Duel

Duel (1971) is a film directed by Steven Spielberg. Based on a short film with the same name, the film initially did extremely well and was released to cinemas all over the world. Duel has gained a large cult following and reputation as a cult film.

Synopsis: While travelling through the desert for an appointment with a client, the businessman David Mann from California passes a slow and old tanker truck. The psychotic truck driver feels offended and chases David along the empty highway trying to kill him.

I chose Duels Diner scene due to its range of foley sounds and as somebody that wants to attempt more foley, it interested me a lot.

Sound in Duel

• The film has very little dialogue, with the truck diver having none. Because Spielberg wanted the vehicles to speak for themselves.
• Duel was filmed on a tight schedule and based on a short story, so it was hard to fill the 75 minutes of the television debut. Visuals and audio where the films focus, because of these factors.
• Sound is use to humanise and emote how characters are feeling sometimes.
• According to Spielberg, “sound has to fit like a glove…it makes everything scarier”
• Used a minimal score by Billy Goldenburg. Composed for strings, harp, keyboards, heavy use of percussion, synthesisers, brass and woodwind.

My approach to duel

Im mostly interested in the sounds in the scene, keeping a minimal score in the background just to accentuate the mood of the scene. The sound design and foley will be prominent within the mix.