The Duellists Widescreen Special Collector's Edition: Amazon.ca: Keith Carradine, Harvey Keitel, Albert Finney, Edward Fox, Cristina Raines, Robert Stephens, Tom Conti, John McEnery, Diana Quick, Alun Armstrong, Maurice Colbourne, Gay Hamilton, Ridley Scott, Gerald Vaughan-Hughes, Joseph Conrad: DVD

Product Description

Amazon.com Essential Video

First film by director Ridley Scott barely got released in this country in the mid-1970s, but stands up, despite the rather noticeable accents of its stars. That's because Brooklynite Harvey Keitel and Westerner Keith Carradine are playing a pair of officers in Napoleon's army--oops! The plot centers on Carradine insulting Keitel and Keitel demanding vengeance. But every time they get into the middle of one of their duels, war breaks out or something else happens to interrupt. Keitel, however, is too pig-headed to let it drop and dogs Carradine over the course of 20 years. Strong performances otherwise and amazing cinematography, as well as a cast that includes Albert Finney, Edward Fox, and Tom Conti. --Marshall Fine

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

61 Reviews

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.7 out of 5 stars (61 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Gem of a movie!, April 3 2012

By

dmcnairn - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: The Duellists (Widescreen) (Special Collector's Edition) (DVD)

This is a little gem of a movie. It's cinematography is pure gold. For any still photographers out there that have studied photo composition or for that matter painters that understand composition and perspective you will be delighted with this movie. Throughout most of the picture the camera doesn't move, the scene is still and beautifully composted with the actors moving across your view. Filming was done in France in the Autumn with many outdoor scenes with great colours and atmosphere. Simply delightful and a feast for the eyes!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars Swordfights and Psychology, Dec 28 2010

By

Brian Ashe "Fantast" (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: The Duellists (Widescreen) (DVD)

Marvelous depiction of an era. Harvey Keitel and Keith Carradine are officers in the Napoleonic army. When one is sent by the commanding general to chastise the other for a politically inappropriate duel (the son of a burgomeister is seriously wounded), it sets off a 30-year enmity, and a series of duels spanning Napoleon's glory and fall.

The duelling scenes are extremely well done. Compared to the fantasy moves in Princess Bride and Pirates of the Caribbean (both of which I loved, but to fight like that would get you killed in seconds), the fencing is accurate to weapon. There is less gore than you might imagine, but this too is true to life. One of Ridley Scott's better films, although Alien might be marginally better.

The scenes in the retreat from Moscow are superb. The resolution is unexpected. The acting is very good. The scenery and cinematography are exceptional. For fans of historical fiction, for fencers, for period re-enactors, this is an amazing film that you will watch over and over again.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant!, Sep 16 2009

By

David L. Hamilton (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Duellists (DVD)

One of the finest and most accurate visual depictions of very early 19th Century France combined with the viscerally tense drama of the two French cavalry officers who spend 15 or more years fighting duels. While Keitel and Carradine initially seem hopelessly mis-cast it all works brilliantly. Beautiful to look at, the film was shot on a very tight budget in France(the Dordogne) and in NE Scotland around Aviemore. Watch the special features on the DVD as Director Scott Ridley describes how he shot the duelling scenes! Fabulous supporting cast of the best British actors around at the time. Released in 1977. DVD in 2002.
Wonderful!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 61 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 122 reviews 4.6 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars VISUAL FEAST -
I enjoyed this film because the producers have captured the era magnificentley with respect to period detail as well as the language and of course the mood of the time. Read more

Published on Jun 11 2004 by Panos

5.0 out of 5 stars Obsession
Driven by a compulsion to fight a duel at the slightest insult, Harvey Keitel plays Lt. Feurandin the French army during the time of Napleon who lives by the sword. Read more

Published on May 17 2004