be the prey of a psychotic truck driver. This definitely is a far cry from Weaver's most famous role of Marshall Sam McCloud, who was the typical hero compared to the terrified motorist he plays in this film. Too bad that we here in the United States never got a chance to see this great film in a theater like the rest of the world. This is definitely a classic suspense film.