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Duel & The Distributor by Richard Matheson
01/09/2004 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Gauntlet Press. 352 page coffeetable size book. Price: $66.00 (US). ISBN: 1-88736872-8. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. check out website: www.gauntletpress.com
Gauntlet Press
Remember the film 'Duel' directed by some chap called Steven Spielberg in 1971 which became something of a cult classic where salesman David Mann (actor Dennis Weaver) is stalked by an oil trucker on the highway? Everyone mentions Spielberg (and I wonder what happened to him?) but few remember it was based on a short story and screenplay by Richard Matheson. It is because of this pedigree that this particular book is going to be of value to film collectors as much as our specialist market because this documents and includes the original short story, original screenplay - including all the modifications, and an interview with actor Dennis Weaver together with some promotion stills. Without this fantastic script, I suspect Spielberg would probably have bummed around for a year or two longer looking for a decent script.
Matheson, himself, discloses that he got the idea for the story after hearing about similar experiences and actually travelled the road, making taped notes before writing the story. With our knowledge and having seen so many films, it's not difficult to see how this is a series of linked events all designed to build into a crescendo at the end. The fact that it works so well is an attribute to Matheson's skill as a writer and it is possible to read the script and visualise the scenes without looking at the film. It must have been a dream for Spielberg.
This in itself makes the next story and script here rather unique as 'The Distributor' never made it into production. It tells of a new house owner to a neighbourhood who undermines everyone around him. In some respects, it feels a lot like a more vicious Twilight Zone episode but with a bit more leeway as it was film length. Quite why it never made production is debatable. Maybe it was a little too close to the truth and how knife-edge society was in 1958 when the short story was written. There is no indication when the screenplay was written but with a few modifications, it would probably still work today even if some people would compare it to 'The Burbs' only far more vicious. Urban terrorists please note: Don't try this at home.
Although I would normally balk at the price of this book, it is a limited edition and it's likely to sell out to the film enthusiast as much as the Matheson fans. If your tastes move in such direction, it's in your interest to get a copy.
GF Willmetts 
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