The Duellists

PG

1977

1h 41m

History

Drama

List

74%

61 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

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.

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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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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

lance c

Once of THE Best movies ever made. BEAUTIFUL stands multiple re watchings

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Ridley Scott

Director

Keith Carradine

D'Hubert

Harvey Keitel

Feraud

Albert Finney

Fouche

Edward Fox

Colonel

Cristina Raines

Adele

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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

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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
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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