The Duellists | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

74% Tomatometer 61 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings

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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The Duellists

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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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Critics Reviews

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The Duellists | Rotten Tomatoes (1) 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 The Duellists | Rotten Tomatoes (2) 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 The Duellists | Rotten Tomatoes (3) Derek Malcolm Guardian If it is sometimes irritating and occasionally hollow, The Duellists remains a very viewable achievement. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review The Duellists | Rotten Tomatoes (4) 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 The Duellists | Rotten Tomatoes (5) Russell Davies Daily Mail (UK) Scott's film is a success. It is also something of an oddity. Nov 21, 2023 Full Review The Duellists | Rotten Tomatoes (6) 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 Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Thomas S Keitel is brilliant as the bad sort Feraud and Carradine equally so as the put-upon D’Hubert. A brilliant historical and atmospheric debut by Ridley Scott Rated 4.5/5 Stars • Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 06/11/24 Full Review JOHN O Excellent direction, cinematography, score and in every other aspect portends Ridley Scott's rise to greatness. Rated 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/12/24 Full Review Debora S Young Ridley Scott's underrated, barely known MASTERPIECE Rated 5/5 Stars • 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 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/30/23 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 3/5 Stars • 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 5/5 Stars • Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

Ridley Scott Director Keith Carradine D'Hubert Harvey Keitel Feraud Albert Finney Fouche Edward Fox Colonel Cristina Raines Adele
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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

Producer
David Puttnam

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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