France, 1801. Due to a minor perceived slight, mild-mannered Lieutenant d'Hubert is forced into a duel with hot-headed irrational Lieutenant Feraud. The disagreement ultimately results in scores of duels spanning several years.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 2 wins & 2 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Keith Carradine | ... |
Armand d'Hubert
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| Harvey Keitel | ... |
Gabriel Feraud
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| Albert Finney | ... |
Fouché
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| Edward Fox | ... |
Colonel
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| Cristina Raines | ... |
Adèle
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| Robert Stephens | ... |
Gen. Treillard
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| Tom Conti | ... |
Dr. Jacquin
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| John McEnery | ... |
Amiable Second
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| Diana Quick | ... |
Laura
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| Alun Armstrong | ... |
Lacourbe
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| Maurice Colbourne | ... |
Tall Second
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Gay Hamilton | ... |
Maid
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| Meg Wynn Owen | ... |
Léonie
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| Jenny Runacre | ... |
Mme. de Lionne
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| Alan Webb | ... |
Chevalier
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| Arthur Dignam | ... |
Captain with Eyepatch
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| Matthew Guinness | ... |
Mayor's Son
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| Dave Hill | ... |
Cuirassier
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| Neville Jason | ... |
Hilaire, Wedding Party Guest
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Timothy Penrose | ... |
Singer
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| William Morgan Sheppard | ... |
Fencing Master
(as Morgan Sheppard)
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| Liz Smith | ... |
Fortune Teller
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Anthony Douse | ... |
Surgeon
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| Hugh Fraser | ... |
Officer
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| Richard Graydon | ... |
Cossack / Hussar
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Tim Hardy | ... |
Officer
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| William Hobbs | ... |
Swordsman
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Michael Irving | ... |
Officer
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| Tony Mathews | ... |
Gen. Treillard's Aide-de-Camp
(as Tony Matthews)
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| Pete Postlethwaite | ... |
Orderly shaving Gen. Treillard
(as Peter Postlethwaite)
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Jason Scott | ... |
Léonie's Son
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| Luke Scott | ... |
Léonie's Son
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| Stacy Keach | ... |
Narrated by (voice)
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
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Jean-Pierre Bordas | ... |
Pianist (uncredited)
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Paul Casson-Yardley | ... |
Napoleonic Boy Soldier (uncredited)
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George Oliver | ... |
Wedding Guest (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Ridley Scott | ||
Written by
| Gerald Vaughan-Hughes | ... | (screenplay) |
| Joseph Conrad | ... | (story "The Duel") |
Produced by
| Ivor Powell | ... | associate producer |
| David Puttnam | ... | producer |
Music by
| Howard Blake | ||
Cinematography by
| Frank Tidy | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Pamela Power | ||
Editorial Department
| Michael Bradsell | ... | supervising editor |
| Roy Burge | ... | assistant editor |
| Les Healey | ... | assistant editor |
| Peter Hollywood | ... | assistant editor |
Casting By
| Mary Selway | ||
Production Design by
| Peter J. Hampton | ... | (as Peter J Hampton) |
Art Direction by
| Bryan Graves | ||
Costume Design by
| Tom Rand | ||
Makeup Department
| Sue Barradell | ... | makeup supervisor (as Susan Barradell) |
| Elaine Carew | ... | makeup assistant |
| Paul Nix | ... | hairdressing consultant |
| Sheila Thomas | ... | hairdressing assistant |
Production Management
| Peter Jaques | ... | production manager: London |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Patricia Eberhard | ... | second assistant director: France |
| Peter Kohn | ... | third assistant director |
| Terry Marcel | ... | first assistant director |
| David Wimbury | ... | second assistant director |
Art Department
| Les Benson | ... | dressing props |
| Richard Dicker | ... | drape |
| Maria Dumas | ... | art assistant |
| Mike Fowlie | ... | prop master |
| Brian Higgins | ... | carpenter |
| John Hogan | ... | dressing props |
| Pat Hughes | ... | dressing props |
| John Lanzer | ... | prop buyer |
| Ann Mollo | ... | set dresser |
| Ted Stickley | ... | stand-by prop |
| Arthur Wicks | ... | dressing props |
| Mickey Pugh | ... | standby props (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Bill Burgess | ... | sound boom |
| Derrick Leather | ... | sound mixer |
| Terry Rawlings | ... | dubbing editor |
| Joe Ryan | ... | sound camera |
| Hugh Strain | ... | dubbing mixer |
Special Effects by
| John Burgess | ... | special effects |
Stunts
| Richard Graydon | ... | horsemaster |
| Tito Tomassini | ... | Sword Master (uncredited) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| David Appleby | ... | still photographer |
| Steve Barron | ... | clapper loader (as Stephen Barron) |
| Adrian Biddle | ... | focus |
| Ray Hall | ... | grip |
| Hugh Johnson | ... | clapper loader |
| Gary Mullins | ... | 1st spark |
| Ridley Scott | ... | operator |
| Terence Thomson | ... | 2nd spark |
| Al Watson | ... | gaffer |
Casting Department
| Lily van Rijs | ... | casting: France (as Lily Van Rijs) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| James Wakely | ... | wardrobe master |
| Rita Wakely | ... | wardrobe mistress |
Location Management
| Clinton Cavers | ... | location consultant: Scotland |
| Olga Farel | ... | location manager: France |
| Jean-François Villemer | ... | assistant location manager: France (as Jean-Francois Villemer) |
Music Department
| Howard Blake | ... | conductor |
| John Richards | ... | music mixer |
Script and Continuity Department
| Kay Fenton | ... | continuity |
| Melinda Rees | ... | continuity (uncredited) |
Transportation Department
| Con Lewis | ... | unit driver |
Additional Crew
| Matthew Binns | ... | runner |
| Paul Cadiou | ... | production accountant |
| Guilhaine Cosse | ... | secretary: France |
| Mike Dempsey | ... | titles designed by |
| Mike Dempsey | ... | title designer |
| William Hobbs | ... | fight director |
| Richard Holmes | ... | military advisor |
| Isabelle Kloucowski | ... | sous-titres francais (as Isabelle Kloucowsky) |
| Steve Lincoln | ... | runner |
| Gil Mead | ... | production assistant |
| Nicole Miloux | ... | assistant accountant: France |
| Sean O'Brien | ... | assistant accountant: London |
| Carolyn Pfeiffer | ... | production associate |
| Noelle Simpson | ... | production liaison |
| Lynda Smith | ... | secretary to producer |
| Steve Hancock | ... | projectionist (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Paramount Pictures (present)
- Enigma Productions
- Scott Free Enterprises (made by)
- National Film Finance Consortium (in association with)
- National Film Finance Corporation (NFFC)
Distributors
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Norway) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1977) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Cinema International Corporation (CIC) (1978) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Paramount Pictures (1978) (United States) (theatrical) (as Paramount A Gulf+Western Company)
- Paramount Films of India (1980) (India) (theatrical)
- Sociedade Importadora de Filmes (SIF) (1980) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1980) (United States) (VHS)
- CBS (1982) (United States) (tv)
- Esselte CIC Video (1983) (Belgium) (VHS)
- Antenne 2 (A2) (1985) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- CIC Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (1991) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- CIC Video (1995) (Germany) (VHS)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- Koch Media (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Paramount Home Entertainment (2003) (Sweden) (DVD)
- Shout! Factory (2012) (United States) (Blu-ray) (DVD)
- Imprint Films (2020) (Australia) (Blu-ray)
- Paramount Channel (2021) (France) (tv)
- Video MPA (Canada) (VHS) (dubbed)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Cinétitres (sous-titrage)
- Costumi d'Arte (costumes)
- Motion Picture Association (MPA) (logo: PG: parental guidance suggested: some material may not be suitable for pre-teenagers)
- Panavision (photographic equipment by)
- Simpsons of Piccadilly (the producers wish to thank)
- The Airstrip One Company (soundtrack album) (2001)
- The Crown Estate Commissioners (the producers wish to thank)
- The Eagle Star Insurance Company (the producers wish to thank)
- The People of Inverness, Scotland (the producers wish to thank, and most particularly, without whose help and co-operation this film could not have been made)
- The People of Sarlat, France (the producers wish to thank, and most particularly, without whose help and co-operation this film could not have been made)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Set during the grand, sweeping Napoleonic age, an officer in the French army insults another officer and sets off a life-long enmity. The two officers, D'Hubert and Feraud, cross swords and pistols time and time again in an attempt to achieve justice and preserve their honor.
Written by Greg Bole |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Fencing is a science. Loving is a passion. Duelling is an obsession. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $900,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Ridley Scott said that after having directed anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 television commercials, he realized no one was going to approach him about directing a film, so he'd have to take the lead. Since his funds were limited, he used a public domain source for the story, and commissioned the script for this movie on his own. See more » |
| Goofs | In the opening scene, Harvey Keitel's character's sword strikes home in the upper chest (near the heart) of his opponent, then the film cuts to a side view of the opponent depicting the sword as having entered his stomach area. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Featured in Duelling Directors: Ridley Scott & Kevin Reynolds (2002). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Bist du bei mir See more » |
| Crazy Credits | Opening credits prologue: STRASBOURG 1800 See more » |
| Quotes |
Armand D'Hubert:
General Feraud has made occasional attempts to kill me. That does not give him the right to claim my acquaintance. See more » |