The Duellists
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Movie Reviews of The Duellists
Movie Review: neglected masterpiece
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw this when it came out and vividly remembered it for over 30 years, though when I saw it I did not know that Ridley Scott directed it. To see it again was an extraordinary pleasure, the quality was so great that I was astounded. This is an absolutely first rate film, a genuine masterpiece.
The plot of the film is about two men locked in a duel of mortal combat, the tail end of the aristocratic honor code as the modern age dawns with Napoleon. Though an aristocrat, one man (Carradine) is rather civilized, given the task of hauling the other, an incorrigible brute, into prison for the murder by sword of a politician's relative. After a silly insult, the result is an explosive hatred, with the macho aggressor (Keitel) imposing the fight and his own code on his adversary. Carradine would like to stop the madness, but carries on for the sake of his reputation. All of this is played out against a vivid historical backdrop, the Napoleonic Wars and the restoration, which are evoked with splendid intelligence and subtlety.
The action scenes - the fights - are of a bloody realism that I have rarely seen in an action film, but then, this is a historical drama of wonderful accuracy. In a variety of contexts, you watch the men go at eachother with a blood lust, with a youthful energy that slips away before the viewer's eyes, with a growing sense of futility and emotional scars. It is an extraordinary transformation.
The cinematography of the film is also second to none: from the odd angles of provincial French architecture to the flourishes of the most Baroque aristocratic homes, you witness the men as they pursue their careers. Truly a feast for the eyes, utterly mesmerizing, breathtaking. Iconic images are a Ridley Scott hallmark.
Finally, the extras on the making of the film are very nice. You get context with the usual hollywood fluff treatment. Recommended with the greatest enthusiasm. (Note: I got this in Britain for approx $US8.)
Movie Review: Notions of Honor.....
Summary: 5 Stars
This first film by Ridley Scott blew me away when I first saw it. With some of the finest cinematography, by Frank Tidy, I had ever seen and meticulous period detail, this story of two officers in Napolean's army that engage in a series of duels over the 16 years of Napolean's reign in between his various wars, was a gem of economic story-telling, and provided an interesting slant on duty and honor.Keith Carradine as Armond D'Hubert and Harvey Keitel as Gabriel Feraud may seem odd choices for the leads, and some may be unable to look past their accents, but the two actors bring the correct personalities and attitudes to their characters. Carradine's D'Hubert has reluctantly been drawn into these deadly contests in the name of honor by the unremitting, mulish obstinancy of Keitel's Feraud. Carradine's lanky correctness is countered by Keitel's ferocious intensity. D'Hubert is a thoughtful, dutiful man; Feraud is a mean little cuss and obstinancy personified.
There are some memorable scenes in the film: an early morning duel with golden light bathing the stone walls of a manor; a wounded Carradine in a bathtub, terrifed to sneeze; a ferocious fight in a barn shot in diffused natural lighting; the ice and snow of Napolean's retreat from Russia, with the mute eloquence of the frozen dead; the final duel in the gardens of a ruined castle. Wonderful stuff.
Carradine's character shows us the fear and frustration of facing the blind and unreasoning enmity of Keitel's character. As his mistress says to Keitel "you feed your spite on him". The various duels are great, thanks to the choreography of Bill Hobbs who shows dueling as FIGHTING(as he did in the Musketeers movies). It all culminates in an ending that is most satisfying.
With terrific costumes and hairstyles that change over the period covered, and aided by cameo performances from Tom Conti, Robert Stephenson, Albert Finney, and Diana Quick and Christina Raines, this overlooked gem is well worth your while.
Movie Review: More Than A Grudge Match
Summary: 5 Stars
Joseph Conrad's story "The Duellists" is the subject of Ridley Scott's first film. Set in the Napoleonic era, two French officers, D' Hubbert(Keith Carradine) and Feraud(Harvey Keitel) fight a series of duels over a period of 30 years.
What provokes the duels? Presumably when D' Hubbert delivers a message to Feraud while attending the gala of an aristocratic madame, he thwarts Feraud's advances, although D' Hubbert is oblivious to his intentions. Scott gives us a clue to Feraud's character in the opening scene of the film when he is engaged in a duel with another man. This is the reason for D' Hubbert's presence at the gala. We realise from this point Feraud is actually a pugnacious hothead, teetering on the psychotic. While D' Hubbert attempts to avoid him, this unfortunate incident escalates into four unresolved duels between them. Eventually in the fifth and final duel, they stalk one another on D' Hubbert's country estate, with pistols in hand. Feraud sights D' Hubbert and misses his shot, whereupon D' Hubbert spares his life on the condition the duel is finished. Humiliated, Feraud commits suicide, plunging himself into a river.
Ridley Scott's photography and tight editing makes for a visually compelling film. The French countryside and villages lend beauty and authenticity to the story, as does Scott's attention to the changing fashions and hairstyles over the 30-year period. The music is sparse, yet well placed to enhance the moods and pacing of the film. The Cannes Film Festival in 1977 deservedly awarded it the "Best Debut Film".
As with most of Joseph Conrad's stories, "The Duellists" explores the themes of obsession, honour and violence, and how the individual grapples with each in a number situations. The film captures and expresses these themes with suspense and genuine finesse. I heartily recommend "The Duellists" to anyone who enjoys Joseph Conrad, Ridley Scott, Napoleonic history or martial arts.
Movie Review: Astonishing start to great film career -- beautiful film!
Summary: 5 Stars
After directing some thousand commercials (even he's not sure of the number) over fifteen years, Ridley Scott finally got the money together to make a feature film. And for only $900,000 he turned out what must be one of the breathtakingly beautiful period films of all time. It looks like it cost $10 mil, easily! The visual are at the same level as Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon"; it's easy to forget you're watching a movie made in the 1970s and fall headlong into this oil portrait of the early 1800s. Scott shows what a visual genius and stylist he is in this first movie, and would prove it with his later classics "Alien," "Blade Runner," and "Gladiator."The simple plot follows the conflict between two soldiers, played by Keither Carradine and Keitel. The origins of the fight are obscure, and soon neither man remembers the reason for it. But over the years they clash, whittling each other away with sabers and pistols for some concept of "honor" on which they cannot agree.
The duels are pretty spectacular, especially the saber fights. Scott tosses all the old fashioned Hollywood swashbuckler styles out and shows bloody, weighty, and furiously realistic combat. Those sabres really could take your arm right off, and they're heavy.
Keitel, of course, is great in the role, but Carradine is a real surprise, carrying the main role with great pride and seriousness. Plenty of great British character actors are on hand as well, such as Robert Stephens (love that guy's voice!). And Stacy Keach does the narration (an odd move to have American voice, but it works.)
You should see the "Duellists" for the visuals alone -- they're like romantic oil paintings come to life, but it's also a thrilling story with great performances. No wonder Scott was instantly recognized as a new talent and given the director's chair on "Alien"!
Movie Review: Ridley Scott's Finest Film
Summary: 5 Stars
As stunning and as entertaining as Blade Runner would be in 1982, this film, from 1977, is gaining popularity as Ridley Scott's finest directorial work.The film is visually stunning, featuring beautiful set decoration, costumes, and most important, photography. The screenplay is eloquent and sharp, similar to the work of Robert Bolt (best know for his screenplay for Lawrence of Arabia). The film is split into six parts that reflect major turning points in Napoleon's conquest of Europe [...]. The music score is first-rate, the editing is smooth as silk, and the acting -even with Harvey Kietel's slight Brooklyn accent- is top-notch. Kietel's intensity and on-screen presence is so good I hardly noticed the accent problem.
The film is a "period" piece that avoids clichés and pretentiousness. In fact, this film and Barry Lyndon (1975) will probably go down as the best European period films of the 1970's. It could also be argued that this film could not be made if it wasn't for the critical success of Kubrick's film. Box office success was another matter for both movies, as "The Duelists" was barely released in the US after a smashing reception at the Cannes Film Festival. I myself did not see this movie until the LaserDisc version was released by Paramount in the early 1990's.
In short, this film is a study in codes, manners, conflicts, and what we might consider madness. The film does not make the mistake of trying to explain the cause of the duels between the 2 protagonists. Instead, the film focuses on their manners, their feelings of obligation to settling the conflict, and the coincidences and chances that bring them together and drift them apart over a span of 20 years.
Finally, this movie has another relationship with a great film of the 1970's, Apocalypse Now, as this is also a successful screen adaptation of a Josef Conrad story. Not an easy feat.