The Duellists (1977)

Director: Ridley Scott

Writer: Joseph Conrad, Gerald Vaughan-Hughes

Cast: Keith Carradine, Harvey Keitel, Tom Conti, Diana Quick, Cristina Raines, Edward Fox, Albert Finney, Pete Postlethwaite

Synopsis: One of the great directorial debuts, Ridley Scott's The Duellists is an extraordinary achievement which weaves an epic-in-miniature set around the edges of the Napoleonic Wars.

Based on a story by Joseph Conrad, in turn inspired by real events and filmed in part where those events took place, this is the tale of a 15-year conflict between two French army officers: the level-headed Armand D'Hubert (Keith Carradine) and the obsessive Gabriel Feraud (Harvey Keitel). Each time they meet they duel, until the original purpose of the conflict is all but forgotten. Beyond he two American stars, who fill their roles with rare commitment--accents not withstanding--Scott assembled a stellar supporting cast.