An enormous, lumbering horse opera, done up like an oversexed prize-winning bronco but revealing itself as a florid cartoon nag. DUEL is full of grand spectacle, steamy sensualism, and a storyline that could have snaked only out of Hollywood; it was Selznick's hymn to the allure of
Jennifer Jones (in for Hedy Lamarr and, unbelievably, Teresa Wright--both were pregnant) and her failing entry into the Jane Russell/OUTLAW sex-goddess sweepstakes. Gregory Peck actually plays the studly bully who loves her (original choice when the project began in 1944 was John Wayne, but the
dubious sex angle made him squeamish), and lightning blazes when they kiss. How to criticize a climax with two lovers orgasmically shooting each other to smithereens? The unforgettable supporting cast includes Walter Huston, having one whale of a good time as a hellfire preacher, Butterfly McQueen
caricaturing her GWTW role (!) and Lillian Gish and Joseph Cotten as bastions of restraint. This is undeniable hooey, but it's also candybox entertainment. Can you really afford to miss Peck taming a sex-crazed stallion? Or Jones crawling for miles, spouting blood and words of love for her surly
beau? We think not.
DUEL's accent on sex, heavy-handed and often repugnant, caused jocular critics of the day to dub the film "Lust in the Dust." The budget for the film soared beyond $6 million before it was over and an additional $2 million was used to scandalously promote the sex angle. A storm of protest from
Catholic and Protestant leaders alike thunderclapped over Selznick's head. All over America local authorities competed with each other to ban the film. It was censored in Memphis and kicked out of Hartford, Connecticut. Certain scenes had to be edited before DUEL IN THE SUN opened in Philadelphia
and other major cities. The publicity was enormous, and the public ignored the universal drubbing the film received from critics, flocking to see it and returning $12 million to the Selznick coffers. The film was begun in 1944, with John Wayne originally set to play the bad cowboy, but he veered
away from the film after reading the dubious script. leave a comment
