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The Duellists

7.2

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Original title

The Duellists

Year

1977

Running time

101 min.

Country

United Kingdom

Director

Ridley Scott

Screenwriter

Gerald Vaughan-Hughes. Novel: Joseph Conrad

Cast

Music

Howard Blake

Cinematography

Frank Tidy

Producer

Paramount Pictures, Enigma Films. Producer: David Puttnam

Genre

Drama | Costume Drama. 19th Century. Napoleonic Wars. Swashbuckler. Fencing

Movie Groups

Joseph Conrad Adaptations

Synopsis

During the era of the Napoleonic wars, a conflict arises between two of the emperor's cavalry officers when one of them, the aristocratic Lt. D'Hubert (Keith Carradine), is sent by his superior to deliver the message to commoner Lt. Ferraud (Harvey Keitel) that he's to be placed under house arrest for having wounded a man in another duel. Since Ferraud is with a woman at the time, he takes offense at the intrusion and challenges D'Hubert to a duel. Their match, though fierce, is without resolution. Whenever their paths cross, they continue their battle, fighting a series of six duels over the course of 14 years, paralleling Napoleon's major battles of the period. Scott's meditation focuses on the absurd vanity behind the old European code of honor--and the nature of warfare itself. All the distinguishing marks of Scott's later work is already on display here, from the meticulous re-creation of period costume, decor, and behavior to the lush, carefully composed photography.

Rankings Position

#103 Best British Movies

Awards: 1978: BAFTA Awards: Nominated for Best Cinematography and Best Costume Design

1977: Cannes: Best Ópera Prima

1977: David di Donatello Awards: Best Foreign Director (ex aequo)

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Critics' reviews

"One of those ambitious but flawed adventures (...) But Scott is still able to capture something extraordinary"

Mark Chalon Smith: Los Angeles Times
"Precise, intelligent, civilized (...) it never for a moment mistakes its narrative purpose"

Vincent Canby: The New York Times
"The film comes closer to working than it has any right to, given the curious casting and director Ridley Scott's inability to sustain dramatic tension or build a coherent scene"

Dave Kehr: Chicago Reader
"The period details are dryly elegant and painstakingly authentic. Yet the film feels underfed - there's not enough meat on the bones of the plot to warrant such opulence"

David Ansen: Newsweek
"Consistently entertaining and eerily beautiful."

Pauline Kael: The New Yorker
"An account of the Napoleonic wars that lacks passion and depth, despite the expert visuals (...) Rating: ★★★ (out of 5)"

TV Guide
"Ridley Scott has made a triumphant directing debut by creating a film that looks beautiful but never loses sight of the capacity for animosity and conflict lurking in the human psyche."

Gary Arnold: The Washington Post
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The Duellists

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