Duel (TV) (1971; USA; Technicolor; 89m) ∗∗∗∗ d. Steven Spielberg; w. Richard Matheson; ph. Jack A. Marta; m. Billy Goldenberg. Cast: Dennis Weaver, Eddie Firestone, Gene Dynarski, Tim Herbert, Jacqueline Scott, Lou Frizzell, Lucille Benson, Dale Van Sickel, Dick Whittington, Charles Seel, Alexander Lockwood, Amy Douglass, Carey Loftin, Shirley O’Hara, Shawn Steinman. A business commuter is pursued and terrorized by a malevolent driver of a massive tractor-trailer. Spielberg’s first movie sees him stretch a simple premise into a tense, nail-biting hour-and-a-half. Weaver splendidly conveys the everyman in peril. The film is edited and shot with efficiency and style. Goldenberg’s score adds to the tension as do the gutteral sounds of the truck. Matheson adapted his own short story. After airing on U.S. TV at 74m, Spielberg expanded it into a feature for release in Europe. [PG]