Duel

( 20 )

Overview

Driving down a deserted Southern California highway at a safe and sane 55 miles per hour, David Mann Dennis Weaver steps on the pedal to pass a large gas trailer truck. Moments later, the truck is back, dangerously tailgating Mann before abruptly cutting him off. For the next 90 minutes, Mann and the never-seen truckdriver are pitted against one another in a motorized duel to the death. Author Richard Matheson conceived Duel after a similar experience with a reckless trucker. The story first appeared in Playboy ...
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Overview

Driving down a deserted Southern California highway at a safe and sane 55 miles per hour, David Mann Dennis Weaver steps on the pedal to pass a large gas trailer truck. Moments later, the truck is back, dangerously tailgating Mann before abruptly cutting him off. For the next 90 minutes, Mann and the never-seen truckdriver are pitted against one another in a motorized duel to the death. Author Richard Matheson conceived Duel after a similar experience with a reckless trucker. The story first appeared in Playboy magazine, then was picked up for adaptation by the producers of The ABC Movie of the Week. The director chosen to helm Duel on location in Soledad Canyon was a bright 23-year-old who'd shown promise on such series as Night Gallery and Columbo: Steven Spielberg. First telecast on December 18, 1971, Duel was so popular that a somewhat longer version with added violence and profanity was prepared for theatrical release in 1983.
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide
A traveling salesman and a mysterious truck that pursues him are the only ingredients in this minimalist story that marked Steven Spielberg's first major directorial feature. Originally made for television, Duel was shown theatrically in Europe in the early '70s but did not have an American release until 1983, after Spielberg had become a household name with Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and E.T. Writer Richard Matheson concocted an exercise in paranoia, featuring Dennis Weaver as the salesman, in which the truck driver's face is never shown and his motives are never clear. Thus the story has a Kafkaesque quality, as the salesman is psychologically tortured while being physically terrorized. Spielberg shows a firm grasp of the action, even if it occasionally becomes repetitive. It is hard to imagine, from this spare, economical film, that he would go on to a career as an impresario of big-budget, special-effects blockbusters.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 1/17/1995
  • UPC: 096895509636
  • Original Release: 1971

    • Rating:

  • Source: Universal Studios
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Dennis Weaver David Mann
Jacqueline Scott Mrs. Mann
Eddie Firestone Cafe Owner
Tim Herbert Gas Station Attendant
Lou Frizzell Bus Driver
Gene Dynarski Man in Cafe
Lucille Benson Lady at Snakerama
Amy Douglass Old Woman in Car
Shirley O'Hara Krims Waitress
Alexander Lockwood Old Man in Car
Carey Loftin The Truck Driver
Charles Seel Old Man
Dale Van Sickel Car Driver
Dick Whittington Radio Interviewer
Technical Credits
Steven Spielberg Director
George Eckstein Producer
Jim Fargo Asst. Director
Billy Goldenberg Score Composer
Oakley Haldemann Songwriter
Edwin S. Hall Sound/Sound Designer
Sherman Kunkel Cinematographer
James Lee Songwriter
Carey Loftin Stunts
Jack A. Marta Cinematographer
Richard Matheson Screenwriter
Hal Mooney Musical Direction/Supervision
Frank Morriss Editor
Robert S. Smith Art Director
Al Trace Songwriter
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 20 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(15)

4 Star

(4)

3 Star

(1)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

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Sort by: Showing all of 20 Customer Reviews

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Good movie

    This movie is a classic. This movie is older than me. I seen it on TV many times and I like it. I like it even more now that I have the Collector's Edition version of Duel on DVD.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    BEST SUSPENSE PICTURE, INCLUDING PSYCHO, THAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY 80 YEARS ON EARTH.

    LIKE A PREHISTORIC BEHEMOTH STALKING A MUCH SMALLER ANIMAL,THE TRUCK SYMBOLIZES EVERY BULLY, DICTATOR, STALKER, MURDEROUS PREDATOR ONE HAS EVER HEARD OF OR KNOWN. IT TAKES A LOT TO GIVE ME THE SHIVERS AND A REAL SENSE OF FEAR AND DUEL DID JUST THAT. WONDERFULLY ACTED, DIRECTED TIGHT, RIVETING TALE.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    It's ABOUT TIME!!...

    ...it's hit DVD!! Finally, this classic is back on DVD, and in DTS surround sound to boot! Can't wait to hear the rumble of that evil Big-Rig in DTS. A great suspense-thriller. Don't miss it!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    Years ahead of its time...

    This movie was filmed at a time when such a scenario was unthinkable, and has since been played out across America hundreds of times. When it came out nobody knew just what 'Road Rage' was. The suspense builds and you genuinely sympathize with Weavers character (David Mann), right up to the finale. A must watch if you're planning on a road-trip.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Big Bad Truck and a Little Red Car

    Sid really liked this one, he said Dennis Weaver as David Mann, thats Mann with two n's, a meek business man just trying to make it in life, his old lady is teed at him because of advances his boss made at her at a party the night before and David didnt hit a lick to save her honor.The next day while traveling to a meeting a mad trucker wants to run him off the road.It's a match of witts as the little red car does its best to out power the big mean truck.Directed by Steven Speilberg this made for tv movie is a must have.So says Sid.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 16, 2003

    Classic 'road-rage'

    It has been reported that this oil-rig has many ''notches'' on its front bumper, signifying previously-successful vehicle demolitions - I've noticed these, but can't quite make out the number. [Watched this movie probably 100 times.]

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 23, 2003

    David Mann vs. Unseen Trucker

    A great suspenseful movie until the end. Throughout the movie, you wonder who the trucker is, but never see nothing but his arm. Very clever movie by Spielberg. Dennis Weaver plays a meek salesman who builds up some bursts of courage. You gotta love it when David Mann is talking to himself in the car, trying to reason things out. He should have changed that lower radiator hose!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 31, 2002

    A fantastic movie

    From the beginning, i was facinated, the way spealberg creates the same tention as he did 4 years later in jaws. And the way dennis weaver plays the part, beautiful! I like the bet at the end where the truck goes over the cliff, i wander how david mann managed to get home.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 9, 2002

    Jaws on wheels

    This has to be one of the best debut films of any director. It's absoulutaly terrifying, the fact that this could happen and it could happen to you. Before I saw this film I never thought of driving as a dangerous thing to do but but if I ever see a tanker like the one in Duel I'm teling my mum to stop the car. This is exellent entertainment.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 6, 2002

    Duel is a True Classic

    This movie is a true classic. It is the ultimate road rage movie that everyone has experienced at some time in their driving career. Dennis Weaver is awesome. He plays an ordinary guy who is just driving along trying to get to a sales appointment when he encounters a crazy truck driver. After they meet it is a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse that leaves you hanging off of your seat. The ending is also great in that it leaves you wishing there was more of this classic chase. I recommend this movie to anyone who is in love with film. Enjoy!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted July 10, 2002

    This could happen to you!!!

    In one corner it is Dennis Weaver in his firebreathing 68 Plymouth Valiant with a mighty Slant 6 cylinder and in the other is some deranged truck driver that you never see(although I wager to think he was the guy playing pool in the truckstop) with his greasy dirty Autocar Truck. A simple little act of slight road rage causes the greasy truck to reach 0-60 m.p.h in a mere 7.9.01 seconds. OH MY GOD WHAT HAS DENNIS WEAVER GOT HIMSELF INTO!! Watch Dennis Weaver have a nervous breakdown in his valiant All he was doing was his job of a salesman and just was hoping to get home, you may laugh and think he is wimpy but he ends up having the last laugh, I still wonder how he got home. Watch this movie and you have to ask yourself how you would react if you were in his spot. Especially the scene where he is stopped at the train tracks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! happy motoring

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  • Anonymous

    Posted June 13, 2002

    A Must See Movie

    This has got to be the granddaddy film concerning Road Rage

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  • Anonymous

    Posted December 21, 2001

    Great, great, great...and DVD?

    This is my favourite title. The best film I've never seen. I cannot understand why it wasn't published on dvd....

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  • Anonymous

    Posted October 22, 2001

    LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!!!

    Today, 22 Oct 2001 i saw this movie on TV. Some old movie - i thought - Lets have a look. MAN!... This THING has realy SOMETHING in it! I felt this right at the beginning! Good art is good art, independent from the time it is made.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted September 6, 2001

    A non-stop thrill ride!

    This is my all-time favorite movie. I never get tired of watching it. It is the best car chase movie that I have ever seen.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted March 22, 2001

    I LOVE THIS MOVIE

    What a classic

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 25, 2001

    Great Movie

    I have watched this movie over and over since I was 10 years old. I have seen it about 300 times (literally) You never get tired of watching. Haven't seen it in 3 years. I am ready to see it again!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted February 13, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 17, 2011

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted July 24, 2010

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 20 Customer Reviews