It was an early triumph for a young director named steven spielberg. It is the feature fulllength directorial debut of american director, producer, and screenwriter steven spielberg, and. The first hour or so of steven spielbergs close encounters of the third kinda movie that opened forty years agois unparalleled in its combination of scary and funny ideas. A lumber businessman peterman, who was looking for an enhanced way for moving logs. He tested his limits with the truck driver in this movie when he tried to. Road games 1981 stacy keach, an american trucker working in australia, begins to suspect that the driver of a green van he keeps seeing on the road is a notorious serial killer, but the more he tries to prove it, the more he unwittingly indicts himself and his big old truck. This was one of dennis weavers first film roles after he left the television series. Owned by self made man brad wike in north carolina. Sir ben kingsley l and ferdinand kingsley arrive for the uk movie premiere of the bfg on. Steven spielbergs first movie in his stardom to awesomeness. Duel 1971, steven spielberg in 2020 peterbilt trucks. Duel 1971 shot for us tv by spielberg aged 25, this monster truck movie ie, a monster movie with a lorry as the unceasing beast was fleshed out for its cinema release. Steven spielberg born december 18, 1946 is an american director, producer, and screenwriter.
Steven spielberg s first fulllength film pits a menacing, unseen trucker driving a 1960 peterbilt 281 tanker truck against david mann dennis weaver driving a red 1970 plymouth valiant signet. 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. Steven spielbergs movies, ranked worst to best rolling. Spielberg started in hollywood directing television and several minor theatrical releases. 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. The truck from duel is a piece of movie history the aficionauto takes a closer look at the villain from steven spielberg s first movie. The scenes in firelight were shot in 1963 in various locations around phoenix, including the spielberg home. A lifelong cinema buff, he began directing his first short movies. Duel stars dennis weaver who portrays a terrified motorist driving a plymouth valiant. The aficionauto talks to brad wike, a trucker from north carolina who. Duel, steven spielbergs first movie, is a featurelength chase that pits mann and his plymouth valiant against a soupedup diesel. I saw duel on its first release in the uk, as a support film. Peter jackson is making a secret amblin movie for steven spielberg. A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by the malevolent driver of a massive tractortrailer.
Steven spielbergs debut directorial first time as a director in a complete movie duel, was about an unending battle between a motorist and a crazy truck driver. The truck driver was played by carey loftin, and when he asked. Fans got a first look at steven spielbergs anticipated ready player one in hall h on saturday at comiccon the footage for the 80sthemed but futureset actionadventure. A steven spielberg movie, made in the 1970s, about an unstoppable force. He is considered one of the founding pioneers of the new hollywood era and one of the most popular directors and producers in film history. It will be on display saturday at a truck show near lincolnton. The film was one of the first roles for drew barrymore. The post director steven spielberg has criticised superhero movies for driving out legitimate cinema and good independent films. The first shot of the movie is tom hanks hand shaking, and i went right through to the end of the. One of the most influential personalities in the history of cinema, steven spielberg is hollywoods best known director and one of. 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. Spielberg wanted to use a conventional rather than the cabovers that were prevalent at the time because the long nose looked more menacing. He is the nameless and unseen driver of a large rusty 1955 peterbilt 281 gasoline tanker truck. Duel the best bits of film trivia the tanker driver.
Steven spielbergs first fulllength film pits a menacing, unseen trucker driving a 1960 peterbilt 281 tanker truck against david mann dennis weaver driving. The truck from duel is a piece of movie history the drive. Both vehicles take part in a thrilling chase to the death thatll leave you on the edge of your seat throughout the film. He was portrayed by the late carey loftin biography. That sounds like an absurd thing to say, given the sheer amount of humor in, say, e. Jan 19, 2020 screened monday march 17 2008 on dvd projected at drvin, manhattans only drivein theater imdb wiki steven spielbergs first feature production, in which a seemingly driverless peterbilt truck terrorizes dennis weavers salesman on a california highway, is an object lesson in narrative. Directed by a young, 23 yearold steven spielberg, duel features a vigilante trucker who decides to chase down a vehicle that attempted to overtake him on a deserted highway. Theatrical trailer for 1971s steven spielberg classic duel, starring dennis weaver. There can never be another steven spielberg the ringer. The 1989 film always tells the tale of a recently deceased pilots spirit looking out for a newer pilot only to find him falling for the spirits surviving girlfriend.
I dont recall the main feature, but i remember rushing out of the cinema to check. Based on this simple yet frightening premise, steven spielberg directed duel, his first real movie, in 1971. The most commercially successful filmmaker in hollywood history, steven spielberg was born december 18, 1946, in cincinnati, oh. Duel movie 1971 dennis weaver, steven spielberg video. Posted on sunday, november 11, 2018 by bz the film duel was the first feature film appearance of director steven spielberg. 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. It was the first sound system out for consumer use, a bolex sonorizer. Richard matheson screenplay, richard matheson story. Based on this simple yet frightening premise, steven spielberg directed duel, his first fulllength movie, in 1971. With dennis weaver, jacqueline scott, eddie firestone, lou frizzell. According to wikipedia, the truck in duel was a 1955 peterbilt 281. Duel was one of stephen spielbergs first films, and it was an incredible start. At the beginning of the movie, you start with this incredible dday sequence.
It is the feature fulllength directorial debut of american director, producer, and screenwriter steven spielberg, and is distributed by universal pictures dennis weaver portrays david mann, a business commuter from california driving a plymouth valiant while on his way to meet a. A life in films, recently published by yale university presss jewish lives series, looks back at the career of a director who has been enchanting global cinema audiences. See more ideas about road rage, peterbilt trucks and peterbilt. When carey loftin, playing the truck driver, asked steven spielberg what his. What could be more disturbing than a psychopathic trucker, behind the wheel of a derelict truck, harassing innocent motorists out on the highway. Steven spielberg arrives for the uk movie premiere of the bfg on july 17, 2016 in london, england.
A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by a malevolent driver of a massive tractortrailer. Aug 18, 2016 references for my diorama project tribute to the classic road rage film, duel. Richard matheson based his original novella, which first appeared in the. Steven spielberg, american movie director and producer whose filmswhich ranged from sciencefiction fare, including close encounters of the third kind 1977 and e. The worlds most successful and famous director ascended with a cunning combination of personal artistry and industry savvy. Duel 1971 official trailer dennis weaver, steven spielberg. He is also one of the cofounders of dreamworks studios in a career spanning more than four decades, spielbergs films have spanned many themes and genres. Truck collector brad wike with the 1960 peterbilt used in filming the movie duel. He is also one of the cofounders of dreamworks studios in a career spanning more than four decades, spielberg s films have spanned many themes and genres. Its easy to imagine a young steven spielberg in 2012 who, instead of showing his movies to his parents, in the living room, or once at a local movie theatre, would get wide attention by way of. 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. He studies the patrons and confronts one he believes to be the truck driver.
Duel 1971 steven spielberg, film locations a business. Duel, steven spielbergs first movie, is a featurelength chase that. T the extraterrestrial, the story of a lovable stranded alien who is befriended by a young boy. How steven spielberg grew a social conscience the times. Several times in steven spielbergs prolific career, hes released two films within a few months, like jurassic park in june 1993 and schindlers list that december. The truck was found in a scrap yard and outfitted with a new engine and transmission and made to look as shabby as possible. The film is the fulllength film directing debut of american director, producer, and. Duel is a 1971 american action thriller film written by richard matheson, which is based on his own short story.
Did the duel truck driver openly presented what he did. Steven spielberg teases possible new stories from movies like the. This peterbilt is the only surviving truck from steven spielbergs first film. The movie is set in a fictional arizona town, with. He is considered one of the founding pioneers of the new hollywood era, as well as one of the most popular directors and producers in film history.
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