Only one opinion, but The Princess Bride comes out on top according to this list (and I'm sure there are plenty on here who would share that opinion).
http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/top-five-fencing-scenes-in-film/
It's certainly one of the best fencing scenes, especially in modern films. Many modern directors have no clue haow to film fencing scenes and mess them up by getting too close, like Pirates of the Caribbean, which could have been pretty good considering who it was choreographed by.
I agree with all the other films that everyone has mentioned. Those are so much fun to watch.
There's poetry in a beautifully choreographed fencing scene. I can only compare it to a great karate scene.
There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick.-The Doctor
I think its the best modern sword fighting scene in films. There are several older classics that surpass it though, including the much aforementioned Adventures of Robin Hood, also The Court Jester (still the best comic sword fight ever) and The Prisoner of Zenda either Coleman/Fairbanks or Granger/Mason.
It is not our abilities that show who we truly are...it is our choices
3 of my favourites; just one on ones...light sabres excluded and in no special order.
1 The Princess Bride...already discussed
2 The Great Race...out of nowhere in a slapstick comedy comes this unbelievably seriously good duel with a hoot of an ending. If you've never seen it, do yourself a favour.
3 Die Another Day...The best action sequence in that movie IMO and the only fencing scene in the whole series I think.
Apologies to Rob Roy, which was also very good.
Back in the mid-80s, I lived in Hollywood, just down the street from Faulkner Studios. It was a fencing studio, and as I'd enjoyed fencing in both high school and college, I investigated it with an eye towards taking classes. Much to my surprise, I had stumbled upon the fencing studio of the man who had taught many of the original swashbuckling actors such as Basil Rathbone and Errol Flynn how to stage fence.
Ralph Faulkner was a Hollywood stuntman, and after a severe leg injury (I think he was pinned under a falling boom from a ship set) he took up fencing to get himself back into shape. Finding he loved and was quite good at fencing, he became a sport fencer and Olympian - http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/fa/ralph-faulkner-1. html He continued to work in the movies as a sword fight choreographer for a very long time. His record speaks for itself. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269110/
By the time I wandered into his studio, he was old and white-haired, with very thick "Coke-bottle" eyeglasses. (Think Laurence Olivier in "The Jazz Singer") (1980) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P4NXH60wVEI/UhWAPqLfGXI/AAAAAAAAEqo/dH95qaSt _JU/s1600/the-jazz-singer--2.jpg The amazing thing was, even at his age, Mr. Faulkner was still actively teaching. I signed up for lessons, and for every hour lesson, I was honored by having Mr. Faulkner coach me for about ten minutes. And the old boy, even at near 90 years of age, could still work a person up into a sweat.
So, many of the older movie fencing scenes you cite were actually choreographed by the same man - Ralph Faulkner. He was incredible.
Thank you for sharing that story. I enjoyed reading it. What a treasured memory!
There's something here that doesn't make sense. Let's go and poke it with a stick.-The Doctor
My five favorite sword-fighting scenes of any type (not just fencing, which should disqualify Rob Roy from this discussion since you DO NOT FENCE with claymores) are, in no particular order:
Cliffs of Insanity, The Princess Bride
Duel of the Fates, The Phantom Menace
Kermit vs Long John Silver, Muppets Treasure Island
Cairo Swordfight, Raiders of the Lost Ark
Final Duel, Highlander
There may be more realistic swordfights, there may be more comical swordfights, and there are certainly more powerful scenes involving swordfights, but those scenes all hit a combination of notes for me that no others equal.
Princess Bride
Court Jester
The Great Race
Just to name a few. But this movie rate up near the top.
There is more Gravy about you then the Grave. Scrooge.
http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/top-five-fencing-scenes-in-film/
How we deal with death is least as important as how we deal with life.
Cary Elwes and Mandy Patinkin learned to fence for the film, reportedly spending all their free time during the production practicing with fencing instructors Bob Anderson and Peter Diamond, and with each other. They actually performed all of the fencing in the sword fight scene, although stunt doubles were used for the two somersaults.
I agree with the post which listed Scaramouche as best but The Princess Bride is very good.
share