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Countdown list of Sword Fights, Part 1 – from so-so to quite good

posted 3 years ago by Rascar-Capac (45)
5 replies | jump to latest

The list does not expand to Eastern Katana fights or laser sword duels from Star Wars …

23. Justin Chambers vs. Tim Roth in "The Musketeers" (2001). Brings Eastern styled fight choreography into Dumas tale, which didn‘t work as good as the producers thought. The Endfight surely was meant to create a jaw-dropping highlight, but it‘s mostly repetitive as well as ridiculous. Half the time we just get tiny cgi-figures instead of the actors, balancing on ladders and performing stunts, that violate the known laws of gravity.

22. Kevin Costner vs. Alan Rickman in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991). A fight for and in view of the heroine, but it didn‘t work for me. Whatever the ideas of the stunt coordinator were: the show is quickly ruined, due to Elizabeth Mastrantonios constant yelling for Robiiiiiiiin!

21. Robert Chapin vs. Jim Pirri in "Ring of Steel" (1994). Former Fencing Champion is thrown into an illegal gladiator fighting competition. At least this one bloodless show fight is better than what you‘d expect from a cheap direct-to-video production.

20. Daniel Olbrychski vs. Tadeusz Lomnicki in "The Deluge" ("Potop", 1974). Epic 17th century history film from Poland. The exciting Sabre duel is exceptionally staged on muddy ground and the combatants make it out in heavy rain.

19. Cary Elwes vs. Mandy Patinkin in "The Princess Bride" (1987). The film has a large fan community and many out there claim this duel being the best ever filmed. From a more realistic POV: The Choreography is nice to look at and competently performed. However, it‘s a family friendly film for Kids and Parents in the first place. Not the slightest element of danger included here, and viewed as a parody I found it mildly amusing only.

18. Alain Delon vs. Stanley Baker in "Zorro" (1975). Strange Italian mix of classic swashbuckler with elements of Italo western and ballyhoo thrown in. The final duel has an impressive 10 minutes length. Most of it is done well, just some kind of stop-and-go-feeling emerges, when the opponents move from one location to another.

17. F. Murray Abraham vs. Eric Roberts in "By the Sword" (1991). Quite unique, as it deals with modern day sports fencing, which is often not very exciting to look at. But it‘s different here, as a suspenseful and really dangerous fight emerges, when a fencing master is challenged by a mysterious stranger.

16. Jim Caviezel vs. Guy Pearce in "The Count of Monte Cristo" (2002). Atmospheric camera work, but the opponents do too much running, stumbling and seeking-the-weapon here, as if classic sword-wielding wouldn‘t unfold enough suspense.

[–] Rascar-Capac (45) 3 years ago

Part 2, Near classics:

15. Stephan Luca vs. Dierk Prawdzik in "Held der Gladiatoren" (2003). German made for TV Movie, produced in the wake of Ridley Scotts "Gladiator". The budget is significantly smaller here, but still ok. At least the final swordfight between the hero and the supposed invincible gladiator champ Lagos is well staged and really suspenseful throughout.

14. Brad Pitt vs. Eric Bana in "Troy" (2004). Overlong epic with impressive battle scenes but plenty of dull characters also. At least the famous clash of Achilles and Hector came out as a Highlight, as they perform this fierce dance-like sequence up to it‘s inevitable deadly finish.

13. Catherine Zeta-Jones vs. Antonio Banderas in "The Mask of Zorro" (1998). Delightful mock fight, symbolizing an upcoming stormy love affair: The battle of the sexes leads to a part striptease of the (stunningly beautiful) heroine. I found this one more interesting than the violent end fight Zorro had with the villain‘s henchman.

12. Harvey Keitel vs. Dave Hill in "The Duelists" (1977). Initial fight straight at the beginning of the film. Perhaps the most genuine filming rendition of duels in ancient centuries: Much lurking for the right moment and short violent movements of attack and defense. This is miles away from the common ballot like choreographies. Looks just bloody dangerous.

11. Frédéric van den Driessche vs. Bruno Wolkowitch in "Lagadère" (2003). From a french Mini Series, made for TV, but it looks fairly big budgeted. This one is not an enemies combat but a training fight between fencing master and apprentice: Delightful floating camera moves and outstanding choreography.

[–] Rascar-Capac (45) 3 years ago

Part 3, Old and new classic fights

10. Errol Flynn vs. Henry Daniels in "The Sea Hawk" (1940). Flynn‘s best screen fight IMO and sadly it‘s not Basil Rathbone he encounters. A stunt double had to jump in for lengthy scenes, because Daniels couldn‘t fight at all. But director Michael Curtiz makes the best of it. He often pans back the camera, to capture the impressive sets. I especially like the eerie play of shadows on the castles walls (admittedly, repeated from "Robin Hood").

9. Robert Taylor vs. George Sanders in "Ivanhoe" (1953). OK, not a sword fight exactly, it‘s axe against Morning-Star flaile. The duel is marred by a jump cut from the duel arena to an approaching King Richard in between. Otherwise a fine achievement. Especially the scenes of Ivanhoe at foot defending himself against the violent attacks of a horse mounted Bois Gilbert are great.

8. Pierce Brosnan vs. Toby Stephens in "Die another Day" (2002). By far the best action scene in this overblown entry to the Bond series. This incident with ancient weapons shines out against the silly scifi gadgetry in the films second half. Also great as a study in escalation: The fight starts as a light sports combat with foils and culminates into the clash of two rascals dashing with broad swords.

7. Danny Kaye vs. Basil Rathbone in "The Court Jester" (1955). If nothing else, this is for sure the best fun sword fight in movie history. What a brilliant idea from the script writer to have Kaye transformed from master swordsman to helpless coward with a finger snipping.

6. Robert Wagner vs. James Mason in "Prince Valiant" (1954). Nitpicking first: The sword design is flawed here, the (aluminium) blades looking much too broad to be believable. The choreography however is great. There is a touching moment in the middle of the fight, when a music tune sets in and we realize the advantage switches from evil Sir Braque to the young prince.

[–] Rascar-Capac (45) 3 years ago

Part 4, Classics Top Five

5. Stewart Granger vs. James Mason in "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1952). Generally this Technicolor remake of the 1937 film isn‘t as good as the original, however the climactic duel is not only longer but also far superior here. It was extended, to benefit from Grangers athletic power and his fencing experience – and it works.

4. Liam Neeson vs. Tim Roth in "Rob Roy" (1995). A very one sided fight this is and you will fear for the hero‘s life from the beginning. Also the combat creates the illusion of watching an authentic period duel. The twist at the end of the fight comes as a surprise, although I‘m not sure the realism is suspended here for a moment. Anyway a very suspenseful fight.

3. Michael York vs. Christopher Lee in "The four Musketeers" (1974). Despite several comedic elements the sword fights in Lester‘s Musketeer films are mostly grim and violent. This final duel between d‘Artagnan and and the musketeers arch enemy Rochefort is especially intense and bloody and yet it‘s carefully built up and beautifully photographed.

2. Tyrone Power vs. Basil Rathbone in "The Mark of Zorro" (1940). The best sword fight choreography from Hollywoods Golden Age. A perfect mix of fast action (carefully done speed-up in post-production) and sharp tongued dialog. Both Power and especially Rathbone had practiced stage fencing before and their enthusiasm for Wes Cravens Choreography is evident.

1. Stewart Granger vs. Mel Ferrer in "Scaramouche" (1952). Set in a pompous theatre, the duelists make it the showroom for a fight to remember. They fence it out on the balconies and stairways, through the public hall, ending it on the stage. Ingenious Director George Sidney abandoned music as well as dialog for these six and a half minutes. So all you hear is the clinging of the blades, the opponents gasping and the fear cries of the shocked audience. Both actors were trained for weeks by Belgian fencing master Jean Heremans: An unsurpassed Classic!

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (2180) 2 months ago

You have that right about Scaramouche. Whenever that scene was on TCM, I would drop whatever I was doing and make everyone around drop whatever they were doing to watch. The sword fight in The Princess Bride is also very good, however.

[–] liscarkat (18410) 3 years ago

1. Tyrone Power vs. Basil Rathbone in "The Mark of Zorro"
2. Errol Flynn vs. Basil Rathbone in "The Adventures of Robin Hood"
3. Stewart Granger vs. James Mason in "The Prisoner of Zenda"
4. Danny Kaye vs. Basil Rathbone in "The Court Jester"
5. Steward Granger vs. Mel Ferrer in "Scaramouche"
6. Michael York vs. Leonard Whiting in "Romeo and Juliet"
7. Michael York vs. Christopher Lee in "The Four Musketeers"
8. Kirk Douglas vs. Tony Curtis in "The Vikings"
9. Errol Flynn vs. Robert Douglas in "The Adventures of Don Juan"