"The Duellists" was Ridley Scott's first feature film, released in 1977. Scott's first career was as in commercial art, which got him into commercials and TV production, initially as a production designer. He got the bug and decided he wanted to make a movie. He found a Joseph Conrad story in the common domain, had it adapted for the screen, and was able to get $900,000 to go ahead.
The cast features Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel in the title roles, and includes Edward Fox, Albert Finney and Tom Conti. If you have sharp eyes, you can even spot a young Pete Postlethwaite.
Scott not only directed this film, but acted as his own director of photography. The film was shot entirely on locations. No sets were constructed, because there was no budget. Instead, Scott walked and walked through the landscapes and buildings that were available to him, figured out his shots and story-boarded the entire movie. The lighting and camera work are exquisite. Scott did put money into the costumes, a must because the story is set in France between 1801 and 1820, and the principals are French army officers.
Visually, this movie is a gem. The story keeps the viewer engaged until the end. Critics have faulted the British (and American) accents of actors cast as Frenchmen, but after the first couple of minutes, you're so engaged in the story that you don't really notice.
The DVD (released in 2002) includes some nice extras, including a 2002 interview with Ridley Scott, which is a little master class in film-making. If you love movies, this is a must-see.
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