DUEL
Collector's Edition
Specs:
1 Hr. 30 Mins.
Color
Full frame (1.33.1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, 2.0 Mono
DTS 5.1 Surround
Spanish and French Subtitles
Before the shark attacks, before aliens came to Earth, and even before the time of dinosaurs, a massive, roaring 40-ton truck became the most bizarre murder weapon ever used.
First of all, I would like to thank God and Steven Spielberg for DUEL. Or maybe
I should thank Sid Sheinberg for getting Mr. Spielberg the job, for if it weren't for DUEL, we wouldn't
have such greats as Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., Jurassic
Park, and many other phenomenal films brought to you by the creative genius of
Steven Spielberg.
What begins as a usual day for David Mann instantly becomes the fight for his
life and the road. A monstrous truck makes multiple attempts at seriously ruining
David's day, and his car. The lack of background information keeps the tension building as the chase for survival keeps you on the edge of your seat for 90 minutes. Spielberg's
vision helps keep the audience engaged in the story, which is mainly between
two vehicles on the open road.
The cinematography was amazing, incredibly effective, and influential. A hint of Hitchcock can be seen with shots of the rear and side view mirrors that contribute to the films suspense. With production lasting approximately two weeks, the future of the young Mr. Spielberg was sure to shine.
This movie does for open roads and gigantic trucks what Psycho did for showers.
Spielberg claims, "It's like Psycho or The Birds only it's on wheels."
And seriously, how many TV movies get put into theaters?
PICTURE
"Oh boy, you're beautiful." -David Mann
The transfer to DVD was a wondrous happening for DUEL fans, Spielberg fans, and film fans in general. The color in this film is rather stimulating for a 1971 picture. The blue sky looks as beautiful on screen as it does outside on any given sun day. The DVD gives the audience a film with a 70's look in the best transfer possible. The picture's true genuine colors don't
steal from the raw edginess of the film.
SOUND
Sound is the driving force...
The best way to be a part of this film is to watch it with a surround sound system. When the camera whips by the truck it sounds as if you're actually on the highway driving next to those large trucks. The bass of the truck/vehicles can be felt rumbling throughout your room, helping captivate the true feeling of being on the highway. A spectacular sound mix puts you right into Dave Mann's Plymouth, keeping you in suspense no matter how many times you've
seen it. Dialogue is dialogue, and this movie is amazingly effective with such
a small amount of dialogue. There is nothing special about it, but certainly
not something to overlook. The sound makes the film more suspenseful
SPECIAL FEATURES
A Conversation with Steven Spielberg (35:41)
Steven Spielberg discusses everything from conception to casting to production
to the after effects of Duel. He gives all the details on how the film was made
in only 13 days. Spielberg talks about how he got the job and how Hitchcock was
a great influence on this picture, recognizing him as a very influential filmmaker
and how he felt as if Hitchcock was whispering in his ear throughout the production, "Don't
ever let the audience off the hook."
Steven Spielberg And The Small Screen (9:28)
Another interview with Spielberg about his start in television and how he initially
had no interest, but played along in hopes of someone giving him a feature film
one day. He claims that it was a "great experience to start in television."
Richard Matheson: The Writing Of Duel (9:30)
An interview with Richard Matheson on how he came up with the idea for the story and his interpretations. He gives great details about the script and what he thought of the film, especially the final sequence.
Photography Gallery
Trailer
Production Notes
Cast & Filmmaker Bios
"Thank you Duel for putting me on the map." -Steven Spielberg
*Steven Spielberg can be seen at multiple points throughout the film. Most notable one being a reflection in the phone booth.
Review by 'The Urby Show'
