The Duellists
"A staggeringly beautiful film..." -Leonard Maltin
Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel star in this dramatic film about two officers in Napoleon's army who violently confront each other in a series of savage duels. The duels begin as a reaction to a minor incident and escalate into a consuming passion that rules the lives of both men for a period of 30 years. Based on Joseph Conrad's story, The Duellists explores the themes of obsession, honor and violence. This visually breathtaking film weaves a compelling story through to an unexpected outcome. It was awarded the Best Debut Film at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival.
Member Reviews
4 stars - Torsty
The Duellists is one of this chap's favourite movies and its artistic success is built on a terrific story, exemplary period details and costumes, as well as having some of the most wonderful cinematography ever put on to film.
It follows two French Napoleonic cavalry officers - mild-mannered Armand D'Hubert (Keith Carradine) and the quarrelsome Gabriel Ferraud (Harvey Keitel) - throughout a 16-year series of duels.
They are lieutenants when the movie begins and generals of brigade at its close, but their personalities and fortunes differ widely as they serve Napoleon Bonaparte.
The intitial duel occurs because D'Hubert informs Ferraud he must face the general for skewering a relative of the mayor of the town they are billeted in.
After that it's on for young and old every time the pair meet and the fights themselves are something to behold. They really are excellently staged and the guys look like they are going at it full bore.
The superb sound - which counterpoints a sublime flute-dominated soundtrack with the ringing harshness of blade on blade - will woo you as much as the beautiful images in front of your eyes.
The only way for D'Hubert, who fights for duty rather than for ill feeling, can avoid personal combat is if he stays away from Ferraud, is of a different rank, or the army is at war.
Unfortunately for him, but luckily for film buffs, that doesn't happen too often.
Carradine is at his most charming as D'Hubert, although Keitel's bitter and fiery Ferraud is likely to be the character most remembered.
They both are sensational and are backed-up by a wonderful support cast.
It is hard to know where to fault this movie - after all it did win an award at Cannes - other than to say that it doesn't go for long enough at 96 minutes.
The video transfer is excellent - with superbly toned colours - although there are a few artefacts.
In a word - stunning.Beautiful Photographed Much Ado About Nothing - Stitch
Some exceptional interior and travelogue photography almost persuaded me to go the three star route, but it's too much of a misrepresentation. However, if you can overlook a very thin plot and one clangor in casting, you may find enough interest in the mostly unconnected sub-plots (and many striking images of Napoleonic-era French habitat) to justify a couple of hours.
In brief, it’s the story of a nutter well portrayed by Harvey Keitel who makes life miserable for a decent chap played by Keith Carradine. That's it! And I use the word nutter because that’s the only explanation from the screenplay—Harvey’s character apparently takes offense for no good reason. Sort of a stalker with a propensity for very extreme sports.
Both are officers in Napoleon’s army and the story spans sixteen years. Along the way Keith’s character collects a love interest or two, and Christa Raines as Adele does give a fine performance. Unfortunately we never understand what her role is about unless to suggest camp followers have a darn tough life. Regretfully she is faded out without much impact, probably so we can move briskly into the next episodic scenario. Such as the retreat from Moscow which amounted to very artistically portrayed bad weather. I have no idea why Ridley threw this in except possibly to introduce the subsequent noble limp. All honorable officers limp, leaving the obese ones to be saddled with effete oportunism.
To the casting. Keitel is fine; he always handles slightly deranged very believeably. And Carradine well suits as a young officer, sufficiently attractive to justify female interest and suitably martial when required. But as the battle scarred general sixteen years later? Doesn't appear to have matured a whit. Simply incongruous, but by now the Stockholm syndrome has full control. Having suffered so long, seems a betrayal to escape before the ending.
In summary, great landscapes. And one decent sword fight.Nothing special - The_Crazed_Madman
I know this is not a very well known film from director Ridley Scott, so it's hard to say it's not worth seeing, but I just didnt like it too much. There wasnt much of a story, it involves 2 people fighting over and over for hardly any reason at all. Which I wouldn't have minded if the fights at least looked good, but they didn't. That may sound superficial, but theres nothing much to see in this film...maybe except for a few scenes that have good cinematography...but thats about it. It wasnt a bad film, just nothing special.
Member Reviews
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4 stars - Torsty
The Duellists is one of this chap's favourite movies and its artistic success is built on a terrific story, exemplary period details and costumes, as well as having some of the most wonderful cinematography ever put on to film.
It follows two French ...Beautiful Photographed Much Ado About Nothing - Stitch
Some exceptional interior and travelogue photography almost persuaded me to go the three star route, but it's too much of a misrepresentation. However, if you can overlook a very thin plot and one clangor in casting, you may find enough interest in the mostly ...Nothing special - The_Crazed_Madman
I know this is not a very well known film from director Ridley Scott, so it's hard to say it's not worth seeing, but I just didnt like it too much. There wasnt much of a story, it involves 2 people fighting over and over for hardly any reason at all. Which ...