The Duellists (1977) was Ridley Scott's first feature film, based on the Joseph Conrad short story "The Duel". Set during the Napoleonic Wars, it features two French Hussar officers, D'Hubert and Feraud (played by Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel). Their quarrel over an initially minor incident turns into a bitter, long-drawn out struggle over the following fifteen years, interwoven with the larger conflict that provides its backdrop. The Keitel character is painted as an allegorical representation of Napoleon, and Carradine is a representation of the countries which opposed Napoleon. At the beginning, Feraud is the one who jealously guards his honor and repeatedly demands satisfaction anew when a duelling encounter ends inconclusively; he aggressively pursues every opportunity to locate and duel his foe. As the story progresses, D'Hubert also finds himself caught up in the contest, unable to back down or walk away. Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30, 1937 in South Shields) is an influential English film director and producer. ... David Puttnam receiving his BAFTA Fellowship, 19 February 2006 David Terence Puttnam, Baron Puttnam of Queensgate, CBE is a film producer and politician. ... Joseph Conrad. ... Keith Carradine Keith Carradine (born August 8, 1949, in San Mateo, California) is an Academy Award-winning actor born into a family of actors. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Edward Fox (born 13 April 1937) is an English stage, film and television actor. ... Albert Finney (born May 9, 1936 in Salford, Lancashire) is a five-time Academy Award nominated English actor. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... Sir Ridley Scott (born November 30, 1937 in South Shields) is an influential English film director and producer. ... A reel of film, which predates digital cinematography. ... Joseph Conrad. ... Combatants Allies: Great Britain (until 1801)/United Kingdom(from 1801) Prussia Austria Sweden Russia Ottoman Empire Portugal Spain and others France Denmark-Norway Kingdom of Bavaria Grand Duchy of Berg Duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt Kingdom of Holland Kingdom of Italy Kingdom of Naples Kingdom of Saxony Grand Duchy of Warsaw... Polish Hussar Hussar (original Hungarian spelling: huszár, plural huszárok; via the French hussard) refers to a class of light cavalry, Hungarian in origin but subsequently imitated throughout Europe. ... Keith Carradine Keith Carradine (born August 8, 1949, in San Mateo, California) is an Academy Award-winning actor born into a family of actors. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

The film has been compared to Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon. In both films, duels play an essential role. In his commentary for the DVD release of his film Scott comments that he was trying to emulate the lush cinematography, of Kubrick's film, that approached the naturalistic paintings of the era depicted. Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American film director and producer, generally considered one of the most innovative and influential filmmakers of cinema history. ... Barry Lyndon (1975) is a film by Stanley Kubrick based on the novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844) by William Makepeace Thackeray. ... DVD (sometimes called Digital Versatile Disc, or Digital Video Disc) is an optical disc storage media format that can be used for data storage, including movies with high video and sound quality. ...

Tagline: "Fencing is a science. Loving is a passion. Duelling is an obsession."

Extras:

It is a song by the band Iron Maiden and is on their album Powerslave. Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from East London. ... Powerslave is a studio album by the heavy metal band Iron Maiden, released in 1984. ...

External links

• The Duellists at the Internet Movie Database