Film Review - Duel (1971)

Figure 1

Duel as a film is incredibly simplistic, its premise is tiny but its scope is massive. It can be shortened down simply to Car Chase, a possible forerunner to films such as the recent Mad Max Fury Road. Visually there is nothing special going on during the film, but when the consideration of the camera enters the mix our perception of events is changed, Janet Maslin remarks that ''Duel'' might almost have been a silent film, because it expresses so much through action and so little through the words that are here." (Maslin, 1983). This is arguably true because even though through music and sound effects you can create emotion and tone the impressive thing which absorbs us here is the death defying chase along narrow cliff edges ravines. It creates a totally immersive experience for the viewer, and this is why it is fundamentally a much talked about film.  

Figure 2

The Antagonist of this feature is the Truck. Its a monstrous and grotesque machine which applies pressure throughout gradually creating deep seated panic in everyone concerned including the audience. It is arguable that the reason we are so able to associate the truck with this is summed up by Greg Moss in his feature review of Duel "The concealment of the truck driver’s identity allows the truck itself to take on its own persona." (Moss, 2014) meaning instead of simply having a machine which runs on fuel and is completely lifeless, as it has no one to control it is seems animalistic and uncontrollable. There is no ability to understand or communicate with it, its appearance of the battered, rusted and 'flammable' entitled body work gives us a sense which furthers this about its persona.

Its appearance also lends weight to believing it has complete and utter placement in its environment and belongs there. It is readily apparent that once Mann has left the city, he is in the trucks territory. 

Figure 3

There is an underlying theme of Masculinity during the feature also. Howard points out that "The brief conversation colors the entire film, as does the radio program that Mann listens to during the introductory scenes." (Howard, 2011), regarding this, we begin to make constant assumptions about the environment, and characters involved. The Comparison between the Hulking rusty Peterbilt 281 truck and the little red Plymouth Valiant demonstrates a contrast between how demasculated Mann is presented, and his constant struggle to gain control over a situation he would never be able to have thew upper hand in. It is possible to contrast the environment to the struggle of Mann dealing with the confrontation of his boss hitting on his wife, the hostility of the environment and the leap to assertion is arid and harsh, it could been seen that its an obstacle he must conquer in order to come out the other side with renewed masculinity. Unfortunately it would seem that even after the constant stomach churning car chase, the only way Mann is able to gain anything back is to suicide his own vehicle in an effort to stop the truck from more onslaught. The fact if this act meant he would never finish is mission to confront his boss and he has sacrificed his only form of power in this situation.      

Bibliography:

Howard, E. (2011). Duel. [online] Seul-le-cinema.blogspot.co.uk. Available at: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/duel.html [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018].

Maslin, J. (1983). Movie Review - - 'SPIELBERG'S 'DUEL,' FOUR-WHEEL COMBAT - NYTimes.com. [online] Nytimes.com. Available at: http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9804EFD81138F936A25757C0A965948260 [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018].

Moss, G. (2014). Steven Spielberg’s Duel – feature review. [online] mossfilm. Available at: https://mossfilm.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/steven-spielbergs-duel-feature-review/ [Accessed 28 Feb. 2018].

Illustrations:

Figure 1 - Duel (1971) [Film] - Steven Spielberg: George Eckstein: Universal Pictures

Figure 2 - Duel (1971) [Film] - Steven Spielberg: George Eckstein: Universal Pictures

Figure 3 - Duel (1971) [Film] - Steven Spielberg: George Eckstein: Universal Pictures