Duel (1971)

This is the TV movie that put Steven Spielberg on the map, shortly before he made The Sugarland Express. Working from a script by Richard Matheson, the film stars Dennis Weaver as a mild-mannered traveling salesman who unintentionally angers the driver of a semi truck. Suddenly, the truck is not only riding his tail but trying to run him off the road. No matter what he does (pulling over, stopping at a diner, calling the cops), he can't get rid of it. Spielberg makes the wise decision of never showing the driver, even as he cranks the voltage on the film's suspense elements. As a result, the truck itself takes on an air of satanic menace--even a personality of sorts--as it seems to hunt its human prey. Spielberg made a lot out of a little, suggesting just how skilled a storyteller he would become. --Marshall Fine Amazon.com essential video

Most under rated movie of all time

I watched this movie for the first time about a year ago and was astounded at how well written and acted it is.
It kept me on the edge on my seat !!
What a great movie for the mid 1970s and made for TV !

It is in my top 10 favorites September 6, 2008

Duel

This movie is a great old movie. It is very difficult to find where I live. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes suspense movies. August 30, 2008

"Best TV Movie Ever!"

Steven Speilberg made his mark on Hollywood with "Duel", which was his first ever full length movie. Originally airing on ABC as a Movie of the Week, "Duel" deals with a man, played by Dennis Weaver, who is driving on the highway and is terrorized by a madman driving a full-ton truck. A very suspenceful film, the direction is the best of any film made for television. This was the film that made producers realize how talented Speilberg was, and he was ultimately offered big screen films like "Jaws". The DVD is exceptional with a wonderful interview with Steven and the making of this classic. The film is fully restored and comes in full screen, as was the standard for movies made for television back in the early '70's. The running time is 90 minutes. August 9, 2008

Road rage at its most terrifying! Spielberg's first movie!

I first saw this made-for-TV movie when I was nine years old, in 1971. The movie terrified me! I have never forgotten it, and still get a chill down my spine whenever I see a tanker truck on the road. Duel is a great psychological thriller, made in the best Hitchcock style. Dennis Weaver is perfectly cast as the nervous, twitchy salesman in a Plymouth Valiant who tries to initially challenge a tanker truck on the desert road, not realizing that the driver is looking for someone to pick on. And pick he does. Just when you think Weaver has escaped the terror of the tanker, he's baaaaack! Taking place in the days before cell phones, the viewer really feels Weaver's isolation. No matter how many times I've seen this movie, it never fails to make me jump! July 22, 2008

What Tha?; No Truck Roar?????

Love this flick. Lots of unintentional funny moments. Liked it so much, that I purchased the dvd-collector's edition. When I got it, I decided to "test drive" it, so I hit some of my favorite spots, like when David was talking to himself, and called the driver a miserable fat head, or when he lost his balance, when he got out of the car, after he crashed into the white fence, across from the diner. So, I speed ahead to the end, when the truck falls over the cliff, and to my surprise, the "truck roar" was edited out from the scene! I'm like, "What tha....!!!???" How could the truck roar (the same roar used in Jaws) be edited out!!! It almost gave you the since that the truck had a life of its' own, as it roared to its' death. Even worse, Spielberg mentions the roar, during his interview, on the dvd "extra" i.e. why he used it and what-not. They even have the roar, as they show it, during his interview...BUT NOT IN THE MOVIE, ittself! I'm almost certain that Spielberg is unaware that the truck roar was edited out from the dvd. I mean...how does that happen, on a dvd "collector's edition"!!?? The roar can still be heard, when watching Duel on TBS or AMC. Anyway, now that I have that out of my system...still a great flick. July 6, 2008

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