Where Was Duel Filmed? Spielberg’s Intense Tv Movie From 1971!!

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Intense action TV movies are hard to come by. So if you’re searching for a similar kind of film, then you can stop searching further, as you’ve come to the right place. Read this piece, to know more about the exciting Tv movie, Duel, starring Dennis Weaver. Furthermore, I’ll also let you in on where was Duel filmed.

The American action thriller flick, Duel premiered on ABC channel, back in the summer of 1971. Famous Hollywood filmmaker Steven Spielberg was at the helm of affairs for this project and worked alongside Richard Matheson. The director was so inspired by Matheson’s short story, that he decided to make a film on it, after acquiring the shooting rights.

The basic premise of Duel revolves around the character of David Mann, a middle-aged American business commuter. The story takes a sharp turn when the American businessman locks horns with a stubborn tractor driver.

The makers of Duel were satisfied with the commercial performance of the movie. This intense thriller film was received well by both audiences and critics. Over the years, Duel collected a number of prestigious nominations and won 3 major awards, including a Primetime Emmy.

So, if you’re interested in knowing where was Duel filmed, then continue to read this article till the very end.

Where Was Duel Filmed? Let’s Know This Action Thriller Film Closely!

The story of Duel was set in California. Thus after the makers of this project reviewed the shooting budget, they decided to shoot this film on location. Subsequently, a special team was formed, and the director instructed them to scout for proper filming locations in and around the state of California.

After several weeks, the production members came up with various locations around this beautiful state of the West Coast. As Spielberg wanted to shoot around locations that were located near multi-lane highways, he chose the shooting locations accordingly.

Important to mention that before the principal photography began,  the production members had to acquire special shooting permission from the government for filming the outdoor sequences on the highway.

Then, finally, after all the necessary formalities were completed by the crew, the director instructed them to begin shooting. The principal photography began in the second week of September 1971 and continued till the first week of October of the same year.

No major incident took place on set during the course of the shooting. The filming schedule remained unchanged for the most part. Now guys, are you ready to find out where was Duel filmed? Then without waiting any longer, let’s dive right in!

California | USA

The opening sequence of the movie, where we see the character of David Mann for the first time, was actually filmed in the city of Los Angeles. The production members used a vacant shop and turned it around to look like a transport company office. 

But, while the production members were turning around the shop, which was located near South Broadway, they ran into a major problem. However, after the matter was resolved, the opening interior sequences were then filmed.

Other pivotal sequences of the movie were shot around the sparsely populated area of Agua Dulce, in California. The outdoor scene, where we are introduced to the character of Willy, was filmed outside of Le Chene. The production members used this actual truck stop, which is located at 12625 Sierra Highway, to capture other sequences depicting Chuck’s Cafe as well.

Additional sequences of the movie were then shot around the Canyon Country and Acton too. The sequences of the gas station where the protagonist encounters the antagonist in the movie were filmed around these places.

While capturing the outdoor sequences around these locations, the production members had to use special lighting equipment for filming the scenes during the night. Then finally, the filming crew shot the ending sequence of the movie around the Mystery Mesa area of California and wrapped the entire shooting process.

So, if you’re planning to visit California in 2023, then you can surely look up Sierra Valley, Daytona Beach, San Diego, Yosemite National Park, and Santa Barbara. These are some of the most sought-after places in California, which are often visited by locals and tourists from all parts of the world.

Now, let’s take a closer look at the plot of Duel. Meanwhile, you can check out Scream VI, Harry Potter, and Float as well.

Plot Of Duel | What’s It About

Where Was Duel Filmed? Spielberg’s Intense Tv Movie From 1971!!

The basic premise of Duel revolves around the characters of an American businessman and a trucker. At the very beginning of the film, the character of David Mann appears to enjoy a cup of coffee inside his office, while he receives an alarming phone call.

As the story progresses further, he deduces that the phone call was made by a deranged American trucker. Upon inquiring further, the male lead finds out that the knocked-up trucker had been stalking him the whole time. Eventually, David musters up the courage to confront the trucker. Watch Duel to understand what happens, when the male lead finally meets with his stalker.

Final Words

Alright, folks, so now that we’ve reached the end, I hope now you finally know where was Duel filmed. If you think we missed out on anything, do let us know in the comments section below. But, hey, if you think the read was worth your time and you enjoyed reading it, then you can mention that as well. Either way, do tell us about your thoughts!

Who Are The Cast Members Of The Film Duel?

The cast of the film Duel includes Dennis Weaver, Jacqueline Scott and Carey Loftin along with some others.

Who Is The Cinematographer Of The Film Duel?

Jack Marta is the cinematographer of the film Duel.

What Is The Rating Of The Film Duel?

The film Duel has an R rating.

Who Is The Music Director Of The Film Duel?

Billy Goldenberg is the music director of the film Duel.

Who Is The Producer Of The Film Duel?

George Eckstein and Frank Morris are the producers of the film Duel, amongst a few others.

Ujwal Mattoo
Ujwal Mattoo
With full journalism and half engineering background, Ujwal has hands in both the tech and creative fields. He is a film enthusiast who loves all kinds of genres. As much as he enjoys watching movies, he is always amused to know more and write about the locations to feed his hunger for traveling. In this world of fictional louds, he voices his opinions softly! He is either busy writing or playing with Milo, his dog!

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