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The Duellists

PG 1977 1h 41m History Drama List
74% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 83% Audience Score 5,000+ Ratings
Armand d'Hubert (Keith Carradine) and Gabriel Féraud (Harvey Keitel) are French soldiers under Napoleon. A trivial quarrel between d'Hubert and Féraud escalates into a lifelong grudge, and, as war rages on, the officers repeatedly challenge one another to violent sword and pistol duels. After 15 years, both men have distinguished themselves through their service and become generals, however, their mutual hatred never ceases, even when the initial cause of their rivalry is forgotten. Read More Read Less
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The Duellists

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Critics Consensus

Rich, stylized visuals work with effective performances in Ridley Scott's take on Joseph Conrad's Napoleonic story, resulting in an impressive feature film debut for the director.

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Critics Reviews

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Rex Reed New York Daily News Rarely have I seen a movie so drenched in persuasive style and ambience soar so brilliantly above its trappings to emerge as a first-rate, captivating entertainment. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Charles Champlin Los Angeles Times [Ridley Scott's] strength is visual and his genius is economy. The Duellists is said to have cost well under $2 million, but it has every millimeter the same feeling of period that Barry Lyndon had with more pace and vitality. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Derek Malcolm Guardian If it is sometimes irritating and occasionally hollow, The Duellists remains a very viewable achievement. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy The all-American duo of Carradine and Keitel is rather incongruous in this decidedly European production, but the actors acquit themselves well enough. Rated: 3/4 Apr 10, 2024 Full Review Russell Davies Daily Mail (UK) Scott's film is a success. It is also something of an oddity. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Arthur Thirkell Daily Mirror (UK) The Duellists is that cinema rarity -- a superbly-acted adventure epic boasting an intelligent script and marvellous photography of setting which seem to have been painted by Old Masters. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (384) audience reviews
Thomas S Keitel is brilliant as the bad sort Feraud and Carradine equally so as the put-upon D’Hubert. A brilliant historical and atmospheric debut by Ridley Scott Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/11/24 Full Review JOHN O Excellent direction, cinematography, score and in every other aspect portends Ridley Scott's rise to greatness. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/24 Full Review Debora S Young Ridley Scott's underrated, barely known MASTERPIECE Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/07/23 Full Review Olivia Y Mesmerising, haunting, thought provoking and stunning. The point is, this can be applied to the stupidity of all human conflict, that's why it's good. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/30/23 Full Review Melanie E This is one of my favourite movies . It's almost incomprehensible to me why this is not looked upon as a classic . The story itself is a deep dive into the psyche of two very different characters from opposite ends of the class divide . Harvey Keitel's character -Gabriel Feraud embodying the resentment of the masses against the aristocracy that still gets ahead by birth . This struggle spans decades and the eventual annihilation of the French army in a frozen white Russia . Spoiler here …… it ends with Keith Carradine - Armand d'Hubert , comfortable in his family estate with the reinstating of the French crown after Napoleon's second defeat and the complete humiliation and subjugation of Gabriel Feraud to Armand . You can't help but think the battle between them both is a macrocosm of the wider struggle to shake free of the Royalist yolk . The film itself is beautifully shot and the music haunting. Especially atmospheric is the flute playing and haunting melody Armand's friend Dr Jacquin - Tom Conti plays throughout. If you love movies with historical context , studies in human nature, beautiful cinematography, then I hope you will enjoy as much as myself . Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/16/23 Full Review Shioka O I watched this because the Ridley Scott's first feature film. Less entertaining than his later works, but production quality is already high. Personally a period film is not my cup of tea and didn't enjoy so much, but it's obvious that this proved he is a great artistic/technical director. This is from 1977! Outstanding beauty. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 12/20/22 Full Review Read all reviews
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Movie Info

Synopsis Armand d'Hubert (Keith Carradine) and Gabriel Féraud (Harvey Keitel) are French soldiers under Napoleon. A trivial quarrel between d'Hubert and Féraud escalates into a lifelong grudge, and, as war rages on, the officers repeatedly challenge one another to violent sword and pistol duels. After 15 years, both men have distinguished themselves through their service and become generals, however, their mutual hatred never ceases, even when the initial cause of their rivalry is forgotten.
Director
Ridley Scott
Producer
David Puttnam
Screenwriter
Gerald Vaughan-Hughes, Joseph Conrad
Production Co
Paranoid Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Enigma Productions
Rating
PG
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2013
Runtime
1h 41m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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