Duel (1971) - The Hybrid Cut

[iguanaclerk]

This is a cross-post from OT.com (where I am ElectricTriangle).

Duel was originally released on TV with a 70-minute runtime. For its European theatrical premiere, Spielberg added more footage to get it to a required 90 minute runtime. Some of this is new car scenes and some of it is more obvious padding (the opening credits and the conversation with Mann’s wife.) In addition to the new footage, additional directorial changes were made, including a new, dynamic mono sound mix and the removal of much of David Mann’s redundant inner monologue to great effect.
This fan edit mostly follows the original, tighter TV edit of the film, while also using the theatrical sound mix and removing the inner monologues. It also includes the further edits made to the film for the DVD and Bluray release (which removes more inner thoughts). I also created some new opening and closing title cards to match the TV edit.
I used a 4:3 HDTV copy as the base because the Blu ray is unfortunately only available in cropped 1.85:1. Special thanks to DrDre’s ColorMatch tool tool which was incredibly useful to help match the different sources and make the older scan look a little nicer.

Sources used:
Duel 4:3 HDTV (primary video)
Duel Blu ray (primary mono audio and color reference)
Duel NSTC DVD (used to patch out logos in the HDTV)
Duel 16:9 Cropped French Digital SD TV airing (two brief shots)
Duel TV VHS Recording (some audio)
Duel SD extras documentary (partial opening shot which was blended with the French Digital source and the Bluray)
Columbo Blu ray (pilot episodes) (opening and closing Universal logo)

Sample Images: https://imgur.com/a/lwopT

Video: 7.05 GB 1080p HD MKV
Audio: 2.0 Mono FLAC
01:13:08

Version 2 changes:
-No more VHS footage (Footage from the TV cut is now sourced from a cropped French digital airing, with a custom matte to “uncrop” the opening shot.)
-A different, more balanced color grade.
-patched out the HDNet logos with DVD footage.
-English Subtitles

Available via the 'spleen or PM.

[Beber]

You might be interested in my 1440x1080i pseudo-HD recording but definitely digital at the least of the actual TV cut. Of course it has logos and pop-ups after the 2 commercial breaks and in the ending credits on top of a couple French burnt-in subtitles :

https://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/12763...201448.jpg
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https://img11.hostingpics.net/pics/74535...201733.jpg

[iguanaclerk]

Uh, holy shit. Thanks a ton for this. I knew there should be digital recordings of the TV cut somewhere (the VHS copy is from a digital era broadcast and the DVD doc has clips from the TV master).

I'll PM for a copy.

[captainsolo]

So correct me if I'm wrong here but there are now several versions:
1. TV original 1.33 version
2. Extended theatrical release 1.85
2. VHS/LD 1.33 version seemingly 90 min theatrical version with or without the notes below
3. DVD 1.33 version with 5.1 remix and
"The DVD version is the 90-minute version, but it differs from earlier releases in at least three instances. The camera shadow on the truck's roof (early on, see Goofs) is gone, corrected either digitally or through cropping. Toward the end, in the VHS version, a voice-over makes it very clear what David is planning to do: go at least 70 miles per hour through "Frenchman's Pass," an incline that the truck won't be able to climb very fast; on the DVD, the voice-over is removed, and all one hears is David shouting, "You can't beat me on the grade!" Finally, another fifteen- or twenty-second shot showing David's eyes superimposed over the road as another voice-over reveals he is about to get on the incline, has been removed."
4. BD 1.85 otherwise same as DVD

Seems the more I research, the more confused I get. The film is a masterpiece but I'm not sure if I've ever seen the short version. The 35mm print I've seen from the studio was absolutely gorgeous and pristine. It was the 90min version with the same runtime and identical to the DVD IIRC-and most importantly was 1.33 without the occasional color shifts found on the BD.

[iguanaclerk]

So correct me if I'm wrong here but there are now several versions:
1. TV original 1.33 version
2. Extended theatrical release 1.85
2. VHS/LD 1.33 version seemingly 90 min theatrical version with or without the notes below
3. DVD 1.33 version with 5.1 remix and
"The DVD version is the 90-minute version, but it differs from earlier releases in at least three instances. The camera shadow on the truck's roof (early on, see Goofs) is gone, corrected either digitally or through cropping. Toward the end, in the VHS version, a voice-over makes it very clear what David is planning to do: go at least 70 miles per hour through "Frenchman's Pass," an incline that the truck won't be able to climb very fast; on the DVD, the voice-over is removed, and all one hears is David shouting, "You can't beat me on the grade!" Finally, another fifteen- or twenty-second shot showing David's eyes superimposed over the road as another voice-over reveals he is about to get on the incline, has been removed."
4. BD 1.85 otherwise same as DVD

Seems the more I research, the more confused I get. The film is a masterpiece but I'm not sure if I've ever seen the short version. The 35mm print I've seen from the studio was absolutely gorgeous and pristine. It was the 90min version with the same runtime and identical to the DVD IIRC-and most importantly was 1.33 without the occasional color shifts found on the BD.

Yep. That about covers it. Although, the BD doesn't crop the individual shot of the camera shadow on the truck's roof because it is the 1.85 framing that scene was shot in.

The tv edit is available on a VHS copy from Myspleen or Beber's french digital copy. (which has logos, is stretched and somewhat cropped. It also weirdly cuts to the theatrical cut end credits, I think to make sure the actors get credit?)
I was originally going to recreate the TV edit in HD, but I wasn't too hot about using VHS footage, and I liked the removal of the monologues and theatrical sound mix.

[iguanaclerk]

I just finished version two of this edit which adds some polish and gets rid of the remaining VHS footage with the help of a new source (thanks to Beber for the French TV capture). I also gave it a new color grade, patched out the HDNet logos with DVD footage, and added subtitles

Available via the 'spleen or PM.

[spoRv]

Happy to hear that! Some screenshots would be welcome!

[iguanaclerk]

Added to the first post