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:

"Duellen" - Finland (Swedish title) (imdb display title), Sweden
"Belâ" - Turkey (Turkish title)
"Duel" - France
"Duell" - West Germany
"Duellen" - Denmark (imdb display title)
"Duelo" - Peru (literal title)
"El diablo sobre ruedas" - Spain
"Encurralado" - Brazil
"Fasans kilometrar" - Finland (Swedish title) (theatrical title)
"I monomahia" - Greece (DVD title)
"Monomahia" - Greece (theatrical title)
"Párbaj" - Hungary
"Pojedynek na szosie" - Poland
"Reto a la muerte" - Peru (imdb display title)
"Reto a muerte" - Mexico (imdb display title)
"Terror bak rattet" - Norway
"Um Assassino pelas Costas" - Portugal

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:

When Carey Loftin, playing the truck driver, asked Steven Spielberg what his motivation was for tormenting the car's driver, Spielberg told him, "You're a dirty, rotten, no-good son of a bitch." Loftin replied, "Kid, you hired the right man."

Goofs:

Continuity: The glass of water at Chuck's Cafe is half full after being completely gulped.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Featured in 'Duel': A Conversation with Director Steven Spielberg (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Brush Those Tears from Your Eyes

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.