Duel (1971 First Feature)

Duel (1971 First Feature)

Author: Awesome Movie Year October 22, 2025 Duration: 52:14

The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1971 features the second of two picks for a notable debut feature, Steven Spielberg’s Duel. Directed by Steven Spielberg from a screenplay by Richard Matheson (based on his short story) and starring Dennis Weaver, Duel aired as an ABC TV movie in the U.S. and was released theatrically in Europe and Australia.

The contemporary review quoted in this episode comes from Janet Maslin in The New York Times (https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/15/movies/spielberg-s-duel-four-wheel-combat.html).

Check out more info and the entire archive of past episodes at https://www.awesomemovieyear.com and visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/awesomemovieyear 

You can find Jason on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/JHarrisComedy/, on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jasonharriscomedy/ and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/goforjason/

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You can find our producer David Rosen and his Piecing It Together Podcast at https://www.piecingpod.com, on Twitter at @piecingpod, on Bluesky at piecingpod.bsky.social and on Letterboxd at https://letterboxd.com/bydavidrosen/ 

Join the Popcorn & Puzzle Pieces Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/piecingpod for more movie discussion and our Awesome Movie Year audience choice polls.

All of the music in the episode is by David Rosen. Find more of his music at https://www.bydavidrosen.com

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Please like, share, rate and comment on the show and this episode, and tune in for the next 1971 episode, a Halloween special featuring Mario Bava’s A Bay of Blood.


Ever wonder what makes a particular year in cinema truly stand out? Awesome Movie Year digs into that very question, one remarkable film at a time. Co-hosted by film critic Josh Bell alongside filmmaker and comedian Jason Harris, this podcast picks a single, noteworthy year each season and meticulously explores what made it so special. Rather than broad overviews, every episode zooms in on a different movie from that chosen year, offering a deep dive into its impact, its cultural moment, and its lasting legacy. The conversations blend critical analysis with a genuine love for the medium, thanks to the hosts' complementary backgrounds. Produced by David Rosen of Piecing It Together for the All Points West Podcast Network, the show has a polished yet conversational feel. You’ll hear about blockbusters and hidden gems alike, all through the lens of why they mattered then and why they still resonate. It’s for anyone who loves to look beyond the screen and understand the context that creates a classic. Tune in to Awesome Movie Year for a thoughtful and engaging tour through some of cinema’s most fascinating periods.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 375

Awesome Movie Year
Podcast Episodes
Death Becomes Her (1992 Halloween Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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In this epilogue to our season on the awesome movie year of 1992, we talk about alternate movies we considered including in all of our different categories this season, and read suggestions from some listeners about whic…
Basic Instinct (1992 Audience Choice) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:14
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Shakes The Clown (1992 Future Cult Classic) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:07
The twelfth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1992 features our future cult classic pick, Bobcat Goldthwait’s Shakes the Clown. Written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait and starring Goldthwait, Julie Br…
Dead Alive (1992 Dave’s Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:59
The eleventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1992 features our producer David Rosen’s pick, Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive. Directed and co-written by Peter Jackson and starring Timothy Balme, Diana Peñalv…
Unforgiven (1992 Best Picture) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:54
The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1992 features the Academy Awards Best Picture winner, Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven. Directed by Clint Eastwood from a script by David Webb Peoples and starring…
In The Soup (1992 Sundance Award Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1992 features the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize winner, Alexandre Rockwell’s In the Soup. Directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell and starring…
Peter’s Friends (1992 Jason’s Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:24
The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1992 features Jason’s personal pick, Kenneth Branagh’s Peter’s Friends. Directed by Kenneth Branagh from a screenplay by Rita Rudner and Martin Bergman and st…
Man Bites Dog (1992 Foreign Film) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:42
The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1992 features our foreign film pick, Belgian mockumentary Man Bites Dog. Directed by, co-written by and starring Rémy Belvaux, André Bonzel and Benoît Poelvo…