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War drama

The Duellists (1978): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Where to Watch

The Duellists (1978) movie poster

The Duellists is a 1978 war drama directed by Ridley Scott, starring Harvey Keitel, Keith Carradine and Alun Armstrong. It is based on A Set of Six by Joseph Conrad. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes and earned $568 worldwide. It earned 2 award nominations, including Best Cinematography at the BAFTA 1979. Critics gave it 70 on Metacritic. Stream it on fuboTV and MGM Plus, or rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

worldwide gross
$568
award nominations
2
Metascore
70
The Duellists (1978) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Director
Ridley Scott
Genres
Drama , War
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Duellists About?

The premise of The Duellists without spoilers, adapted from A Set of Six by Joseph Conrad. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Two French soldiers, Armand d'Hubert and Gabriel Féraud, find themselves locked in a prolonged and escalating cycle of duels following a minor disagreement. Serving under Napoleon's command, their personal feud persists for fifteen years as they advance through the ranks, becoming generals. Despite the passage of time and the ongoing war, their mutual animosity remains intense, fueled by an initial dispute that fades from memory.

The Duellists Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • napoleonic wars
  • 1800s
  • swordsman
  • russian front
  • honor
  • fencing
  • directorial debut
  • feud
  • duellist
  • 1810s
  • grudge
  • fencing duel
+38 more
  • pistol duel
  • hussar
  • reference to napoleon
  • based on short story
  • 19th century
  • military officer
  • duel
  • france
  • saber
  • saber rattling
  • dueling
  • period drama
  • epic war
  • 19th century france
  • french historical setting
  • sword
  • two word title
  • fight to the death
  • showdown
  • violence
  • blood
  • combat
  • rapier
  • dagger
  • swashbuckler
  • adventure hero
  • hero
  • horse
  • empire fashion
  • code of honor
  • man of honor
  • wedding cake
  • reference to king louis xviii
  • changing grade
  • brigadier general
  • tarot card
  • tarot reading
  • card playing
Where to watch

Where to Watch The Duellists

Stream it on fuboTV and MGM Plus, or rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Duellists Cast

Harvey Keitel leads the cast, with Keith Carradine and Alun Armstrong. Directed by Ridley Scott; 10 actors are credited in all.

Ratings

The Duellists Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave The Duellists 70 on Metacritic.

Plot

The Duellists Plot Summary

What happens in The Duellists from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In the charming city of Strasbourg in 1800, tensions escalate dramatically when Lieutenant Gabriel Feraud, a fervent Bonapartist and passionate duelist, nearly kills the Mayor’s nephew during a fierce duel. The fallout from this dangerous incident forces Mayor Brigadier-General Treillard to intervene, ordering Lieutenant Armand d’Hubert, of the 3rd Hussars, to place Feraud under house arrest. However, Feraud perceives this command as a personal slight and promptly challenges d’Hubert to a duel, which ends abruptly as Feraud loses consciousness before a clear resolution can be reached.

Full summary

The whole story of The Duellists, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

The Duellists Box Office

The Duellists grossed $568 worldwide.

1978 box office

Worldwide gross

$568

Awards

The Duellists Awards & Nominations

The Duellists earned 2 award nominations, including Best Cinematography at the BAFTA 1979.

2 nominations1 ceremony

  • British Academy Film Awards logo
    BAFTA 1979 2 nominations
    • Nominated Best Cinematography
    • Nominated Best Costume Design
Videos

The Duellists Trailers & Videos

2 videos: 1 trailer and 1 clip.

The Duellists (1977) - Trailer HD 1080p
  • Clip Howard Blake - The Duellists (1977)
Quiz

How Well Do You Know The Duellists?

9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 9

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered

What event triggers the rivalry between Feraud and d'Hubert?

Details

The Duellists Also Known As

25 alternative titles, including “Les duellistes” and “Os Duelistas”.

Also known as
  • Les duellistes
  • Os Duelistas
  • Pojedynek
  • Los duelistas
  • I duellanti
  • デュエリスト/決闘者
  • デュエリスト/決闘者:1977
  • Duellistene
  • O Duelo
  • Дуэлянты
  • 决斗的人
  • Die Duellisten
+13 more
  • Οι Μονομάχοι
  • Dvobojevalca
  • Düellocu
  • Дуелистите
  • Párbajhősök
  • Kaksintaistelijat
  • Duellanterne
  • Soupeři
  • 결투자들
  • دوئل‌ بازها, დუელიანტები
  • Els duelistes
  • Duellanterna
  • הדואליסטים

Seen The Duellists?

FAQ

The Duellists FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Box Office

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch, box office, ratings and the book behind it of The Duellists, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Duellists?

The Duellists runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was The Duellists released?

The Duellists was released on January 13, 1978.

Who directed The Duellists?

The Duellists was directed by Ridley Scott.

More films by Ridley Scott

Who is in the cast of The Duellists?

The Duellists stars Harvey Keitel, Keith Carradine and Alun Armstrong, among 10 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Duellists?

In the US, The Duellists is streaming on fuboTV, MGM Plus and MGM+ and available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

How much did The Duellists make at the box office?

The Duellists grossed $568 worldwide.

How is The Duellists rated?

The Duellists has 70 on Metacritic and 73% on TMDB.

Is The Duellists based on a book?

Yes. The Duellists is adapted from A Set of Six by Joseph Conrad.

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