Patrick's "Best Swordplay Movies"

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The best examples of screen swordplay, in the classical, duelling style. A single, really good scene is enough to make the list.

More technically, this would be rapier style swordplay, thus why I’m excluding Star Wars, Seven Samurai, Lord of the Rings and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. (The majority of these, actually, were all choreographed by Bob Anderson, who also did the Lord of the Rings films, and did Darth Vaders duels.)

However, I may have to reexamine some of the films outside the top 11, to see if they really deserve being on the list.

  1. 1.
    The Princess Bride (Special Edition)
    by Rob Reiner
  2. 2.
  3. 3.
    The Count of Monte Cristo
    by Kevin Reynolds
  6. 6.
    Rob Roy
    by Michael Caton-Jones
  7. 7.
    The Three Musketeers
    by Stephen Herek
  8. 8.
    Captain Blood
    by Michael Curtiz
  9. 9.
    The Parent Trap (Special Edition)
    by Nancy Meyers
  11. 11.
    Ever After - A Cinderella Story
    by Andy Tennant
  12. 12.
    Cutthroat Island

  13. 13.
    Hook
    by Steven Spielberg
  14. 14.
    Dangerous Liaisons
    by Stephen Frears
  15. 15.
    Valmont

  17. 17.
    Hamlet
    by Franco Zeffirelli
This is Patrick's list. Only Patrick can edit it. You can make your own version of this list.
Created by Patrick on Jul 18, 2007.
 

Comments

marckoltun

Missing from the List — 5 weeks ago

Cyrano de Bergerac (1950), directed by Michael Gordon and starring Jose Ferrer has, IMO, the best duel in movie history at the very beginning of the movie. Jose Ferrer was on par with Basil Rathbone as both an actor and swordsman.

Also missing from your list is Scaramouche (1952), directed by George Sidney and starring Stewart Granger. This movie has what most agree is the longest duel in movie history, but it also has a number of wonderful sequences with Mel Ferrer and Stewart Granger while the latter’s character is in the process of learning to fence so he can avenge his friend’s death.

And finally, The Mark of Zorro (1940), directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone had what some consider the definitive duel in its time.

That said, I believe Jose Ferrer’s performance in Cyrano exceeds all, and by a substantial margin. For in his first duel, he is composing a “ballad” (or poem) for his adversary while he is in the process of picking him apart – toying with him as a cat toys with his prey. Magnifique!

Apr 19, 09:29AM | 0 comments | Reply to this

Rew

Maybe one more ... not sure ... — 4 years ago

Great list. Would “The Duellists” make it? It may be the wrong style?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075968/

http://www.allconsuming.net/item/view/139611

I believe there is one scene of rapier or small sword in the beginning but I much prefer the saber/cutlass play in this one.

Fights were choreographed by William Hobbs. Pretty amazingly realistic. They are gritty, fast, viscous, and look like two dogs in the gutter going for the throat.

The only other movie to feel quite like this in its fight scenes, that I’ve seen, is The Hunted (2003). A so so movie at best but has some amazing knife fights. Supposedlly it uses “Sayoc Kali” combat choreography. (shrug)

Aug 21, 04:28PM | 0 comments | Reply to this



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