Duel (TV 1971)

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

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Richard Matheson (screenplay), Richard Matheson (story)

Stars:

Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott, Eddie Firestone

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

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

Storyline

While traveling through the desert for an appointment with a client, the businessman David Mann from California passes a slow and old tanker truck. The psychotic truck driver feels offended and chases David along the empty highway trying to kill him.

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Plot Keywords:

truck | truck driver | desert | california | driving | 

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Taglines:

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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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Duellen

Filming Locations:

Acton, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$450,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 74 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The phone number Dennis Weaver dials to call his wife at the gas station is not the standard "555" movie prefix but, at the time, a valid number.

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Goofs

When Mann first enters the service station in Acton, his car is covered in shadow, indicating the sun is below the building to the right of his car. In the next shot the sun appears overhead as his car is covered in sunlight.

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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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Crazy Credits

A scene plays out over the credits where David Mann sits on the edge of the cliff throwing stones.

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Connections

Referenced in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

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Soundtracks

"Brush Those Tears from Your Eyes"
Written by Al Trace (as Clem Watts), Oakley Haldeman and James Lee
Published by MCA Music (ASCAP)

User Reviews

A Genius Is Born

While traveling through the desert for an appointment with a client, the businessman David Mann (Dennis Weaver) from California passes a slow and old tanker truck. The psychotic truck driver feels offended and chases David along the empty highway trying to kill him.

In the 70's, in Rio de Janeiro, most of the teenagers like me watched the impressive movie of a new and promising director called Steven Spielberg. On the beach, in school, in bars, everybody in Rio commented the story of a crazy truck driver that chases a common man in his car along the lonely roads through the desert. Thirty-six years later, I have just watched "Duel" on DVD with my son and it is fantastic to see how this movie has not aged. The tense and suspenseful story consists basically of a storyline, without development of characters, one actor, two stunts, lots of action and a magnificent work of direction and edition. One amazing detail is that all the afflictive and credible situation happens on the day light, i.e., Spielberg does not need to use the usual fear of the night to create a stunning tale of horror and fear, showing his talent of genius in his worldwide debut. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Encurralado" ("Trapped")