Tonight on MeTV- it’s time for a road trip- but this one is hardly enjoyable for the driver! Motoring down a dangerous desert highway, a traveling salesman finds himself tailed by a mysterious mass of moving metal - a terrifying tanker truck- as it seemingly targets his vehicle! This bumper-bashing behemoth takes on Dennis Weaver in a pedal-to-the-metal one-sided demolition derby- in a deadly “Duel”!
We meet David (Weaver) who has had better weeks- he's late for a big business meeting, and on the outs with his wife after an incident at a party. The solace of a drive on the wide-open, lonely two-lane desert highway could almost be mediation for him- but he finds himself stuck behind a tanker truck, whose noxious exhaust makes him cough, while its slowpoke driving delays his progress. He tries to pass the truck, but its driver appears to be toying with him- blocking his attempts to pass. He finally squeezes past the tanker- only to have it barrel down the road and pass him! David makes a pit stop at a gas station- and there is the truck parked opposite his car at the pumps! He makes a quick call to his wife, which only pours more gas on their fiery argument (see what I did there?)- and is pretty steamed by the time the goofy service attendant tries to get him to replace a radiator hose. He pulls away from the station, as the mysterious trucker blasts his horn to get the attendant's attention.
David’s Plymouth Valiant heads down the highway, only to find the truck accelerating towards him, overtaking him and passing him- but it again slows down, blocking any attempt to pass! Some cat and mouse motoring ensues, with David realizing that he's definitely being targeted by the blacktop bully. David's drive deteriorates into a high-speed chase, with the tailgating truck playing "bumper cars" with the panicking salesman. Spotting a diner, David swerves off the road, giving him some bumps and bruises, and his car some new dents. Shaken up, his nerves shot, he stumbles into the diner to try and calm down.
That’s no help-because once inside and seated- he looks out the window and sees the truck parked right outside! Paranoia strikes as David scans the diner's patrons, feverishly trying to guess which one of them might be his nemesis! This leads to an uncomfortable case of mistaken accusation, and when David returns to his battered vehicle and hits the road again- the tanker truck is waiting for him- and the chase is on again! Can David escape from the monstrous eight-wheeler out to deal him mechanized death?
We get constant requests for Steven Spielberg’s legendary 1971 early full-length directing effort. It was originally made for TV, but we have an expanded version used for theatrical showing. Dennis Weaver's raw emotions as the driver faced with the inexplicable threat of treacherous road rage will have YOUR adrenaline pumping as well. We will tell you a little about the production with its somewhat limited cast, serenade you with a Sven song, and show you a Sven take-off on an animated cartoon driver -plus, we bring back a favorite parody of what was a much-talked about insurance commercial (done before that certain company hooked up with an emu) and more!
"Duel" hits the road tonight at 8 pm eastern/pacific, 9 central on MeTV- if you're unsure of time and channel in your area, check your local listings, or at www.metv.com. MeTV invites you to join the crowd that is live-Tweeting during the show- they have us trending among the most-posted about topics nationally every week! Just head to Twitter and use the hashtag #svengoolie . Our Chicago area viewers can head back to the big top for fearsome fun with “Killer Klowns from Outer Space”" at 11 am on our main local channel, CW26.
Speaking of which, “Killer Klowns” was a big hit with our Sven viewers- with the reaction,we may have to bring it back later this year! We also want to thank all of you who took the survey regarding possible new Sven merchandise. You may see some of the suggestions in our store before too long!
Tonight, fasten your seat belts for a wild ride with a stalking semi on MeTV!
3606 Comments
cause I can smell l l l l what the Sven is cooking 🧑🍳 🎩 🧑🍳
Oh look, here come those nice young men in their shiny, white coats. I think they want me to come with them.
In his ads, he got the address of the local dealership wrong, confusing (local) Pacific Highway South with "South Pacific Coast Highway."
Californians...
"I will stand upon my fez until my face it is so red, see Hakim, see Hakim, see Hakim!"
https://www.rogerebert.com/features/book-excerpt-steven-spielberg-and-duel-the-making-of-a-film-career
🚗 *_* 🚙
https://www.metv.com/stories/beaky-buzzard-was-retired-to-honor-original-voice-actor
