Keith Carradine Discusses 'The Duellists' at Virginia Film Festival

Actor and Oscar-winning songwriter Keith Carradine discusses his role in Ridley Scott's 1978 film, 'The Duellists' (costarring Harvey Keitel) at the 25th annual Virginia Film Festival in Charlottesville. The conversation was moderated by New York University film scholar Harry Chotiner and included questions from the audience about Carradine's career and the art / craft of acting.
Recorded Saturday, November 3, 2012, at the Regal Cinemas on Charlottesville's downtown mall.

[@BrettOwen71]

Keith Carradine is fast becoming one of my favorite actors as I discover more and more of his work and just find that I really admire him as an actor and his film choices. Just finished watching The Duellists for probably the fifteenth time. One of my favorite films of all time. He's aged really well and looks much the same and his voice has remained virtually the same.

[@brendancronin4786]

Brett Owen southern comfort is worth a watch

[@richardbullis6263]

Cahoots is awkward and difficult to watch. Don't bother with this trash.

[@richardbullis6263]

Mine too. He is so underrated. Don't care about the lifestyle.

[@BrettOwen71]

@@brendancronin4786 I love Southern Comfort! That also stars another one of my favorite actors - Powers Booth! Directed by the one and only Walter Hill!

[@rmkiels]

I have it and watch it every few years because its a favorite just like you Brett.

[@MariaMartinez-researcher]

For the ones interested in the Napoleonic warfare, the book "Swords Around A Throne: Napoleon's Grande Armée" by Col. John R. Elting is a must. Extremely well written, full of details about soldiers' daily life in that time period. Also well researched, and, entertaining.

[@reynardus1359]

That film is a timeless masterpiece. It is one of my top 10 historical features ever made. Perhaps #1.

[@maxbrazil3712]

The Duellists is a perfect film in every way.

[@loretta_3843]

It's beautifully shot, like a beautiful portrait, the story and acting is so well done. It's a real gem!

[@sundarpichai940]

Everyone talks about how "beautiful" the movie is, but the reality is that with the awkward closeups, weak dialogue, and silly music, the film was pure cheese.

[@maxbrazil3712]

@@sundarpichai940 I'll bet you don't have many friends, so fuck off.

[@RoaroftheTiger]

Keith is a lovely guy. I met Both Him & Jeff Bridges the same afternoon. As they were visting another childhood friend, then a co- worker of mine, at a HiFi Shop (the Federated Group, on Olympic Blvd.in West.LA) - Dale Launer. Dale was kind enough to introduce me to both of them, Dale of course, went on to be the Screenwriter to, "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels', 'Ruthless People' & 'My Cousin Vinnie'. Nice People ! ;-)

[@vanishing_girl]

I loved Keith's performance in this film, I thought he was perfectly cast

[@squamish4244]

I thought his accent worked fine.

[@sundarpichai940]

You might like the guy, but he was clearly the weakest, least believable performance in the movie.

[@guinnesstrail6799]

Man alive, his run of films in the 1970s and 1980s: Thieves Like Us (1974) Nashville (1975) The Duellists (1977) Pretty Baby (1978) An Almost Perfect Affair (1979) The Long Riders (1980) Southern Comfort (1981) Choose Me (1984) Trouble In Mind (1985) The Moderns (1988)

[@dominantpersona3326]

You missed one hipster

[@yasminabekhti9952]

Maria's Lovers

[@quidestveritas659]

I heard a rumour that Keith does not love the Emperor..

[@BrettOwen71]

I tell you he nevah loved Bonapahhht!!!

[@brendanmurray4538]

@@BrettOwen71 Sir I hear he has spent years on campaign...

[@122112guru]

you have just insulted his honor,as his second i am likewise honor bound to inform you...pistols at dawn.

[@360shon]

Another movie starring K.C. - "The Moderns"(1988) Brilliant film!

[@NUFCMVFC]

Saw this recently. Greatly film that was very well directed by Scott. Carradine and Keitel did really well in their respective roles

[@mishantonia]

All -time favourite film

[@Papershields001]

The duelists is SUCH a beautiful film. The viewer loves both the villain and the hero. They are both such incredible characters (portrayed by two exceptional actors) and all the viewer wants is for them to stop fighting. Which is the truest part of the drama.

[@Papershields001]

The fact that both actors are American and chose not to do some sort of fake accent is also one of my favorite things about the movie.

[@christopherkenney4766]

Keith Carradine was so good in 'Deadwood'...

[@sebastianduk9584]

Magnifica película Next time D´Hubert!!!

[@martinaaron609]

"...and I think it ruined the film for a lot of us" - superb.

[@jasonmcmillan4373]

"Do you know the sound of thunder Mrs Garrett?"

[@barkebaat]

Aha ! So that was him ! Never made that connection. Thanks :-)

[@Schugger1]

Maybe already asked a hundred times, but I still don't know who came up with the brilliant idea to interrupt one of the duells with D'Hubert having to sneeze.

[@squamish4244]

I still wonder if that just happened and they kept it in the film.

[@NUFCMVFC]

Next time Duberre!

[@stenwillander5426]

La!

[@BeggarsNight]

*D’Hubert

[@JohnRowley]

that guy with the cough needs to bugger off out of there

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

What is this, Keith Carradine speaking at a Smokers Convention!? What is with all of the coughing, jeez!!

[@kentallard8852]

Scott is a cameraman, if he has a good script or a strong writer the film will be good. If its script is up in the air and the writer is weak his ideas will take over and make it bad.

[@DaveDexterMusic]

*la*

[@rasnac]

No real saber weigh 12 pounds. Not even large two-handed swords weigh 12 pounds.

[@kanonierable]

Exactly, and such a statement by Carradine throws a clear light on how "realistic", "hisorically accurate" and "well researched" they work in Hollywood or pretty much in the whole Movieindustry around the world.

[@althesmith]

I think that perhaps with the metal sheath the things might weigh around 4 lbs, but normal weight of the sword alone is around 2-2.5 lbs for the hussar sabres. Doubtless to someone unaccustomed to handling cavalry sabres, after a few hours of shooting a scene they might feel like 12 lbs.

[@nickj2561]

That explains why the third duel in the film with the so-called sabres, was so clumsy looking, with them swinging their blades like axes or baseball bats.

[@robertvirabjans9377]

@@kanonierable The swords were modified and hooked up to batteries to produce sparks when hitting the stone. Hence why they were so heavy. Otherwise the duels were portrayed fairly accurately .

[@judok1426]

Being a period re-enactor. The last bit on clothing and function, as well as those historical timelines(guerilla warfare originating in the american revolution?) are completely false.

[@squamish4244]

This is true. Even confined to the 18th Century European empires, guerilla warfare was employed by the natives during the French and Indian War and earlier. And of course the name was literally coined to describe the Spanish tactics in the Peninsular War. But the clothing - Ridley Scott is notorious for his perfectionism in that regard. If the clothes split, then what would be the difference between your clothes and the ones they wore in the movie?

[@judok1426]

@@squamish4244 The breeches that where worn in the 18th century england could be alikened to a modern pair of joggers. Only cut high on the waist and with more seat room, tied in the back with lace instead of a string at the front and ofcourse heavy (or light) woolen fabric. Don't take my word for it, get yourself a pair made and compare them to your jeans.

[@radarwill]

In every "gathering" there is always the one annoying cougher!!

[@richardbullis6263]

Keith carradine is better than Harvey Keitel in this film. Keith has the look and feel for the movie.

[@joeakin464]

Did you miss the point that Harvey was from the peasant class?

[@NUFCMVFC]

Keitel played his character in a way that made sense. Both did great jobs in their respective roles