MovieChat Forums > The Duellists (1978) Discussion > The Music For Christ Sake....

The Music For Christ Sake....

posted 16 years ago by sid_ssw_a
8 replies | jump to latest

I am destroyed to the fact no one had the slightest word for the mesmerizing music of The Duellists !!! No one !

The music was the emotional cloth to that dazzling story.

Tom Conti holds his flûte and opens the chapter of this killer momentum in the beginning that is ended by the same shivering sound at Ferraud's last stand after being "Killed" by D'Hubert.

No one felt anything ???

This sound is in my mind since I first saw the movie 24 years ago; just like the age this unforgettable count spanned over.

I am now 36 and it is still there.

Thank you Mr Howard Blake.
Thank You Mr Ridley Scott.
Thank you Mr Keith Carradine & Thank you Mr Harvey Keitel.
Thank you Mr Konrad.
Merci la France.

[–] deeveed 16 years ago

Coem to think of it you're right. That music which closes the film while Keitel looks on the river is just fabulous. I'm not sure but I don't think there is a soundtrack of the film.

[–] yohojohn 16 years ago

Actually the soundtrack was discussed in this thread:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075968/board/thread/33584508

[–] sid_ssw_a 16 years ago

Thanks for the thread Yohojohn but the people there were only talking on how to get the soundtrack.

I am talking about the fact that no one seized the impact of the music on the movie nor on the audience.

No one expressed his feelings towards that striking score accompanying us & The Duellists towards all the story.

[–] yohojohn 16 years ago

Sorry. I just got the soundtrack so I was enthusiastic about spreading info on it. The score is very good. I'm surprised that Howard Blake hasn't done more movies. His last film score was in 1999 for "The Bear."

[–] biolumen 16 years ago

Everything about this movie is so great that some people like myself mistakenly overlook the music. Yes, the music is a perfect fit for the film. I cannot imagine how it could be done better. That last scene, with the music following the camera as it moves in to Feraud and across the river, then back out, will always be one of my favorite scenes of all time.

[–] bugatti-royale 16 years ago

Quite agree that the music is excellent - just one of the reasons why I can watch this movie over and over.

The UK "Special Collector's Edition" DVD release includes, as well as Ridley Scott's commentary, a very good commentary by the composer in which he talks about some of the techniques and ideas he used, where music was scored but not used... if you're interested in the music I can't recommend it highly enough.

[–] jeffmac2112 15 years ago

Yes...The use of music was perfect in this movie...And the nonuse of it in the early duelling scenes were amazing. They knew when to use it and when not to. Just a great movie.

[–] 15 years ago

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