The movie was released november 11th, 1971, which is 43 years ago today. Although it appears the truck is driving at a recklessly unsafe speed along the winding california roads, it is actually not going more than 30 mph. Pace of editing, noise and music increases as the demon truck is now openly out to get driver dave dennis weaver in steven spielberg s tv movie duel, 1971. 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. Spielberg drew great attention with his hit abc tvmovie duel 1971, starring dennis weaver as a motorist being terrorized by an unseen truck driver. Pictures of the truck driver pictures of the truck driver. After duel, the creeper truck and the semi from joyride are pushovers. Its a remarkably simple, strippeddown film, a teethgritting suspense thriller that unrelentingly increases the pressure on the traveling businessman david mann dennis weaver as he faces off with a vicious truck driver who seems intent on killing mann. One of my worst nightmares is one that involves me being pursued relentlessly by an unstoppable enemy without anyone else to help.
Did the duel truck driver openly presented what he did. Duel is a 1971 television and later fulllength theatrical thriller film directed by steven spielberg and written by richard matheson, based on mathesons short story of the same name. Spielberg and duel producer george eckstein told him that because of the short production schedule, he would have to write the music during filming, and goldenberg visited the production on location at soledad canyon to help get an idea of what would be required. College students enrage a murderous truck driver with a prank. In this tv movie, dennis weaver is driving down a deserted southern california highway when he passes a large gas trailer truck. Aug 14, 2018 he seems to grin slightly and takes a drink of beer. In some shots, such as the gas station scene where david mann is on the telephone, or the railroad crossing scene, the air conditioning unit has a support structure to hold it in place. Id like to report a truck driver whos been endangering my life. Spielberg then had goldenberg ride in the tanker truck being driven by stunt driver carey loftin on several occasions. Dennis weaver of mccloud fame plays dave mann, an instantly sympathetic protagonist, a guy just trying to get to a business meeting whos menaced by a homicidal truck driver for reasons unknown. Only observed are the truck driver s boots and veined. It also preys upon our fear of being caught in a desperate situation with no one around to help. When carey loftin, playing the truck driver, asked steven spielberg what his motivation was for tormenting the cars driver, spielberg told him, youre a dirty, rotten, nogood son of a bitch. Confident and masculine, hes everything mann isnt and the truck is.
The film is about the terrified and bullied driver of a small plymouth valiant who is chased by a faceless peterbilt tanker truck driver. Whats weaver going to do about it with his machismo posturing. Duel begins when a california businessman embarks on a car trip and happens to pass a certain truck on a twolane road. The movie was directed by steven spielberg and was based on a short story written by richard matheson. One of his most famous, yet discreet roles was as the murderous truck driver in steven spielberg s duel billed as cary loftin, in which only his arm and boots can be seen.
Apr 15, 1983 duel begins when a california businessman embarks on a car trip and happens to pass a certain truck on a twolane road. It stars dennis weaver as a terrified motorist stalked on a remote and lonely road by the mostly unseen driver of a mysterious tanker truck. Duel was one of stephen spielberg s first films, and it was an incredible start to what would would become an amazing filmmaking career. Peterbilt tanker from movie duel on farm near lincolnton. He plays a salesman who is terrorised by an unseen truck driver on a lonely american highway. This is part of a simple but extremely effective scheme by the truck driver, to isolate mann from any possible source of help.
He is the nameless and unseen driver of a large rusty 1955 peterbilt 281 gasoline tanker truck. Moments later, the truck dangerously tailgates weaver before. The truck itself has an anthropomorphic appearance making it very iconic and animalistic. I saw this movie on american movie classics one of those movies that you watch and have to watch the whole movie to find out who the truck driver was. Based on this simple yet frightening premise, steven spielberg directed duel, his first real movie, in 1971. It works, but mann wins the duel by sacrificing his car. For most people, duel was a forgettable tv movie with a rather weak plot, nothing more than a beatup old semitruck chasing david mann, played by dennis weaver, in. When the truck appears from over the hill, take a look at the very next shot of the truck from the front, and you will notice that the large exhaust on the side of the truck has moved from left to right and back to left again. Spielberg s first fulllength movie, duel, helped jumpstart the directors bigscreen career, with a gripping, actionpacked story hailed by critics as a film that belongs on the. He also acted as a truck driver in stroker ace 1983 in which his face is never seen as in duel, but not as a villain this time.
This is the freddy krueger of vehicles, and the truck not its driver is treated as the bad. Steven spielberg said that the multiple license plates on the front bumper of the truck suggested that the truck driver is a serial killer which ran down other drivers in other states. Duel 1971 film wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Steven spielberg s 1971 madefortv and later fulllength theatrical release with dennis weaver. It is the feature fulllength directorial debut of american director, producer, and screenwriter steven spielberg, and is distributed by universal pictures. As a tribute to the intense car and truck chase movie, ive put together a list of 10 fun. Close scene analysis of the cinematography and editing involved in duel this segment from the film duel 1971, directed by steven spielberg, is very significant to the overall story as david, a middleaged electronics salesman, finally confronts the crazed truck driver who has been trying to kill him on his business trip. May 15, 2018 the truck from duel is a piece of movie history. At the end of the film, david man comes to a dead end, so he spins the car around and waits for the truck to appear. See, weavers driving to this meeting and he pisses off a truck driver. Edgar wright interviews steven spielberg about duel movies. He is believable enough to taste the evil truck driver s bait and foolish enough to continue nibbling. It is driven by an unseen trucker who uses it as a weapon by attempting to kill those who overtake him. The snakerama gas station seen in the film was used as a homage to duel by spielberg in his comedy film, 1941 1979, with lucille benson again.
It also made a star out of its leading man, dennis weaver. While traveling through the desert for an appointment with a client, the businessman david mann from california passes a slow and old tanker truck. Edgar wright interviews steven spielberg about duel. Spielberg had seven trucks to choose from, all lined in a row, and he picked a 1955 peterbilt 281 tanker, the smallest of the trucks. The duel truck is a dilapidated peterbilt 281 starring as the main antagonist in steven spielbergs duel. It stars dennis weaver as a terrified motorist stalked on a remote and lonely desert highway by the mostly unseen, psychotic driver of a mysterious tanker truck. In that way the truck feels more of treatment than just a standard aggressive truck. This peterbilt is the only surviving truck from steven spielberg s first film. May 07, 2016 spielberg added this as he wanted to give a final suggestion of the supernatural to the truck and its driver. Duel can be classified in the genre of monster action films 272. However, spielberg captivates the viewer with the way he films this duel. He eventually found it in the tv movie duel, about an anonymous truck driver stalking a hapless businessman driving around the lonely canyon roads of.
From theaficionauto this is the real duel movie truck. In steven spielberg s first fulllength movie, duel, a traveling salesman dennis weaver is harassed by a menacing 40ton truck on a remote desert highway. Written by richard matheson, based on his short story. He eventually found it in the tv movie duel, about an anonymous truck driver stalking a hapless businessman driving around the lonely canyon roads of california. The truck driver is the main antagonist of the 1971 short story duel by the late richard matheson, and the 1971 television film of the same name, which is. Duel the truck, driven by a maniac trucker, that terrorised david mann, played by dennis weaver, who starred in steven spielberg s first film oldshowbiz. Duel official trailer 1971 dennis weaver, steven spielberg thriller movie. Owned by self made man brad wike in north carolina.
Suddenly, he finds himself randomly stalked by a homicidal truck driver. Duel, steven spielbergs first movie, is a featurelength chase that pits mann and his plymouth valiant against a soupedup diesel. The psychotic truck driver feels offended and chases david along the empty highway trying to kill. A chilling aspect of the film is that the truck driver s face is never seen. Spielberg s first fulllength movie, duel, helped jumpstart the directors bigscreen career, with a gripping, actionpacked story hailed by critics as a film that belongs on the classics shelf reserved for top suspensers dailey variety. Duel was one of stephen spielbergs first films, and it was an incredible start to what would would become an amazing filmmaking career. Apr 20, 2018 duels truck is one of films great monsters. Though we know stunt driver carey loftin of bullitt fame was behind the wheel, the truck driver is never seen in the film, giving it a hint of the supernatural. Then aged just its like jaws, except the shark is a psycho truck. But only edgar wright went the extra mile, jumping on the phone with spielberg for a 45minute discussion of duel, spielberg s remorseless truck vscar tv movie that acted as. Additionally, spielberg said that the multiple license plates on the front bumper of the peterbilt subtly suggested that. Steven spielberg directs this highvelocity thriller about a motorist terrorized by an evil truck.
Brilliant in its simplicity, the cult favorite takes road rage to a dangerous level as the traveler and the mysterious truck driver are pitted against one another in a motorized duel to the. Additionally, spielberg said that the multiple license plates on the front bumper of the peterbilt subtly suggested that the truck driver is a serial killer, having run down other drivers in other states. Duel the best bits of film trivia the tanker driver. The identity of the truck driver is kept secret during the movie. Before the term blockbuster were associated with his films, long before he received oscars for directing world war ii related films, duel was spielberg s first outstanding movie. Although spielberg permitted star dennis weaverwho played a motorist chased by a homicidal truck driver to register. Spielberg is luring us into the same conclusion mann is landing on this man is the truck driver, and in doing so cements the symbiotic relationship between us and him were living this nightmare too. It was so popular that universal studios asked spielberg to film additional scenes and. This is the location that was used for the scene where the unseen truck driver tries to push davids car on to the train tracks in the 1971 film duel.
The films success enabled spielberg to establish himself as a film director. All orders are custom made and most ship worldwide within 24 hours. The truck driver is the main antagonist of the 1971 short story duel by the late richard matheson, and the 1971 television film of the same name, which is steven spielberg s first directed film. Duel is a 1971 television thriller film directed by steven spielberg and written by richard matheson, based on mathesons short story of the same name. Duel dvd, 2004, collectors edition for sale online ebay. This film was originally directed by steven spielberg for tv back in 1971. Duel was the first film of steven spielberg, made for tv and adapted from a short story by pulp author and screenwriter richard matheson. Duel the best bits of film trivia the tanker driver was. Duel the films of steven spielberg pictures cbs news. What could be more disturbing than a psychopathic trucker, behind the wheel of a derelict truck, harassing innocent motorists out on the highway. The truck, which seems to have a mind of its own the driver is never. The movie was good but who was the truck driver and what guy was he in the cafe scene with the guy with the cowboy boots. From steven spielberg comes the gritty and intense road rage thriller duel. Filmed in only 10 days ss directed a memorable made for tv movie about a man who is terrorized by a truck driver through the california desert.
Oct 01, 2014 the movie was directed by steven spielberg and was based on a short story written by richard matheson. Steven spielberg reflects on duel nearly 50 years later. Dennis weaver drove a plymouth valiant and the truck from the movie duel was a 1955 peterbilt 281 driven by carey loftin. Sure you can get caught by a murderous band of backwoods cannibals, but at least you have a chance to escape. Although spielberg permitted star dennis weaverwho played a motorist chased by a homicidal truck driverto register. Having published 104 magazine for 21 years now, we have had some memorable covers, for sure, but none have been as popular and talked about even today as our may 2004 cover featuring the ghostly duel truck from the 1971 movie about a renegade rig that terrorizes. Throughout the film, the driver of the truck remains anonymous and unseen. Steven spielbergs 1971 madefortv and later fulllength theatrical release with dennis weaver. This film proves that television can produce a quality film. The making of a film career steven awalt looks at the making of the 1971 television movie that took spielberg from being a universal contract director shooting episodes of tv series and madefortelevision movies to feature filmmaking. Though we know stunt driver carey loftin of bullitt fame was behind the wheel, the truck driver is never.
The truck from duel is a piece of movie history the drive. Duel is a 1971 television and later fulllength theatrical thriller film directed by steven spielberg in his fulllength film directing debut and written by richard matheson, based on mathesons short story of the same name. The thing about the truck in duel is that it relentlessly pursues dennis weavers character as if it has a mind of its own. The truck driver gets a few moments of these to show that he is not above helping out a school bus full of kids in need or giving a friendly honk to passing trains. Duel is a 1971 television movie about a salesman driving through the california desert who is suddenly attacked by a large tanker truck after passing it on the deserted road. It put him on the cinematic map years before he made the classic jaws. Peterbilt tanker from movie duel on farm near lincolnton charlotte. Menacing 1960 peterbilt from truck movie duel rolling back onstage. During the chase, a parked sedan resembling a squad car is seen, briefly raising dennis weaver s hopes. Moments later, seemingly unprovoked, the truck is dangerously tailgating mann. The duel peterbilt movie truck american nightmare or american dream.
On the truck cabs rear window, there is some sort of air conditioning unit installed. The identity of the truck s driver, and the motivations for his actions, are left unknown. Inspired designs on tshirts, posters, stickers, home decor, and more by independent artists and designers from around the world. Theatrical trailer for 1971s steven spielberg classic duel, starring dennis weaver. The truck driver is the main antagonist of the 1971 short story duel by the late richard matheson, and the 1971 television film of the same name, which is steven spielbergs first directed film. Mar 27, 2018 but only edgar wright went the extra mile, jumping on the phone with spielberg for a 45minute discussion of duel, spielbergs remorseless truckvscar tv movie that acted as the prototype for. The film, directed by steven spielberg, stars dennis weaver as a business commuter who is pursued and. He just follows and attacks, looming forever large in manns rearview mirror. Based on a richard matheson short story, a salesman finds himself being pursued down the highway by a tanker truck that. On a winding california highway, businessman david mann dennis weaver is driving at a safe speed and passes a large gas tanker truck. Duel is a 1971 american action thriller film written by richard matheson, which is based on his own short story.
That truck driver starts messing with weaver, not letting him pass, roaring past him, waving him on into another vehicle. In the rest of the film however, there is not any support structure to be seen. Dennis weaver stars in the steven spielberg debut, duel. Duel 1971, steven spielberg, the theatrical version.
Every once in a while it is fun to look back at our past cover features and answer the question, where are they now. Duel is an allegorical quasisilent film about a salesman, mann, driving through rural california on a business trip. Spielberg praised how the truck was handled in an exceptionally safe manner by 50 year old stunt driver carey loftin. Here are a few pics of cary loftin, the truck driver. The story of duel was brilliantly simple and lent itself to a highly visual treatment. Few people besides true movie buffs and gearheads have heard of duel, which was steven spielberg s first fulllength movie. Spielbergs duel, fourwheel combat the new york times. Duel 1971 official trailer dennis weaver, steven spielberg. Duel 1971 steven spielberg, film locations a business. The truck from duel is alive and well in a yard in north carolina.