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.

  2. 2.
    The Mask of Zorro (Special Edition)
    by Martin Campbell

  3. 3.
    The Count of Monte Cristo
    by Kevin Reynolds

  4. 6.
    Rob Roy
    by Michael Caton-Jones

  5. 7.
    The Three Musketeers
    by Stephen Herek

  6. 8.
    Captain Blood
    by Friz Freleng

  7. 9.
    The Parent Trap (Special Edition)
    by Nancy Meyers

  8. 11.
    Ever After - A Cinderella Story
    by Andy Tennant

  9. 12.
    Cutthroat Island

  10. 13.
    Hook
    by Steven Spielberg

  11. 14.
    Dangerous Liaisons
    by Stephen Frears

  12. 15.
    Valmont

  13. 17.
    Hamlet

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

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)




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