Duel (1971) (TV)

Director:

Steven Spielberg

Writers:

Richard Matheson (screenplay)
Richard Matheson (story)

Release Date:

13 November 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | 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
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)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Shawn Steinman	...	Girl on school bus (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Spielberg

Writing credits
Richard Matheson		(screenplay)
Richard Matheson		(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. Blydenburgh)

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
Jerry Christian	....	sound effects editor
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)
Carol Daniels	....	stunts (uncredited)
Carey Loftin	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dale Van Sickel	....	stunts (uncredited)

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

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)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1972) (non-USA) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (C.I.C.) (1973) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1973) (Finland) (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)
• Esselte Video (1980s) (Finland) (VHS)
• MCA/Universal Home Video (199?) (USA) (VHS)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1979) (1987) (2006) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Pictures (Spain) (2004) (Spain) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2004) (2009) (2011) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Universal Title  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

90 min | USA:74 min (original version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) | DTS

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG (1984) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Brazil:12 | Italy:VM14 (DVD rating) | Japan:G (2009) | UK:PG (video rating) | Australia:PG | Norway:12 | Sweden:11 | UK:AA (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Finland:K-16 (1973) | Finland:K-12 (1984)

Filming Locations:

Acton, California, USA

Company:

Universal TV

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.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mann careens into the lot across from Chuck's Cafe, we are seen an interior shot of the car, with a brief glimpse of the side of Mann's head. He is not wearing his spectacles. But when we go to the exterior of the car, he is clearing wearing them.

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 No Way Up (2005)

Soundtrack:

Brush Those Tears from Your Eyes

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")