Duel

TV Movie
1971
PG
1h 30m

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

81K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,366

345

From 'Jaws' and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark, ' to 'Saving Private Ryan' and 'West Side Story,' IMDb breaks down the trademarks of Steven Spielberg's directorial style, including shooting stars, striking silhouettes, reflective perspectives, tracking shots, and more.

Play clip2:31

Watch A Guide to the Films of Steven Spielberg

1 Video

83 Photos

Psychological Thriller Action Thriller

A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.6/10

81K

YOUR RATING

POPULARITY

1,366

345

See production info at IMDbPro

Won 1 Primetime Emmy
- 3 wins & 5 nominations total

Videos1

Clip 2:31

A Guide to the Films of Steven Spielberg

Photos83

More like this

6.7

The Sugarland Express

7.6

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

7.7

5.8

5.3

6.4

7.7

5.5

7.7

7.3

6.2

6.3

Storyline

Edit

Did you know

Edit

Trivia
According to Richard Matheson, he was inspired to write the original short story "Duel" after an encounter with a tailgating truck driver on November 22, 1963, the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

Goofs
When Mann approaches the phone booth at the "Snakerama" he says "Odd place for a telephone booth," and gets inside, closing the door behind him. The camera pans to the right slightly, revealing the reflection of Steven Spielberg in the lower right-hand side of the glass panel, wearing what appears to be a blue Hawaiian shirt, glancing up and down at the script in his hands. Behind him, the truck's reflection can also be seen.

Quotes
David Mann: You can't beat me on the grade. You can't beat me on the grade!

Crazy credits
A scene plays out over the credits where David Mann sits on the edge of the cliff throwing stones.

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

Connections
Edited into The Incredible Hulk: Never Give a Trucker an Even Break (1978)

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 reviews466

Review

Featured review

8/10

Turnpike Tag

Although Dennis Weaver is probably best known for his two small screen TV series McCloud and Gunsmoke, there are those that hold out for his career role being the frightened and harassed driver in Duel.

Some years ago I was with two friends and a passenger in a car going on the Thruway in Upstate New York. Some idiot truckdriver thought we had offended him some how and chased us through several miles. We eluded him by going into a service station and driving around until he could not maneuver that big rig. I know exactly what Dennis Weaver was going through.

Weaver plays Mr. Average man on his way home from a business trip when some how he offends a faceless truckdriver whom we never see, but whose power behind that tanker truck we definitely feel right along with Weaver. Unless you're driving a bus you are no position to play turnpike tag with a big rig.

In the end Weaver decides he's so mad he stops being frightened and looks to take him down any way he can.

Weaver's performance is a one man tour de force. As much as Spencer Tracy in The Old Man And The Sea. One not to be missed.