The Duellists

Few films are more beautiful to look at than Ridley Scott's debut feature from 1977, "The Duellists." Although the bluray release by Shout Factory is only a marginal improvement on the 2002 DVD release, it might be argued that any enhancement of such a sumptuous visual treat should be welcomed.

The film rolls like a sequence of classical paintings with Scott's uncanny eye for lighting and colour applied to perfectly composed interiors and ravishing locations in the Dordogne. Uniforms, weapons, fencing techniques and hairstyles are meticulously faithful to the Napoleonic period. The illusion of historical richness is furthered by Howard Blake's evocative score and the thoughtfully elegeant script, an adaptation of Joseph Conrad's novella, "The Duel."

The story is of a long-running duel between two French cavalry officers pursued for its own sake in which ideas of honour, obsession and obligation are examined. Writer Gerald Vaughan-Hughes provides a cinematic dimension by interposing a premarital relationship for one of the protagonists, Armand D'Hubert (Keith Carradine), to accentuate the destructive nature of his contest with adversary, Gabriel Ferraud (Harvey Keitel). Keitel brings a passionate intensity to his role of a resentful man driven "to feed his spite" on a fellow officer of privileged background whom he sees as a pampered "general's poodle." As the hero, Carradine offers the counter-balance of reason with a character of easy charm but one which also raises interesting questions about life's priorities.

Good performances are also given by Albert Finney, Robert Stephens, Diana Quick, Meg Wynn Owen, Edward Fox and Tom Conti.

Special features: the bluray edition includes an exclusive new interview with Keith Carradine.

This was like watching a painting on a moving ship,then trying to see who moved,
but like every good ship, there're a very few merry men,who can hold their own and live to tell
a tail,of there life at sea and everything else that goes with it,but in this case [on dry land]you have two
men,actually i should say one mans determination to not let his reputation ruined by another mans inability or
rookie mistake to embarrassed him,especially in front of the ladies,hence we have the Duellists with [Harvey Keitel]
and [Keith Carradine]the before mention who would not stop until one man is dead,what a great movie from Ridley Scott
and his first i should say,have to give it Five big stars.

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!