Perhaps the best sword movie of all time was Ridley Scott's "The Duellists". It stars Kieth Carradine, Harvey Keitel (absolutely wonderful in an over-the-top role as an obsessed duellist), and Tom Conti. Here is the site for the VHS, unfortunately it has not yet been released in DVD:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/t...ref=sr_1_1/002-4930339-0782410?v=glance&s=dvd
Here are some Amazon customer reviews of it which explain the plot a bit:
5 Stars
The best movie by the Director of Alien and Blade Runner, November 10, 1999
Reviewer: MAJ William E. Bailey (see more about me) from Ft Leavenworth, KS
"The Duellists" is a brilliant adaptation of the Joseph Conrad story of Napoleonic officers fighting a series of bloody duels over a period of 20 years. The cinematography is outstanding, and like no other film gives you a feeling of what life was like during that period. Each frame of this film could stand alone for its beauty. The acting is superb with Harvey Keitel as the obsessed Faraud, intent on destroying the protagonist D'Hubert, played by Carradine in his best performance. Tom Conti as the friend and physician to D'Hubert tells Carradine, "The enemies of reason have a certain blind look, I think Faraud has that look." This film is a must see for anyone that loves good cinema.
5 Stars
Scott's Napoleonic Epic is a must see., June 25, 1999
Reviewer: A viewer from Washington, DC
Ridley Scott made this film in the mid-70's prior to going into the big time with such hits as "Alien." While obtaining film making experience by making commercials, he learned to visually pack an image and do so with exciting details. "The Duelist" was made on a shoe string, but looks like it cost 10-20 times as much. Every dollar is on the screen. The sets and costumes are excellent. The camera style--dramatic and romantic-- often captures scenes that looked like they have been painted by David, a major French painter of that period. Exteriors show period chateaus in early morning light under blue skies, while the interiors are bathed in candle light. The sword play is wonderfully visualized as both men fight each other in a series of duels over many years. Both Carradine and Keitel are excellent as two officers serving under Napoleon that must live by a code--no matter how that severe code of honor affects their lives in war or peace time. This excellent action film is a jewel. See it. Hopefully, it will come on DVD soon.
5 Stars
Feeding on Spite, April 20, 2002
Reviewer: mragamemnon from Colorado Springs, CO United States
Delving into the feeding-on-spite theme results in great prose by Conrad and an equally grand film by Scott, including a truly inspired score by Blake, weaving both Romantic and Modern elements effectively together. The malevolence exhibited by Keitel's dark character is mirrored by the anguish of Carradine's absurd quandary. These tensions are contrasted by stunning art and film direction, with gorgeous locations in the French countryside and realistic recreation of period life in Napoleonic France. By far, this is my favorite Ridley Scott film.
5 Stars
Bravo! What a gem, January 22, 2002
Reviewer: ex-army from New Jersey
This is my absolute all time favorite movie. A very realistic depiction of campaigning during the napoleonic wars, and of the brutal, non-romantic aspects of the ancient practice of dueling. The soundtrack is also quite superb. Love the opening scene where the mayor of Strasbourgs' nephew is skewered. Harvey Keitel gives a wonderful performance as the mad-dog Faraud. With all the junk out now on DVD, why is this movie still available only on VHS? What a shame.
The average of all customer reviews is 4 1/2 Stars, I would give it 5. There is one scene where the two are fighting a saber duel in the casemates of a fort and it is one of teh MOST brutal fight scenes that I have ever seen.
On the subject of the Rambo films and Sly Stallone generally, I cannot say why, but the only Stallone film that ever even mildly interested me was "Rocky", the first one. I have never seen him in another film but that I was bored. On the other hand, I have enjoyed almost all of Arnie's films and I think that it is because he does not take himself so damned seriously. In all of tehm that I have seen, he seems to be having a small chuckle at his own image, even a huge guffaw, as in "Last Action Hero", one of his best, in my opinion.
And, regarding switchblade movies, how many of you remember "Blackboard Jungle", the movie that caused the Federal switchblade ban. The flick was quite forgettable other than its unfortunate consequences, as it stirred up quite a panic at the time, one which led Congress to pass the ban and Ike to sign it. Its most memorable scene was when the teacher, Glenn Ford, takes one of the cheapo Italian stiletto switchblades that were quite common at the time away from one of the "juvenile deliquents" that were disrupting his class, jabs it into a desktop, and snaps the blade off with a backhand swat. The blade to hilt joint was notoriously weak on those knives.
