Dennis Weaver on This day in History

Duel (1971) Movie

This Day in History: Dennis Weaver died on this day in 2006. Best known for his starring role in the NBC police drama McCloud, others my age know him from the movie Duel in the early 70's. Duel was Steven Spielberg's first full length feature film about a tank truck chasing Weaver in his Plymouth Valiant. Duel was a thriller that had a Hitchcock feel about it:

"The hero is an ordinary man who is suddenly plunged into trouble by mere happenstance. Chaos and violence erupt, totally disrupting his complacent routine. Macabre and bizarre events take place in broad daylight. The hero’s life is in danger, he is chased by a malevolent force, and the climax is a plunge over a cliff.”~Andrew M. Gordon

You never actually see the driver, so the truck was the villain. In fact, trucks were actually auditioned for the role and a 1955 Peterbilt 281 won the role because of its menacing look. Dennis Weaver drove 2000 miles shooting his scenes in this low budget movie that had to be filmed in only 10 days. The Snakerama gas station seen in the movie shows up again in Spielberg's 1979 comedy, 1941.

Oh, and you can watch the entire movie for free on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-6A79qTFNg

McCloud Intro
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2wjvoOmVM

McCloud, starring John Denver
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVtfSrKStTY