Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Duel has become a classic. It was filmed in 1971 for television, the first successful producing endeavor for Steven Spielberg. The dialogue is limited and the cast is small. The story is rather simple...a traveling businessman is intimidated by the driver of a big rig. The term "Road Rage" was more than likely phrased by someone after watching this film.


The Story

We see from the perspective of a driver, a car backing out of a garage and proceeding to drive through a neighborhood, into a city and then on to the open roads. The radio is playing and we hear the traffic and weather reports. As the car progresses, we finally see a view from the exterior. It is a shiny red Plymouth Valiant. Back inside the interior, we see the driver....obviously a businessman. He is wearing a dress shirt and tie, and holding the steering wheel in the perfect position of "10 o'clock and 2 o'clock", just as our Drivers Ed teachers told us to do. His name is Dave Mann. As he is driving along, he comes upon a large tanker truck with the words "Flammable" in huge letters across the back. The truck is going much too slow, and Dave has an appointment that he must make if he wants to keep his job. Of course, he proceeds to pass the truck.

The Truck Driver is angry that this red 4-wheeler has passed him. He speeds up and practically side-swipes the small car as he passes him back. Just for aggravation, he slows down again. Of course, the small red car passes him once again. His anger erupts with the sound of his loud diesel air horn blowing. The small red car pulls ahead and leaves the big truck behind.

Further down the road, Dave must stop for gas at a "filling station", as we used to call them. Those were the days...your gas was pumped for you, your windows were cleaned and your engine was checked. The big truck pulls in moments later. Dave tries to get a look at the person driving the truck, but can't see him. It is while Daves' windows are covered with soap that he hears the door to the big rig slam shut. He sees a pair of cowboy boots on the far side of the big truck, kicking the wheels. But that is all he can see.

We get a bit of insight into the character of Dave Mann as he goes inside the station to place a collect call to his wife. He is apologizing for his behavior the night before while they were at a party. Another man had made a move on his wife, and Dave had done nothing to stop it. When Dave returns to his car, the attendant asks if Dave needs anything else. Dave says no and the attendant replies, "You're the boss" to which Dave mumbles under his breath, "Not in my house, I'm not". This probably explains to some extent Daves' overwhelming need to "win" the contest that ultimately comes down between himself and the driver of the tanker truck.

Dave leaves the filling station and much to his dismay, sees the same big truck coming up behind him once again. The truck is going much faster than Dave wishes to go, so he waves the truck around. The truck passes, then precedes to crawl along at a snails pace. Dave begins to yell out loud and attempts to find another good passing place. The truck driver, seeming to want to help Dave, of course, waves him around also....right into the path of an oncoming vehicle. After a quick maneuver onto an adjacent dirt road, Dave manages to find himself back in the lead, but not for long. After exceeding a speed of 90 mph, with this tanker bumping his fender over and over, Daves' fingers grip the steering wheel, trying to keep his car under control. Finally he spots a sign for a restaurant up ahead. He slides to a stop, resting upon a fence. The tanker keeps going down the road. Dave gets out of his little red car and goes into the restaurants restroom. He bathes his face and we hear his thoughts....

You just never know...You just go along figuring some things don't change ever....Well, like being able to drive on a public highway without somebody trying to murder you...And then one stupid thing happens...20/25 minutes out of our your whole life...and all the hopes that kept you hanging in there get cut loose...and it's like there you are, right back in the jungle again....alright, boy...it was a nightmare, but it's over now...it's all over...

He thought wrong. Dave leaves the restroom, feeling somewhat refreshed, to only look out the front window of Chucks Cafe and see his ol' budddy, his ol' friend, the big truck itself, parked right out front. The beads form on his forehead and he asks the waitress for an aspirin...it isn't over yet...not by a long shot.



The story continues with Daves' confrontation with one of the cowboy boot-wearing patrons at the cafe, the rescue of children on a disabled school bus, the "un-caging" of snakes and spiders, and his forgotten broken radiator hose.



The Cast

Dennis Weaver plays Dave Mann. His role of Chester in Gunsmoke will always be one of my favorite characters. His credits cover many years, from his early days playing guest roles in Dragnet to his most familiar character of Sam McCloud. He does a fantastic job in Duel....one that is truly unforgettable.

Jacqueline Scott plays the role of Daves wife, Lou Frizzelle is the school bus driver and Lucille Benson is the snake-farm owner. Their roles each only lasted a matter of moments. The story centered on Dave and remained there. The truck driver is never shown, given a name or exposed in any way.



Credits

Steven Spielberg, Producer If you need information on Steven Spielberg, welllllll, all I can say is that you haven't watched a movie in the past 30 years or so. He is undoubtably the most well-known, most accomplished, and talented man that the film industry has ever known. If you still are wondering.....hey, did you see E.T.?...he did that one!!!

George Eckstein, Director is most well known for his work on The Fugitive, The Untouchables and The Invaders, all television series from the 50's and 60's.

Richard Matheson, Screenwriter also wrote the book that one of my favorite movies was based on. The book was entitled "Bid Time Return" and it became Somewhere In Time in film. Now that is a wide spectrum of topics...an angry truck driver to one of the most romantic stories that has ever been told. A versatile writer, to say the least!

Jack A. Marta, Cinematographer has a list of well over 200 credits, spanning back to 1928. Those credits include the infamous Walking Tall and the Billy Jack sequels.

Billy Goldenberg, Original Music has been credited as composer on such television shows as Kukla Fran and Ollie way back in 1947, to the Kojak series back in the early 70's, to more recent television in the late 90's.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Final Thoughts

I clearly remember the first time that I saw this film. It shocked and amazed me. Hardly any words were spoken at all...yet it kept me riveted to my seat from the very beginning to the very end. And every time I've watched it since then, I see something new that I had never noticed before.

Bobbys' sentiments lie with the truck driver, of course. He's been a truck driver for too many years now. At the end of this movie, we have to stand, put our hands over our hearts and pay homage when the truck falls over the cliff....and Bobby then hums "Taps". It's an emotional experience for him. I have to suppress my urge to giggle with glee, though....I've always rooted for the underdog. Guess it's a good thing that I take the wheel when we're traveling....the roads are somewhat safe, anyway!!







Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 9 - 12