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Steven Spielberg dropped out of school in 1969 to work for Universal Pictures. His first project for them was an episode of Night Gallery that starred Joan Crawford as a blind woman who receives and eye transplant. Spielberg was frustrated by the experience, however, and took some time off from filmmaking. In 1970 he returned to work on Duel. Legend has it that Spielberg was sneaking around the Universal Pictures mailroom when he ran across the script for Duel. He loved the script so much that he begged Universal to let him direct it; Universal acquiesced and Duel was born. The studio originally wanted Gregory Peck for the role that eventually went to Dennis Weaver. When Gregory Peck turned down the role, Universal decided to make the film for broadcast on television.
Other notes from the production:
Duel first aired in 1971 as a Saturday Night Movie on CBS to generally favorable reviews.
Universal released Duel overseas in 1973. The film's original 74 minutes wasn't long enough for a theatrical release, so Universal spent two days filming extra footage. Universal also dubbed in profanity.
The diner in Duel, located on the Sierra Highway in Saugus, California, is now a French restaurant called "Le Chene."
The lady at the Snake-o-rama Gas Station, actress Lucille Benson, also appears as a gas station attendant in Spielberg's film 1941.
Note the name of the pest control company sedan towards the end of Duel -- "Grebleips." This is, of course, "Spielberg" spelled backwards.
Don't be put off by the film's lack of dialogue; in film classes across the country, Duel is taught as a contemporary example of a silent film.
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