Every Ridley Scott Movie Ranked Worst To Best
9. The Duellists (1977)
The vast majority of filmmakers fumble through their first feature, but Ridley Scott actually got off to a remarkable flying start with his 1977 debut, The Duellists.
Inspired by Stanley Kubrick's work on Barry Lyndon and based on the Joseph Conrad short story of the same name, the historical drama follows two soldiers (Harvey Keitel and Keith Carradine) who meet and duel numerous times over the course of the Napoleonic Wars. As each meeting grows more intense, the film charts the ways in which the men are effected by their feud.
Right out the gate, Scott shows off just how good he is at creating a beautiful aesthetic, allowing the scenery around the two men to become another character in their shared journey.
It's also ambitious, charting a war through the eyes of two opposing soldiers, and is essential viewing for anyone wondering where Ridley Scott got his start.