By the Sword final scene

The final duel in By the Sword, with Eric Roberts and F. Murray Abraham. Choreographed by Bob Anderson!

[@patrickuk9784]

A neat film with a great climax that deserves wider recognition. Eric Roberts, too, is an underrated actor.

[@jackoneill8654]

Patrick UK, umm, ummm, I think you are maybe almost alone there...

[@jackoneill8654]

when I see Eric Roberts in a part I think he is always one moment away from cracking himself up...also I'm afraid he will do himself injury de live er ing his lines.

[@TripWamsley]

I agree.

[@vaevictusdeus]

He was amazing in "A Talking Cat".

[@colnew7359]

A great film Patrick agreed & Eric Roberts is outstanding in it.

[@les4767]

This film is criminally underrated. I just happened to catch it late one night on a cruise ship channel. A great drama and some fantastic fencing.

[@mickeycoffey5063]

I was a world champion fencer in my younger days. This film is so underrated. The salute at the end was trademark. Nice piece.

[@TheRampagingGallowglass75]

Congratulations on that! Much Respect! Bet you are an Irish guy, going by your name (back in the late 1600s-mid 1700s the Irish made some of the finest & deadliest fencing masters in all of Europe, as fierce & skilled with their swords as the Russian Cossacks were with their sabres). God Bless ☘️☘️☘️

[@celebrim1]

Cadet or junior level?

[@celebrim1]

@@TheRampagingGallowglass75 He's from Kentucky. I am only aware of one American world champion, and he's a black man.

[@yourgodsisspeakingtoyouher4284]

What is a world champion fencer?

[@celebrim1]

@@yourgodsisspeakingtoyouher4284 Presumably, someone who has won The World Fencing Championships. The event is held annually at four different age levels: senior, cadet, junior, and veteran. Someone who has won The World Fencing Championships at any level could creditably say that they are a world champion fencer. One American male has one at the senior level - Miles Chamley-Watson with the foil.

[@TopFunology]

Murray Abraham is such a great actor, he gives so much depth to all characters he plays, especially as a villain...

[@joeofmacabre07]

Yeah. I was shocked that in this one, he plays more like a hero which he did it very convincingly

[@reginaldlowe3020]

pp

[@damianmackinnon5742]

Loved him in The Name of the Rose with sir Sean.

[@swastikausa]

@@damianmackinnon5742 and finding forrester with sir sean. he was still just sean back in 86

[@swastikausa]

so does emma roberts dad.

[@garyhiggins4315]

A great movie, brilliantly played by Two GREAT Actors!

[@stevenlowe3245]

One of the greatest movies ever made that no one has heard of.

[@Zurround]

I used to OWN a copy of this movie on VHS. This is one of my favorite movies. Almost everything that I owned (including the vhs copy) was destroyed in a wild fire that destroyed many homes over a wide geographic region.

[@alxavier3795]

One of Eric Robert’s finest performances! I’ve always wanted to him do a role with vastly more depth to it! Both antagonist and protagonist really show their stuff in this film!!

[@jpthomason]

This scene has meant so much to me over the years...Important...A word used oft in the wrong ways, but sometimes in the rights...Growth...Frustration...Forgiveness...Art. Importance...Like Aldo Nadi learned the meaning of that word.

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

It's been LONG time since I heard anyone mention Aldo, Nedo, or Beppo. 🐲✨🐲✨🐲✨

[@charleslennonbaker]

I picked up this movie from a video bin years ago. It's what got me into martial arts (Sword Fighting). In my opinion a very underrated movie.

[@gmshadowtraders]

I finally watched this masterpiece yesterday. Just phenomenal. It's in a league of its own. Both leads look like legit practitioners. 5 friggin stars!

[@byronlee8745]

It's always pleasing when the hero spares the life of his enemy at the end of the battle.

[@kharilane1340]

Not always. Sometimes the "good guy" shows mercy to someone the audience would really prefer to see dead. Batman does it all the time, so does Superman and most of the "good guys" in comics. Killing the bad guys makes you an antihero like The Punisher or Wolverine when he's not hanging out with the X-Men.

[@cargo71]

It´s weird to see the "enemy" accepting the defeat and showing respect, instead of attacking cowardly. I liked that.

[@dirkbruere]

Falure to kill an unrepentent or dishonorable enemy is weakness

[@Zurround]

@@cargo71 I love HAPPY ENDINGS. Maybe "happy" is too strong a word but Alexander Villiard learned some humility and became a better person and Max Suba recognized that and showed him respect. Alex was kind of an A hole but there were no true villains in this story and that is part of what made it so good.

[@CorporateCornholio]

@@dirkbruere The battle was one of the heart, not of swords. The swords were but a metaphor for the turmoil within and the need to be redeemed. However if you are talking about the DC characters their inability to permanently end villains is both a character flaw and strength of character. Fighting the villains is allegory for the difficulties within the heroes, battles that must be fought but can never be truly won. A reflection of life, how we fight our own little internal battles that we cannot win and must fight each and every day, like trying to remain sober, gambling addiction or cancer. You may defeat it today but you will have to fight it again tomorrow or the next day. So too the DC heroes will prevail today knowing that they will have to face that same villain down the line. Maybe too deep as most people just see the simplistic violence and good vs evil when there is so much more beneath the superficial surface.

[@danielhaire6677]

The ending of the duel reminds me of a saying about swords - "The toughest lesson of swordsmanship is not drawing or using the sword, but knowing when to sheath or forgo the sword." Still, thank you for posting this sword fight from one of Eric Roberts' most under-appreciated films.

[@drott150]

You could say the same thing about penises.

[@KristerAndersson-nc8zo]

Well penises are seldom hurting people, my female companion does not feel that.

[@jackbuchanan9085]

"True courage is about not when to take a life, but when to spare one." - Gandalf The Grey (The Hobbit)

[@omegagilgamesh]

"The toughest lesson of swordsmanship is not drawing and using the weapon, but knowing when to sheath or forgo the sword." A bit of wisdom that transcends swordsmanship. I've been a martial arts practitioner for 17 years, and I've seen a lot of people not want to hear it when we say, "just give him your wallet; a couple hundred dollars and canceling your credit cards are not worth a hospital visit." Other organizations need to do this more as well. For example, as best I can tell the NRA teaches how to care for and use guns, but doesn't teach WHEN to use them, such as the laws dictating gun use, as well as how they won't protect you in all dangerous situations. For example, if your gun is in its holster on your hip or breast, and someone is robbing you at gun point, just give him your wallet, because you will need to draw it, point it, pull the trigger, and if you followed the law you'll also need to load the first round and turn off the safety, whereas the only thing the robber will have to do is pull the trigger. You won't out-quickdraw that.

[@samojerom1046]

i love this movie so much, the story and the actors are amazing .

[@samojerom1046]

Great memories of 90th, this movie was amazing in that time .... the story and acting amazing .

[@Roger50871]

A great movie. If only Eric Roberts was such a person. A man of Honor and Humility as a knight should be.

[@gerryleb8575]

The character Eric Roberts plays has so many sides, and is so conflicted and able, that he is a compelling anti-hero. Murray Abraham plays a more straightforward character, but with such artistry. One of the best films ever, about the human condition, and about how in the modern world we feel adrift and need to find some sort of framework to give our lives meaning and content.

[@MuppetAlex1]

I loved this film. Really enjoyable plot.

[@jaimejulia9624]

My favorite movie. The best ever. Great teaching. Simply the best.

[@hamimhameem3411]

...movie recommendation; the princess bride

[@iggysfriend4431]

This is an excellent film and highly underrated. This is well worth a watch. F Murray Abraham and Eric Roberts are well cast and act their respective parts well.

[@morecringe89]

It is crazy that the fight scene has less cuts and more quality that a lot coming out these days lol

[@TheSaneHatter]

"This isn't practice."

[@Lechaim11]

Apparently Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone were two of the best fencers in their day. The Mark of Zorro saw them at their best.Scaramouche also had some great fencing duels.The one at the end of that film is a classic.

[@flashgordon1262]

The scaramouche finale is the best perhaps of any swashbuckler...check out luke and darth vaders light saber duel in the empire strikes back though 😁

[@robpelarde4734]

Damn straight

[@joelmauri9478]

Don't know who basil Rathbone is but I do have a Tyrone Powers Zorro movie and I agree with you on his sword skills compared his Zorro movie with Antonio Banderas Zorro movie. Tyrones sword skills are more faster than Antonio's

[@flashgordon1262]

@@joelmauri9478 Basil was sir guy in errol flynns robin hood and zorros enemy in the tyrone power version of that story,basil is best known for his sherlock holmes films.

[@joelmauri9478]

@@flashgordon1262 thanks for the heads up buddy 👍 . Gives me an excuse to watch it again 😁

[@mitchelnorton2692]

This movie is criminally underrated.

[@yoloswaggins1579]

Epilogue: Omar Suarez eventually retired from fencing, and started a career smuggling coke to Miami, until he was thrown out of a helicopter.

[@antonioj123]

I thought he became a Classical Music Critic.

[@geraldburke5147]

Yeah and one of his ancestors used to give Mozart a hard time as I understand it...

[@jcaliberty8288]

Dont forget when he faked his death and captured 13 ghost

[@TMundohere]

Wait wait, what about his brief period of time as a district attorney with that bonfire and all those vanities?

[@ChickSage]

And one of his descendants tried to kill Jean-Luc Picard.

[@Avallachgrey]

Never thought I'd see Salieri take up the sword.

[@kolos2006]

I can't belvieve I just found this! I never forgot this film but couldn't remember much more than this ending! I saw it ONCE and was NOT looking for it! Finally KZbin did me favor!

[@hawkinatorgamer9725]

Imagine you just walked in to sign up for fencing lessons😳

[@albertbresca8904]

keep on walking...lol

[@hawkinatorgamer9725]

@@albertbresca8904 Ha, you got that right Albert!

[@albertbresca8904]

@@hawkinatorgamer9725 yeh i would wonder what kind of wierd arse classes are taught there...lol seeing two guys going at each other with no masks or jackets and sharp swords.... well even an epee with a tip against a guy in a shirt would cause damage... with no tip... ouchy

[@hawkinatorgamer9725]

@@albertbresca8904 Yes, big time ouchy. I am ignorant when it comes to the knowledges of sword fighting, (left my self wide open to gay jokes *no offense to anyone who may be gay meant*) but you are right, that would have been a hell of a class to walk into.

[@warrenpierce9157]

Most underrated movie ever

[@dontroutman8232]

Eric Roberts has a rapier (with is thicker, with either an oval or diamond shape cross-section), F. Murray Abraham is using a standard Epee fencing blade (triangular cross-section on the Forte) with (giggle and eye roll!) The electric-machanical barrel tip removed. Epee has no sharp edges or tip, unless the fobile were to break off near the tip end, which is what causes tbe fencers death in the movie, Ring of Steel.

[@borislavkrustev8906]

Nope, that's not a rapier. Roberts is holding a film version of a duelling epee. A real rapier is much longer and much wider. It would've been a very unfair fight of it was an actual rapier, as Roberts would have almost a foot of reach advantage.

[@anthonykent00]

Ring of Steel! I hunted down every sword dueling movie I could back in the day. Ring of Steel and By The Sword are the two I can remember. 😂

[@bozzskaggs112]

The pommel strike at 2:47 would have severely injured the Eric Roberts character of even "ended him rightly."

[@humorlessclown]

Bozz Skaggs - ... you son of a bitch 😂

[@TudorascuBogdan]

True that, checked it.

[@Th0ughtf0rce]

If it ain't thrown, it ain't "rightly"

[@Gauge.-Warington]

No shit. Good call

[@chrisherne6454]

One of my favourite fencing related films.

[@davidpowelson4817]

I used to have copy of this movie. Still love it.

[@Zurround]

The backstory of the events that came right before his prison sentence would be enough story material for a prequel movie.

[@samrodriguez9653]

Having taken Fencing lessons I really enjoyed this movie 🎥

[@OldGrayCzechWolf]

Good choreogrphy of the fencing scenes. Decent plot. What is not to like? Takes me back a few decades to when I used to fence. Was lucky and had world class Olympic instructors. I wish my knees still worked so I could fence again.

[@KalCraig]

I can't believe I never heard of this movie. I've seen the Best of the Best movies so many times back when, but never saw this one or even knew it existed. Guy's got guts going after Mongul like that.

[@kennethfharkin]

Most importantly this film featured Sloan from Ferris Bueller's Day Off in fencing knickers. Fencing knickers do wonders for a woman's posterior!

[@Boilerz1]

Laughed out loud when he unscrewed the barrel off the epee with his fingers...

[@dontroutman8232]

Conor Boyle yeppers! I'm an armourer, and repaired many an Epee tip. Underneath the barrel, it's still a fairly blunt, threaded tip.

[@kennethfharkin]

Of course you could sharpen that tip under the barrel and exactly such weapons were used for duels into the early 20th century such as the one Aldo Nadi fought. i.redditmedia.com/PLhZSoa5JHO7fX68PyVPtAmye7OTRG_bpl2RP3M0HKk.jpg?s=302b670629d5d4747a4e3394e7cd5536

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

It's a movie.

[@KesselRunner606]

I always thought this was one of the most underrated martial arts fight scenes (Fencing *is* by every definition, a Martial Art). The choreography is okay, and nothing spectacular (and in one or two sequences the strikes don't work to camera, and you can see the gaps the actors use for safety). But it's a great example of what a fight scene *should* be: dialogue with action. Essentially two people having an intense conversation, and coming to a resolution. And I always loved how this film took the cliche "You Killed My Father" trope and flipped it on its head. Instead of seeking revenge, the son of the slain father wants to *become* his father's killer. (Plus Mia Sara looks cute in a fencer's suit)

[@levifontaine8186]

There shouldn't be deialogue

[@notfeedynotlazy]

@@levifontaine8186 the scene's whole point is the dialogue.

[@kennethfharkin]

@@levifontaine8186 the choreography IS the dialogue.

[@kennethfharkin]

I fenced for years and the are two key things tied to your Mia Sara statement. 1. Female fenders develop fantastic legs and asses from the posture and footwork. 2. Fencing knickers are cut perfectly to accentuate those well developed features on women, particularly when the jacket is off.

[@allenscott68]

Zulu swashbuckler. Adbo'ch 1 I get and understand that but as a someone who loves swashbuckler movies that tends to make the movie exciting.

[@Anthoman001]

This is a great movie! And I've been looking for the title for years. [lol] Thanks for providing it. [smile]

[@FIREBRAND38]

So much better than doing backward somersaults while using light sabers.

[@Zorro_c.s.]

Underrated movie

[@h.erencalik]

looks like a masterpiece, sad that I watched this before watching the movie

[@THEMAX00000]

Great film, great story.

[@jonwizard3989]

I spent a fun evening with Eric Roberts in New York (1987) - really nice guy!

[@templar8787]

5:30 I’d be pissed if I was the guy who took the time and effort to make that sword

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

A cheap aluminum prop sword. The armorer can turn them out by the dozens. They use aluminum because it has a better clanking sound for films.

[@fstbr4]

Yeah, I think Eric Roberts would have been twice as t'd off if the sword did not break clean. He would have needed a doctor to save his leg.

[@streetlethal3727]

The man that could not win did not loose🤔that what happens when you go up against the best of the best! Great video I practice the spinning back shoulder slam on my punching bag

[@sskoog]

It didn't occur to me until this very moment, but this film's characters and structure were basically stolen by Sean Penn when he wrote The Crossing Guard ~4 years later. Shocking that I didn't see it before.

[@user-xp8ml3cd7p]

Watched this when it 1st came out. Loved it then . Love it now. ⅘

[@FlyingAxblade_D20]

that was super cool!

[@radostinvasilev599]

I cry.

[@Thyrwyn]

I love this movie. I realize that its choreography is not realistic; I don’t care. It’s got its issues, but it’s a fun, engaging film and F. Murray Abrahams is wonderful to watch. And, as much as I can’t stand watching Eric Roberts, he is in two of my “guilty pleasure” movies (this one and “The Coca-Cola Kid”).

[@hallinden3942]

See Eric in 1989's 'Best of the Best': a very good and underrated martial arts movie with a very talented cast, good story and excellent ending.

[@keiman74]

Love how everyone is just standing around watching two guys legit trying to kill each other with swords. Not one person's like "Maybe we outta step in before somebody gets killed, yeah?" Everyone else is like "Nah fuckit, let em fight!"

[@FPAlpha]

You would want to get into a fight between two armed people intent on killing each other? Be my guest.

[@raulacosta-vega1044]

Plus it’s in nyc

[@gilberttorres2002]

huh, never seen this movie but have watched this clip many, many times. I need to see this movie.

[@marceloferrari4242]

Brilhante, simplismente maravilhoso 👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷

[@davidyoung4141]

Great movie!

[@user-hg6iw7fc1l]

Kiváló film!

[@franciscovilachan]

Very good movie

[@tomevans4402]

Great film

[@markjeheaton2691]

Warrior to warrior that’s honor

[@coreyhaga2623]

Very good movie .

[@user-rx7qe3ce2t]

I like this movie

[@VoxDeiUniversity]

nice

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

This is an excellent movie, I've been looking for it on DVD for years now. Unfortunately unsuccessfully. Out of print I guess.

[@luke2581]

Never put on to begin with. A shame really

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

@@luke2581 it's available for region 2 but not for US and Canada.

[@outlawtupac]

I’ve got the German DVD (called „Duell der Meister“), it also comes with an english audio track but RC2, yes

[@teaphases6075]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqqadGljibWaqsU

[@chefduane3742]

Very under rated movie.

[@hectorcarreno1922]

Max: "this isn't practice...

[@apekillssnake]

It would have been better to have had the double doors swing at the end with Eric Roberts character walking out.

[@TheRealMediaMan]

Without knowing a single thing about this film or scene I said to myself “ the lesson is over “. lol. Right before he did

[@galtim1416]

Отличный фильм.

[@-6845]

Скажи плз как он называется?

[@Ettoredipugnar]

The clash of arms !!

[@isaacwaite3804]

So who is the bad guy here because i am confused

[@wotmot223]

Neither one, one was a murderer who served his time and sought redemption, the other an obsessed man who learned how to forgive the man who murdered his father.

[@isaacwaite3804]

Was it based on a true story

[@dontroutman8232]

Isaac Waite I would say Eric Robert's character, since he is a pretentious ass, who runs the Salle (In the film, it is supposed to be the fencing section of the NYC athletics club.)

[@GodanHatamoto]

He killed his father when his father lowered his foil, his father was the maestro of the fencing school over 30 years ago.

[@Progen77]

@@GodanHatamoto The weapon was not a foil.

[@queunlimited4779]

They took my thumb charlie!

[@tilasole3252]

So the guy in the dark blue killed the guy with the tie's father?

[@badlaamaurukehu]

Verywell.

[@donaldbadowski290]

Technical point. Removing the tip from an epee is not going to make it into a killing weapon. I wouldn't want to be stabbed by one of course. If the blade was stiffer, it might kill. But the blade is meant to bend on impact, not to stay straight and pierce flesh. In fact if you watch epee fencing in slow motion, you can see the blades bending just as the fencers whip them around, without even touching each others' blade.

[@albertbresca8904]

but it will cut... the thread and edges will cut things....

[@Lion718]

Intense.

[@Zurround]

Suba was A LOT better than Villiard. I was HOLDING BACK and making sure NOT to kill or too badly maim the younger man but the younger man was not holding back AT ALL. I think overall ability would scale like this: Alexander Villaird's father, before his death>prime Max Suba>middle aged Max Suba> Alexander Villiard in this scene. If you extrapolate back in time in this story Alex Villiard is only a SECOND RATE fencer if compared to prime versions of his own father and Max Suba. Because his own father was totally superior its possible that first rate is Alex's father, 2nd rate is prime Max Suba and 3rd rate is both Alex Villiard and middle aged Max Suba.

[@Zurround]

He was never shown in this only described but based on the description and the fact that he totally outmatched a prime aged Max Suba I think that Alex Villiard would have always lost to his father had his father lived. His father was so off the charts skilled that if you use Alex's father as the place to set the bar he would be "first rate" and both Max Suba and Alex Villiard would only be 2nd rate fencers. Alex's father in this fictional universe would be like the "Yoda" of fencing.

[@johnnyfarout]

does anyone know the music at the end in this scene?

[@CarlitosMayo]

True humans.

[@michaelkolometz4369]

This was choreographed by the famous Spanish swordsman, El Stupido

[@southstar44]

Hahaha lol

[@enterBJ40]

Hahaha...almost all Spaniards are like that...so which Estupido was?

[@azforu29]

Eric Roberts

[@guiasilva]

Top

[@Remaagen]

Have this movie on Laser Disc since it wasn't available on DVD.

[@azforu29]

That's the actor from the Best of the Best.

[@omegagilgamesh]

As interesting as all this is, as well as I appreciate a sports film that focuses on those sports that are almost never seen in film (like fencing,) I still feel compelled to point out a few things wrong with all this. First off: those aren't rapiers, they're fencing foils. While rapiers ARE really thin swords, they're still swords: they are flattened on one of their dimensions and have an edge running down them. Those only have a point on them. Second, this is a COMPETITIVE fencing school, which is completely different than the historical fencing that European aristocrats used in gentlemen duels. In competitive fencing, the goal is to stab your opponent before they stab you. In a real fight, it doesn't matter if you stabbed them a tenth of a second faster, you'll still be stabbed as well. To this end, historical fencing was slower so they could defend against counter attacks. Also, competitive fencing is done in a line. They wouldn't necessarily have learned how to do those skills we see in this fight in a normal competitive fencing school. If this were a HEMA school (Historical European Martial Arts,) then yes, they would have learned that, but likely not the competitive fighting methods.

[@Haannibal777]

I am no fencer but some of the moves seem off to me. Too much cutting and not enough thrusting.

[@rnaD86]

Well, those are the MA movies for you; martial artists usually love them for what they get right, and do their level best to overlook what they get wrong. Stands to reason that a movie about fencing would be like that.

[@deltondeltastonerultralofi5468]

I'm a fencer and he is using an epeé not a foil.

[@omegagilgamesh]

@@deltondeltastonerultralofi5468 Ah, thanks for correcting me there.

[@badlaamaurukehu]

Carryon.

[@JDoe-gf5oz]

So who's the good guy here? Dude murdered the guy's dad then shows up at his school and humiliates him in front of his students before the movie just stops.

[@fernandocardenas3050]

me podría decir alguien el nombre de la película

[@liviupopescu183]

✨🏆🏆🏆✨

[@themangomanjuice]

Interesting.

[@christianrosado2102]

I used to fence , I loved this movie total forgot

[@crazymage9636]

How do you get to carnegie hall?

[@lawrencepryor1309]

Practice, practice, practice

[@DH-.]

Master Braetak

[@miraclemax08]

dammit you kids, how many times have your mother and I said, *_No LIVE blades in the house?!_* . . . *_THIS_* is why we can't have nice things

[@isaacwaite3804]

Is this movie on dvd

[@dontroutman8232]

Isaac Waite probably only on VHS, but I saw it way back in 1994. Lucky my fencing instructer had a copy I could borrow.

[@ralphmacchiato3761]

Omar "Suba" Suarez who once survived a south American helicopter drive.

[@frankleepower2333]

Salieri busting some moves there.

[@TheDavidsala]

omar swuarez

[@KristerAndersson-nc8zo]

I have Always wondered how the judicial system would view this, a duel between consenting adults.

[@aminechakak6460]

dude shit is super illegal. Why do you think there is no gladiatoral fights?

[@alexx-ie1hk]

Both will be throw to jail

[@KristerAndersson-nc8zo]

Probably but under which charges? I have a friend who is a retired judge I will ask him.

[@KristerAndersson-nc8zo]

Aren´t there, how about cagefights and boxing?

[@toxi87]

Washington state is a mutual combat state, don't know about swords but yeah lol