Duel (1971)

A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the 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 & 4 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 | mysterious villain | 1970s | nervousness | california | 

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Taglines:

You are in the driver's seat for 100 minutes of cold-sweat suspense!

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Genres:

Action | Thriller

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Did You Know?

Trivia

When writer Richard Matheson got the idea for DUEL after being hassled by a truck in real life, he wanted to make notes, but he had no paper in his friend's car, so he wrote on his personal mail. Later, while on set, he watched part of the film being made at Chuck's Cafe, Matheson thought the people inside were actual customers Spielberg was shooting around rather than professional actors.

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Goofs

When David returns from the restroom at Chuck's, he sees the truck out front, it's front wheels are cramped to the right, a bit later they are turned forward.

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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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Alternate Versions

For the German DVD release, the film was entirely redubbed.

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Connections

Referenced in Skeletons (1997)

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Hail on to the Truck driver ... truck driver FREAK!!

Steven Spielberg's first long feature film (sort of) may only just be a TV-movie, its influence, impact and entertainment value overwhelms the majority of big screen productions. The brilliance lies in the simple plot and the complete lack of background information you're denied. The film is a powerful collaboration between the superb writing skills of Richard Matheson (The Incredible Shrinking Man), the stunningly sublime cinematography by Jack Marta and the over talented vision of Steven Spielberg as a director. Duel easily is one of the ONLY movies ever made that'll keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning till end. What begins as an average day for salesman David Mann quickly turns into a merciless showdown between himself and a seemly driverless truck somewhere in a nearly forsaken countryside. The eerie shots of a giant, boisterous and filthy-looking truck versus the classy red Plymouth Valiant are the most tense road-rage images I ever beheld and they're guaranteed to make your blood pump faster!

The film is terrifically cut in half when the protagonist stops a roadside restaurant to analyze his uncanny situation. While recovering from the previous assault, Mann notices that the monstrous truck is also parked outside the diner so one of the unfriendly guests present there more than likely is his assaulter. This sequence, brilliantly illustrated by pan camera movements and atmospheric voice over sound, perfectly proves how an amazing director Spielberg is. Especially when you bear in mind he only was 26 at the time Duel was released and he mostly worked with a crew of veteran filmmakers. This simply is one of the most action-filled movies ever made and a timeless classic. THIS is how we like to see Spielberg! Giant monstrosity! Filthy trucks or man-eating sharks…not the over-sentimental and melodramatic crap he's delivering nowadays.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 November 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Duel

Filming Locations:

16948 Vasquez Canyon Road, Canyon Country, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$450,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,544

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 74 min (original)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1