Overview
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Release Date:
13 November 1971 (USA)
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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.
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Plot:
A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by a malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.
full summary |
full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe.
Another 2 wins
&
2 nominations
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Crew verified as complete
Additional Details
Runtime:
90 min | USA:74 min (original version)
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1
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Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Fun Stuff
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."
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Goofs:
Continuity: During one of the first chases, Mann's seatbelt disappears and reappears between shots.
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Quotes:
[
first lines]
[
radio playing, driving down the road, approaches the truck]
[
David coughs, coughs again]
David Mann:
Talk about pollution.
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Soundtrack:
Bridge (Duel)
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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.