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 

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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
Fellini Satyricon (1969 Venice Film Festival Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:25
The tenth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features one of the Venice International Film Festival’s major award winners, Federico Fellini’s Fellini Satyricon. Directed and co-written by Federico Fe…
The Wild Bunch (1969 Jason’s Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:24
The ninth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features Jason’s personal pick, Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch. Directed and co-written by Sam Peckinpah and starring William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Rob…
A Boy Named Charlie Brown (1969 Animation) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:58
The eighth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features our animation pick, Peanuts adaptation A Boy Named Charlie Brown. Directed by Bill Melendez from a screenplay by Peanuts creator Charles M. Schu…
Z (1969 Foreign Film) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:44
The seventh episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features our foreign film pick, Costa-Gavras’ Z. Directed and co-written by Costa-Gavras (from the novel by Vassilis Vassilikos) and starring Jean-Louis…
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969 Josh’s Pick) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:13
The sixth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features Josh’s personal pick, Ronald Neame’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Directed by Ronald Neame from a screenplay by Jay Presson Allen (based on the…
Salesman (1969 Documentary) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:51
The fifth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features our documentary pick, the Maysles brothers’ Salesman. Directed by Albert and David Maysles with Charlotte Zwerin, Salesman is a key film in the d…
If…. (Cannes Award Winner) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:02
The fourth episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features the Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or winner, Lindsay Anderson’s If….. Directed by Lindsay Anderson from a screenplay by David Sherwin and starrin…
The Comic (1969 Box Office Flop) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:51
The third episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features the year’s biggest flop, Carl Reiner’s The Comic. Directed and co-written by Carl Reiner and starring Dick Van Dyke, Michele Lee and Mickey Roone…
Downhill Racer (1969 First Feature) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:19
The second episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features our pick for a notable filmmaking debut, Michael Ritchie’s Downhill Racer. Directed by Michael Ritchie from a screenplay by James Salter and sta…
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969 Box Office Champ) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:29
The first episode of our season on the awesome movie year of 1969 features the highest-grossing film at the box office, George Roy Hill’s Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Directed by George Roy Hill from a screenplay…