An early masterpiece by Ridley Scott with two superb actors playing the two main characters (two officers of the French Grande Army): Keith Carradine and Harvey Keitel. This is not your usual swashbuckler or costume movie but a fine look into a past time and into a very different code of honor and bravery. I watched it a couple of times and I dare to say: timeless and a must-watch.

A really wonderful movie that lives from the great script, the exceptionally good actors (from the major to the minor roles),the very well done directing and an outstanding score. The cast is really good, from the main actors to Diana Quick and to such interesting and sadly underrated actors as Morgan Sheppard and Liz Smith. This movie shows that, provided with a good script, Ridley Scott once was able to do really good movies. If you think this movie is heartless just compare this debut with the first movie done by Ridley's brother Tony, the hollow "The Hunger". The only drawback is his taste for sometimes overdone and unnatural photography. The script is surprisingly faithful to the original story by Joseph Conrad (that one really should read). If you are looking for a movie full of style and grace you will find it here!

In Napoleonic France, Lieutenant Armand d'Hubert (Keith Carradine) is sent to arrest Lieutenant Gabriel Feraud (Harvey Keitel) for fighting a duel. Feraud takes offense at a slight during the arrest and challenges him to a duel. The men fight but are stopped by Feraud's mistress. D'Hubert is sent back to the front with his men. Months later, Feraud challenges d'Hubert once again. D'Hubert is severely injured. After recovering, they fight again but this time to a standstill. D'Hubert is promoted to captain and it's forbidden for different ranks to duel. Years later, Feraud is now a captain. He runs into d'Hubert and they clash once again. Their paths continue to cross and their duel is reignited again and again.

Director Ridley Scott paints a natural picture of the era. The fights are visceral and real. There is a pointlessness to these fights that is based on old ideas of honor. It can get repetitive. The actors are fine and Keitel is compelling whenever he gets on the screen. Keitel's obsessive character is far more interesting than d'Hubert and would be a much more intense character study. This is a somewhat meandering story that is punctuated whenever Keitel shows up. It's an impressive theatrical directorial debut for Ridley Scott.