Pardon me for posting, but I was wondering…could anyone here suggest any movies in particular that have good examples of sword fights? And by “good” I mean technically realistic and well filmed, not just “beautiful people” swatting at each other with rejects from the Franklin Mint Fantasy Sword Collection. Any fencers here with a suggestion or two?
Well, thanks for your time,
Ranchoth
(I’m guessing that Red Sonja isn’t going to be very high on anyone’s list)
For an excellent combination of “technically realistic” and “artfully done” (in addition to being cool as hell), I consider the best sword fight in movie history to be in The Princess Bride, for the fight between Wesley and Inigo. Two master swordsmen, who have nothing but respect for each other, going at it, playing as fair as possible. Plus, the dual use of the “I am not left-handed” bit was excellent.
Another great one is an oldie called “Scaramouche” with Stewart Granger and Mel Ferrer. It has one of the longest, and most technically perfect sword duels on film, and it’s a pretty entertaining movie to boot.
“The Duellists” , by Ridley Scott, come to mind…
INAFencer but…
The Duellists starring Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel. Gritty, believeable sword fight when the two first fight. Brutal and exhausting. Their other duels involve a charge on horseback, and pistols, a good film worth seeking out.
Sunshine with Ralph Fiennes. One of the characters he plays is an Olympic fencer, I don’t know how well the fencing scenes are done from a realism standpoint, but I did find them exciting and tension filled.
If you want lots of brutal, well choreographed swordplay, try the Lone Wolf And Cub series of films from Japan. One man against many in most of the fights, but very well done, and fun to watch. Warning: lots of over the top, gory violence in these six movies. Cartoonishly so in some of the later movies, not for the squemish or easily offended.
There was a pretty good thread about swordfights several months ago, with lots of suggestions, you might try a search for it.
One time when we were really drunk, me and my friend had a penis swordfight. Basically this consisted of us pulling out our erect penises and dueling with thim. What can I say, I was 14.
“What can I say, I was 14.”
Was that age or length? :eek:
Not enough said.
The version starring Errol Flynn. With Basil Rathbone as the Sherrif of Nottingham.
Look out for Basil Rathbone, in The Adventures of Robin Hood and The Mark of Zorro. (Actually, look out for Basil Rathbone in just about anything - but these two are most certainly relevant to the OP).
And, then, there’s always The Court Jester…
The Yakuza (1975, Robert Mitchum) and The Challenge (1982 Scott Glenn, Toshiro Mifune), both have excellent katana fights at the end. Don’t know if they are realistic, but they are both damn good.
Also, fair enough crack about Red Sonja, but Conan The Barbarian has some gorgeously-filmed sequences in it, particularly the Battle of the Mounds.
Versus has some pretty interesting sword fights, especially the final duel. Both the swords are a little hokey, but to see one guy swinging around a six foot long sword with such ease is rather impressive.
Duel, a Japanese kung-fu movie has a rather impressive one as well. Typical wire fu, yes, but there’s an interesting bit where, after jumping 100 feet in the air and battling all the way, the two fighters place their swords under their feet and use them as springboards to jump even higher*.
As a former fencing instructor, I want to echo what has been said about The Adventures of Robin Hood definitely (the fight up the staircase has to be one of the best), but I also want to add my applause to The Princess Bride and Scaramouche. But let me mention another Basil Rathbone and Errol Flynn vehicle, Captain Blood (especially the scene where Rathbone and Flynn fight to the death on the beach - not the longest on record, but very good).
I’ve often felt that perhaps two of the most realistic fencing scenes ever done were The Duelists as has been mentioned before and Zefferelli’s Romeo and Juliet in the fight scenes between Mercutio and Tybalt and then Romeo and Tybalt.
No-one’s mentioned the sword scenes in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon yet? I’m not a fan of martial arts movies, but thems some stunning movie sequences.
I thought the sword fights in Rob Roy were the best I’d ever seen!
eh, Star Wars?
Rob Roy’s fights were well done, accurate, and really showed the disadvantage a broadsword (or Clay Beg, in this case) fighter had when facing a rapier fencer.
Eh, other’s have already said better than I can about the other excellent movies.
I’ve always thought Prince Valiant had a great sword fight between James Mason and Robert Wagner. This was made in the 1950s. It looked like they were really trying to kill each other. You can hear them breathing hard and there’s no music to get in the way. When they drop their shields and Prince Valiant attacks with his Singing Sword, it sure looks real.
I vote for the 70’s version of The Three Musketeers and its sequel.
The duel of the fates in Phantom Menace.