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The Duellists [VHS] [1977]

VHS ~ Keith Carradine

4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

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6 new from �6.49 9 used from �1.00 2 collectible from �3.00

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Product details

Actors: Keith Carradine, Harvey Keitel, Albert Finney, Edward Fox, Cristina Raines
Directors: Ridley Scott
Writers: Gerald Vaughan-Hughes, Joseph Conrad
Producers: David Puttnam, Ivor Powell
Format: PAL
Language English, Russian
Classification: PG
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
VHS Release Date: 22 April 2002
Run Time: 96 minutes

Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)

ASIN: B00005B3XC
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 12,003 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Product Description

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

Synopsis
Compelling story of the violent confrontations between two officers in Napoleon's army.

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	96% buy the item featured on this page: The Duellists [VHS] [1977] 4.7 out of 5 stars (18)
	3% buy Barry Lyndon [1975] [DVD] 4.6 out of 5 stars (36) �4.98
	1% buy Cromwell [DVD] [1970] 3.8 out of 5 stars (13) �4.98

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Customer Reviews

18 Reviews

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (18 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Without doubt, a five star flick..., 27 Jul 2003

By	John Dynan "JD" (Elwood, Vic Australia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Duellists, The [DVD] [1977] (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.

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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ridley Scott's Neglected Masterpiece, 5 April 2002

By A Customer

With a cast which reads like a "Who's Who?" of British theatre this film should be good. It isn't, it's fantastic.
After umpteen viewings of this beautifully photographed work I still devour each scene. Although the costumes and accompanying paraphenalia give an air of the finest BBC costume drama, the atmosphere created is one of frill-free realism.
The two main protagonists, both men of honour and professional soldiers, are studies of reason and unjustified hatred. They are brought together by pure chance yet their destinies seem to be interlinked over a period exceeding two decades. Throughout the entire film, I desperately wanted to shake Keitel's character and make him realise how wrong he is to pursue Carradine so relentlessly. They should really be able to have a beer and forget their differences, but then again, I suppose that would have made a pretty poor film.
The action scenes are graphic without being gory, each duel a miniature peak in an enthralling landscape of characters.
I won't spoil the story by giving away the ending, but I don't think that I've ever seen a better denouement in a British film. Let's just say that by the time the titles come up, both characters have had an experience of justice and that any spectator must sympathise and empathise with both men. Given the extremely diverse nature of their two characters, this is perhaps the main triumph of the film.
Watch it.

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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Duellists, 8 Jan 2003

By	"pbee57" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duellists, The [DVD] [1977] (DVD)

Perhaps one of Mr Scott's lesser known films, but in my view maybe one of his best. The style, the colours, the action all say this is a Scott film. Set during the Napoleonic wars, and based on a misunderstanding, it takes on a vivid portrayal of duels, honour, war and the impact these have on the protagonists. Harvey Keitel is as usual brilliant, and Keith Carridine plays one of his finest roles. Maybe a cult film, but a film that deserves much more recognition than it ever recieved.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars The film that launche Ridley Scott's career
This is by far my favourite movie, yet it is surprisingly little known. Natural lighting, excellent locations, realistic duelling scenes combined with great attention to detail... Read more

Published 2 months ago by M. Palmer

5.0 out of 5 stars HIGHLY STYLISED BUT SATISFYING
This was Ridley Scott's first movie and it won him an award at Cannes too ,with a great cast including Harvey keitel ,Keith carradine ,Edward fox and many more ,he had a great... Read more

Published 10 months ago by Dr. U. L. Khawaja

5.0 out of 5 stars A classic
Great story, acting, and direction. And to my mind the end shot, when combined with the haunting soundtrack, is the most beautiful ever to have been comitted to film - imo.

Published 13 months ago by Matt

5.0 out of 5 stars Superior filmmaking
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). Read more

Published on 27 Feb 2007 by SoWasRed

5.0 out of 5 stars Brillant cult
As a child I saw this remarkable movie on TV, and I remember thinking: WHAT am I witnessing? Like with all great art you simply can not believe what is being opened so generously... Read more

Published on 15 April 2006 by Martin Bigum

4.0 out of 5 stars Attractive movie experience
This film falls beautifully on the eye, seductive photography and meticulous detail provide an attractive movie experience. Read more

Published on 17 May 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars Scott's forgotten gem
Even if you haven't read Conrad's book it is clear to see that 'The Duellists' stands as visual tour de force in telling the story. Read more

Published on 1 Feb 2005 by Gareth Rice

5.0 out of 5 stars Plot flaws more than made up by superb photograpy
This is simply the most beautiful, lush piece of film making I have ever seen. It's classical oil painting transformed into film. Read more

Published on 26 Jan 2005 by Zarkwan Too

5.0 out of 5 stars Ridley Scott's debut napoleonic masterpice!
One of my TOP TEN war films from all time.
The cult film par excellence about Napoleonic period, French hussars, better ever adapted from a novel(short) script, and... Read more

Published on 20 Dec 2003 by Alejo

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent period piece
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;... Read more

Published on 30 Mar 2003 by mortron

› See all 18 customer reviews...

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