Best Sword Duels (1 Viewer)

Spitfrnd

Spitfrnd

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I watched the 1940 version of the Mark of Zorro again with the greats Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone. It is one of my favorites of the many movie versions of the legend. It features what is certainly one of the best sword duels in cinimatic history. It is a must see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTyPWvyAF8
It is nearly as good as perhaps the best all time realistic saber duel between Eric Roberts and F Murray Abraham in the very hard to find By the Sword. Here is the trailor (you have to suffer through the add first):
http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi2210136345/
I have been looking for a region free or US compatible version of that for years without success. Maybe someone can do a PAL conversion for me.

So that got me thinking, what do folks consider the best sword duels on film. I can't help loving these, I am a fencer. What are some of your favorites. I'd like to hear from other before I add any more.
 
"Princess Bride", two great fights; between Indigo and Westley, and the again with Indigo, and Count Rugen

"The Count of Monte Cristo", at the end with Edmond (Caviezel) v. Fernand (Pierce)

Star Wars: Obi-Wan v. Darth Vader (Episode 4), and Luke Skywalker v. Darth Vader (Episodes 5 & 6)

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest; Norrington, Sparrow and Turner

Vick
 
Flynn and Rathbone-Adventures of Robin Hood
Pitt and Bana-Troy
Brosnan and Stephens- Die Another Day
and any of the duels in The Duellists-Carradine and Keitel

Reb
 
UKReb said:
Flynn and Rathbone-Adventures of Robin Hood
Pitt and Bana-Troy
Brosnan and Stephens- Die Another Day
and any of the duels in The Duellists-Carradine and Keitel

Reb
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Those are all great. I have the first three on Blu-ray and hoping for the last one.;) Interesting that Rathbone was in two of the greatest duels. It is also interesting that the dueling club scene from Die Another Day was one of the few shinning moments of that film but I have it just for that.
 
UKReb said:
Flynn and Rathbone-Adventures of Robin Hood
Pitt and Bana-Troy
Brosnan and Stephens- Die Another Day
and any of the duels in The Duellists-Carradine and Keitel

Reb
Click to expand...
The Duellists, great movie, one of my favorites. How accurate were the uniforms and hair styles. Highly recommend it. Unfortunatly, I knew a few people like the character Keitel plays, growing up in the projects in Brooklyn in the late 50's and early 60's and in the Army. Pyshcopaths all, and very scary to be around.
 
pugio said:
The Duellists, great movie, one of my favorites. How accurate were the uniforms and hair styles. Highly recommend it. Unfortunatly, I knew a few people like the character Keitel plays, growing up in the projects in Brooklyn in the late 50's and early 60's and in the Army. Pyshcopaths all, and very scary to be around.
Click to expand...

Hey Pugio-your descriptive sounds exactly like my ex-brother-in-law. When I divorced his sister I shot him and threw him in the river-never did like him :D:D

Don't know whether the stylists got it accurate with the hair and uniforms but it looked pretty close to Napoleonic to me but Bill (Spitfrnd) being a Nap expert could clarify that better. Although I do think Keitel played Feraud as his usual New York moronic hoodlum instead of a moronic French Hussar officer.

The film is indeed one of my favorites and was Ridley Scott's debut on the big screen-I have also read the Joseph Conrad story A Point of Honour on which the movie was based and according to Conrad he too based it on a true story of two officers from Napoleon's Grand Army who apparently fought a series of duels from 1800 all the way through to Waterloo :eek:

Reb
 
Lewey Gun Vick said:
"Princess Bride", two great fights; between Indigo and Westley, and the again with Indigo, and Count Rugen

"The Count of Monte Cristo", at the end with Edmond (Caviezel) v. Fernand (Pierce)

Star Wars: Obi-Wan v. Darth Vader (Episode 4), and Luke Skywalker v. Darth Vader (Episodes 5 & 6)

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest; Norrington, Sparrow and Turner

Vick
Click to expand...


On the Star Wars theme what about Darth Maul v Obi Wan and Qui Gonn Ep1, Yoda against Count Dooku Ep2 and Anakin v Obi Wan Ep 3.

Also enjoyed the POTC you mentioned above, there were also a good couple of sword fights in Gladiator in the Colosseum scenes!
 
All of the above plus......

Robert Shaw and Geneviève Bujold in Swashbuckler.
 
pugio said:
The Duellists, great movie, one of my favorites. How accurate were the uniforms and hair styles. Highly recommend it. Unfortunatly, I knew a few people like the character Keitel plays, growing up in the projects in Brooklyn in the late 50's and early 60's and in the Army. Pyshcopaths all, and very scary to be around.
Click to expand...

Wasn't one of the Mollos a consultant or designer on the film? I've always thought that it must be a pretty accurate depiction. Just like "Barry Lyndon", too. I think Andrew Mollo was involved in the production as a consultant on the uniforms and period costumes.

Prost!
Brad
 
UKReb said:
...Don't know whether the stylists got it accurate with the hair and uniforms but it looked pretty close to Napoleonic to me but Bill (Spitfrnd) being a Nap expert could clarify that better. Although I do think Keitel played Feraud as his usual New York moronic hoodlum instead of a moronic French Hussar officer.

The film is indeed one of my favorites and was Ridley Scott's debut on the big screen-I have also read the Joseph Conrad story A Point of Honour on which the movie was based and according to Conrad he too based it on a true story of two officers from Napoleon's Grand Army who apparently fought a series of duels from 1800 all the way through to Waterloo :eek:

Reb
Click to expand...

I am hardly an expert but I do know how to find them.:D From what I have read, the uniforms and equipment in "The Duelists" are especially well researched and rendered. This is nigh on extraordinary given the threadbare budget of under a million (dollars not pounds).:eek: I did come across some observations of minor historical discrepancies in the units and placement of events.

In Conrad's "The Duel" D'Hubert is mentioned as belonging to the 4th Hussars (a blue and red uniform) and Feraud to the 7th Hussars (a green and red uniform with gold trim). However, in Scott's "The Duelists" the filmmakers outfit D'Hubert in the uniform of the 3rd Hussars (a gray uniform with silver trim). The uniforms are accurate for the units depicted in the film however.

After the horseback duel in Lubeck in 1806 the narrator states:
"Feraud was posted to Spain. D’Hubert remained in northern Europe. Six years later the Emperor’s Grand Army regrouped for Armageddon."

Actually it is the 7th Hussars that remained in northern Europe so Feraud never would have gone to Spain. D'Hubert would have gone to Spain with the 3rd (film) or 4th (short story) Hussars.

More importantly, neither the 3rd or 4th ever served in Russia so the encounter in the snow would not have happened. They could, however, have conceivably run into one another around the time of Leipzig but of course that is certainly not Russia. Of course Conrad clearly places D'Hubert in Russia so the fault for this historical discrepancy cannot really be blamed on Scott or the film makers.
 
So many great sword fights.. Immediately to mind are:

1. Flynn / Rathbone - Adventures of Robin Hood
2. Flynn / Rathbone - Captain Blood
3. Sword fight action in general - The Three Musketeers (1973 I think)

Jim
 
Agree with all the shows mentioned. Would like to add "Rob Roy" with Liam Neeson. Had some outstanding, if brutal, swordplay. -- Lancer
 
lancer said:
Agree with all the shows mentioned. Would like to add "Rob Roy" with Liam Neeson. Had some outstanding, if brutal, swordplay. -- Lancer
Click to expand...

Against Lord Cunningham if I recall, superbly played by Tim Roth, great fight scene at the end. :)
 
There are many good ones, but I love the classic Errol Flynn versus Henry Darnell at the climax of "The Sea Hawk". Accompanied by Korngold's musical score.

"One less traitor to England your majesty"

Gary B
 
In addition to some already mentioned, might I add:

King Arthur vs. Lancelot dual in the move "Excalibur"

Aragon vs. 6,000 Orcs at the end of Fellowship

Though not a dual, the fight that ends in a stabbling towards the end of Saving Private Ryan.

Kingdom of heaven - the dual between the Orlando Blume and the Saracen swordsman in the desert.

I'm sure there are many others, but these ones are pretty good off the top of my head....
 
Rob Roy gets my vote...Tim Roth vs Liam Neeson great stuff.
second pic would have to be The Vikings.
with Kirk Douglas & Tony Curtis its only a short fight but rather dizzy hights on them steps :eek:
 
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