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Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the great directorial debuts, Ridley Scott's The Duellists is an extraordinary achievement which weaves an epic-in-miniature set around the edges of the Napoleonic Wars. Based on a story by Joseph Conrad, in turn inspired by real events and filmed in part where those events took place, this is the tale of a 15-year conflict between two French army officers: the level-headed Armand D'Hubert (Keith Carradine) and the obsessive Gabriel Feraud (Harvey Keitel). Each time they meet they duel, until the original purpose of the conflict is all but lost. Beyond the two American stars, who fill their roles with rare commitment--accents not withstanding--Scott assembled a stellar cast: Albert Finney, Edward Fox, Pete Postlethwaite, Diana Quick, Cristina Raines, Robert Stephens, Tom Conti, John McEnery, Maurice Colbourne and Jenny Runacre.
The production values are astonishing and the film revels in the exquisite painterly visuals which have become a Scott trademark. Howard Blake's elegiac theme adds immeasurably to the impact of a film influenced by Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1974), and anticipating Scott's own Best Picture Oscar-winning Gladiator (2000). A haunting work of spectral beauty, it is also a worthy companion to Scott's shamefully neglected 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992).
On the DVD: The Duellists is transferred at 1.77:1 with full sound atmospherically remixed in Dolby Digital 5.1. A new 29-minute documentary finds Scott discussing The Duellists with Kevin (Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves) Reynolds, which is particularly enlightening given the relative merits of the two swashbucklers. Scott's absorbing commentary track provides an in-depth look into the film-making process. Equally, film music aficionados will be delighted to find not just an isolated music track, but an informative commentary by composer Howard Blake, though he does sometimes talk over the beginning or end of cues. Most unusual but very welcome is the inclusion of Scott's first short film, Boy and Bicycle (1965), a 25-minute b/w mood piece starring Tony Scott, with music by John Barry. Other extras are a storyboard-to-screen comparison, the American trailer and four galleries of posters, stills and production photos. --Gary S Dalkin
Special Features
Commentary with Director Ridley Scott
Isolated score with Howard Blake's commentary
Duelling Directors: Ridley Scott & Kevin Reynolds
Boy and Bicycle: Ridley Scott's first short film
Storyboards
Theatrical Trailer
Photo Galleries
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic widescreen
Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1; French, German, Italian, Spanish Mono
Feature Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Commentary Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Isolated score with Howard Blake's commentary
Duelling Directors: Ridley Scott & Kevin Reynolds
Boy and Bicycle: Ridley Scott's first short film
Storyboards
Theatrical Trailer
Photo Galleries
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1 Anamorphic widescreen
Languages: English Dolby Digital 5.1; French, German, Italian, Spanish Mono
Feature Subtitles: English for the hearing impaired, English, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Spanish, Swedish
Commentary Subtitles: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on Joseph Conrad's book "The Duel", the true story of a 30-year feud between two Napoleonic cavalry officers, "The Duellists" was Ridley Scott's first major film. Starring Keith Carradine as the pompous D'Hubert and a particularly menacing Harvey Keitel as Feraud, the film climbs inside the minds of two men for whom honor is more important than life itself.
The two antagonists begin their series of bloody encounters when D'Hubert is ordered by his commanding general to arrest Feraud for wounding the local mayor's nephew in a duel. Feraud, in a hopelessly irrational state, challenges D'Hubert to a duel, which is carried out more or less on the spot. D'Hubert comes off slightly better in the initial encounter, which only serves to fuel Feraud's rage, and the course of the film is set.
The cinematography of this film, shot by Frank Tidy, is almost beyond comparison. The previous versions on VHS simply looked muddy and rather washed out. The colors lacked any real saturation, rendering Feraud's bottle-green dolman black and it almost looked like a poor quality black and white in some scenes, especially those set in Napoleon's abortive Russian campaign.
The DVD transfer, by contrast, is staggeringly beautiful and releases colors, which I did not realize existed in the original. I am, by coincidence, a professional cameraman and I rate this as the best shot film I have ever seen. The only criticism I have is a somewhat inconsistent use of graduated filters, which, whilst they were probably quite innovative for their day, don't always work well. Grads are always a problem and any film made since will tend to suffer the same way. A very minor point.
The costumes and settings; mostly in The Dordogne, make the film not only totally authentic but defy the viewer to believe that it was made on a shoestring budget. The visual splendour challenges any modern filmaker to create the same effect without spending a vault full of money to achieve it. That is only part of the appeal of the film.
The acting performances, particularly by Keitel, want for nothing. The scene with Feraud standing on a cliff overlooking the river valley, taken in context, makes you realise that his life and pretensions to honor have been for nothing. His mania for revenge has cost him everything. Melded to the other performances with superlative skill by Ridley Scott, this film is a masterpiece and has now gone from a film I liked a lot to one which is now firmly wedged in my top ten. Like as not, it will stay there for a long time.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Scott's first feature is a spectacularly beautiful period piece set in Napoleonic times. Not only is it pretty to look at, it also demonstrates one of Scott's trademark qualities; the ability to create a believable, richly textured universe. Everything here FEELS just right.
The acting as well is top of the line and the story itself is a solid adaptation of Joseph Conrad's excellent short story.
It's not as groundbreaking as 'Blade Runner', as appealing as 'Thelma & Louise' or as kinetically exciting as 'Gladiator' or 'Black Hawk Down' but it's pretty darn good in its own way.
The acting as well is top of the line and the story itself is a solid adaptation of Joseph Conrad's excellent short story.
It's not as groundbreaking as 'Blade Runner', as appealing as 'Thelma & Louise' or as kinetically exciting as 'Gladiator' or 'Black Hawk Down' but it's pretty darn good in its own way.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I watched this many years ago on BBC2 and found it a fleeting curiosity (being quite young and believing there would be more battles etc. I expected more). However, I've just watched it again (on a very big screen) and reappraised what a gem this actually is. Scott's direction is assured and each frame drips with shadow and washed out colours, like a faded painting of the era. The characters are little clichéd in places, but their motivations are interesting and their constant collisions resulting in duels are suspenseful and exciting. I watched this not long after Barry Lyndon, and must say The Duellists is a superior film.
Picture: 5 of 5
Sound: 4 of 5
Extras: 2 of 5
Picture: 5 of 5
Sound: 4 of 5
Extras: 2 of 5
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
classic
A ridley Scott classic in my view, seen it before a couple of times and was always gripped by this strange tale, it is a srong drama and the story is told very well.
Published 2 months ago by roy the boy
The Duellists
Ridley Scott's take on the Joseph Conrad Napoleonic tale of obsession and honour is a delight of cinematic beauty and solid memorable acting from the whole cast. Read more
Published 5 months ago by eyeinthesky
I don't like it: inconsistent story, inconsistent characters
I simply don't like it and I wanted to leave my testimony, as all reviewers agree on the positive side.
I find it slow. The story is inconsistent. Read more
I find it slow. The story is inconsistent. Read more
Published 7 months ago by TommasoG
Truly great film !!!
One of Ridley Scott's earliest films as a director (perhaps his first?) and it is a superb classic, and of course he also came up with the ground breaking 'Alien' in 1979 - not a... Read more
Published 9 months ago by A customer
neglected masterpiece
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. Read more
Published 12 months ago by rob crawford
Fascinating study of honour colliding with obsession
Doesn't it strike you as odd when nowadays they talk of legal and illegal war? As if lawyers were acting as referees over human being's basest instincts. Sanctioned slaughter. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Philoctetes
The Duelists
For those who like their period drama firmly attached to historical accuracy (especially the costumes) then you will find it in this film. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Titus
a modern classic
I first saw this wonderful film at the cinema when it was first released and I was staggered then by the cinematography and production value. Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2010 by kingfisher
Directors Choice
In my top 10 films of all time. a classic film on a budget - shot so well its criminal.
Published on 21 Nov 2009 by Norman Hart
Exceptional movie
I have been a fan of Ridley Scott for many years. This was the first of his movies I saw. I revisit it frequently, now that I have the DVD, to admire the accuracy of the costumes... Read more
Published on 6 Nov 2009 by JL Cheetham
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