The Duellists (1977)
Review by HTQ4
Film:
DVD:

Written by Gerald Vaughn-Hughes, based on "The Duel" by Joseph Conrad
Directed by Ridley Scott
Starring Keith Carradine, Harvey Keitel, Edward Fox, Cristina Raines, Robert Stephens, and Albert Finney

Features:

• Running audio commentary by director Scott
  
• Running audio commentary and isolated score by composer Howard Blake
  
• Duelling Directors: Ridley Scott and Kevin Reynolds Featurette
  
• Boy and Bicycle: Ridley Scott's first short film
  

Armand d'Hubert (Carradine) was just trying to do his job, he had no intention of starting a fight with anyone. However, that's just what happened to him. He was sent to arrest Gabriel Faraud (Keitel) because he had been in a duel that morning and had skewered the mayor's nephew. When d'Hubert showed up to try to arrest him, Faraud challenges him to a duel for insulting his honor. They step out into the garden and begin a duel that lasts the better part of fifteen years. Everytime they attempt to continue their duel, something happens (usually, one of them gets injured too badly to carry on), so they have to postpone their fight until the other is able to continue...it just turns out that they never get to continue until several years later.

This is a really beautiful movie. It is amazingly conceived and comes complete with an intriguing story. Keitel and Carradine share a really great negative chemistry on screen. They seem to be enjoying the fact that their characters are trying to kill one another and you can tell that they love the fight sequences. It's neat to watch this film with Ridley Scott's later pictures in mind (like Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, for example) and see his signature use of light and shadow to really create the tone for a scene. Also, Scott didn't allow his actors to "fake" their way through the fight choreography. There are relatively few quick edits with close-ups the way that most modern filmmakers throw fight scenes together nowadays. Not only that, but the authenticity of the period costumes and weaponry is outstanding--plus the actors actually knew how to wear/use these period pieces. The film simply should not be missed.

The DVD is a simple presentation, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. First of all, Scott's commentary track is yet another one of those that should be used as an industry standard for how directors and others should approach them. Keep in mind that he is reflecting on his film some twenty-five years after its original theatrical release, but this doesn't slow him down one bit. It is obvious that this film means a great deal to him because he was recalling little tidbits of facts as though he had just come off the shoot. What's more, he is complimentary of his cast (as well he should be), but he stops short of the ooey-gooey love-fest that some directors make their commentaries into. It was really refreshing to hear a director compliment his cast and sound completely sincere about it.

There is also an option to isolate the beautiful score by Howard Blake along with his commentary. I never really understood this feature, since it is mostly the composer talking about the mood or tone that he was trying to reinforce with his score (which to me seems obvious, most of the time). This one is no different. There are large gaps in the movie where you are waiting for the next piece of music to begin--and it is not filled with commentary. To make matters worse, they did not bring the soundtrack for the movie back up during these gaps, so you get to watch a partial silent version of the film. This is the weakest part of the DVD.

A really neat feature to have added to this disc is Scott's first short film, "Boy and Bicycle". It's in black and white, and you can see right away where he first fell in love with his love for contrast. It's really quite good and it's wonderful to have it saved forever on DVD format.

Rounding out the major parts of this DVD presentation is the Duelling Directors featurette. This is one of the best director interviews that I have ever seen. What we get is Director Kevin Reynolds (The Count of Monte Cristo) sitting down at a table with Scott (with table and coffee cups in view) watching the movie, talking about the film and its genesis. It is intersperced with period interviews with writer Vaughn-Hughes. What comes across is a relatively young director having a kind of Master Class with a seasoned director whom he very obviously respects. Anything that Scott missed in his commentary track is covered here...and very little material is doubled between the two. The disc also features the typical banal stuff, too: storyboards, trailers, etc.

All in all, the movie is of the caliber that almost demands to be added to your collection, and the DVD simply reinforces that assessment. Go out and pick this one up tonight.