Greatest swordfights in movie history

[samurai7]

Real sword fights that put the special effects of the light saber battles to shame.

My nominations both involve Basil Rathbone who was (at one time) fencing champion of all Europe.

Always having to hold back when doing sword fights with Erol Flynn you get the idea of how much he had to hold back when you witness this, considered the finest sword fight in movie history.

His opponent is Tyrone Power in "Mark of Zorro." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTyPWvyAF8

This makes Obi won like sick in comparison.

Don't you all get sick of the CGI and yearn for the days when there was just good old fashioned movie making? This is one of those times.

The second sword fight I nominate also has Basil Rathbone in it. But now he is almost 20 years older. The movie is the "The Court Jester" which is probably Danny Kaye's best comedy.

The story behind his fight is Kaye, wanting to keep up with Rathbone took fencing lessons. Three weeks later with Kaye's dancing reflexes, and ability to quickly pick up new "steps" Rathbone was quoted to saying in amazement, "he can outfight me now!"

But to Rathbone's credit, he was now 63, and Kaye 20 years his junior. But Kaye was so fast, in some scenes Rathbone had to be doubled by Kaye's fencing instructor, because Rathbone at his age, could not keep up.

It's an amazing fight. I once, not believing Kaye could out do, Rathbone, watching his on slomo looking for any Hollywood trickery. There is none. It's just Kaye and Rathbone together, making for one of the best, and funniest sword fights in history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSNGeazCW6I

[DLaw911]

Real sword fights that put the special effects of the light saber battles to shame.

My nominations both involve Basil Rathbone who was (at one time) fencing champion of all Europe.

Always having to hold back when doing sword fights with Erol Flynn you get the idea of how much he had to hold back when you witness this, considered the finest sword fight in movie history.

His opponent is Tyrone Power in "Mark of Zorro." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTyPWvyAF8

This makes Obi won like sick in comparison.

Don't you all get sick of the CGI and yearn for the days when there was just good old fashioned movie making? This is one of those times.

The second sword fight I nominate also has Basil Rathbone in it. But now he is almost 20 years older. The movie is the "The Court Jester" which is probably Danny Kaye's best comedy.

The story behind his fight is Kaye, wanting to keep up with Rathbone took fencing lessons. Three weeks later with Kaye's dancing reflexes, and ability to quickly pick up new "steps" Rathbone was quoted to saying in amazement, "he can outfight me now!"

But to Rathbone's credit, he was now 63, and Kaye 20 years his junior. But Kaye was so fast, in some scenes Rathbone had to be doubled by Kaye's fencing instructor, because Rathbone at his age, could not keep up.

It's an amazing fight. I once, not believing Kaye could out do, Rathbone, watching his on slomo looking for any Hollywood trickery. There is none. It's just Kaye and Rathbone together, making for one of the best, and funniest sword fights in history.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSNGeazCW6I
No CGI there baby!
They did it the old fashioned way.
A alot of people don't realize that Danny Kaye was very athletic.

[samurai7]

No CGI there baby!
They did it the old fashioned way.
A alot of people don't realize that Danny Kaye was very athletic.

Yeah, the first time I had that on tape (back in the old VCR days) I watched that I don't know how many times, because I couldn't believe it was real. But it is. Best comedic sword fight ever.

Poor Rathbone. Best fencer in all Europe and in the movies he always had to lose. :))

[grapabeaux]

Does "Skin Deep" count?

[samurai7]

Does "Skin Deep" count?

What movie is that? Do you have a link to a vid of it?

[Mobulis]

The Princess Bride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3gfFVmw0kA

[EnchantedFrog]

The fight in the sword shop in Pirates of the Caribbean was pretty good.

[alexz2317]

Peter Pan and Captain Hook

[alexz2317]

Peter Pan and Captain Hook

[grapabeaux]

What movie is that? Do you have a link to a vid of it?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098343/

It's a John Ritter comedy from the late 1980s. The scene involves pitch darkness in a bedroom and glow-in-the-dark condoms, so the answer to my rhetorical question is likely "No".

There's a scene of it on You Tube, but I'm too scared to post the link here.

[DRS]

Does "Skin Deep" count?

I was just thinking that when I saw this thread

[mobiusptc]

i like anakin/obi fight in episode 3. while yes it did have cgi to make the swords glowy, great majority of the actually fight was rehearsed and real.

[King Cantona]

Yes another I remember fondly was Rathbone again, this time versus Errol Flynn in The Adventures Of Robin Hood.......

[Dual867PowerMac]

Technically, they're lightsabers, but I have to say the duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

The duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and a newly turned Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ranks a close second.

[ArmyMAJretired]

the princess bride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3gffvmw0ka

excellent!

[ArmyMAJretired]

Monty Python and the Holy Grail:

The Black Knight and Storming the Castle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhRUe-gz690

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l61JVSFhrKY

[Samm]

I believe the Princess Bride scene is my favorite, but I also loved the sword fight in The Great Race. I loved the ending... "my boat awaits me..." :D

[samurai7]

The fight in the sword shop in Pirates of the Caribbean was pretty good.

Yes, but how much choreography and special effects were involved?

Compare that with the sword fight between Rathbone and Tyrone power. Sheer genius.

[samurai7]

I believe the Princess Bride scene is my favorite, but I also loved the sword fight in The Great Race. I loved the ending... "my boat awaits me..." :D

There is a sword fight on TV that I loved, although it doesn't rank up there with Rathbone.

It was a Doctor Who with Tom Baker and some scurrilous villian in the episode "The Androids of Tara."

I unfortunately can't find a clip of it, other than this.

It's about 4:47 into the clip you see the sword fight.

Not up to Rathbone levels, but still very entertaining.

http://www.truveo.com/the-androids-of-tara-part-11/id/1719389711

[CaptainPike]

I like the sword fights in the Higherlander movie and television show.

[Groundhog]

I like the sword fights in the Higherlander movie and television show.


I was about to post this.

There can be only one...

[F9thRet]

Many many years ago, back when the mickey Mouse club was in black and white, a story line was featured where the kids where doing a play of Robin Hood.

anyways, the two main kids there got into a fight, and took to sword fighting off stage, while the others tried to break them up.

It is still leaps and bounds over the modern CGI stuff.

Also look at some of the Pre-wire Samurai Movies. Not really sword play, but look at the old Bruce lee movies for control and finesse with weapons.

Stephen

[CaptC]

3 good ones come to mind:

1. the fight between the crew of the Black Pearl and the crew of the Flying Dutchman near the end of POTC at Land's End.

2. not swords but.........the fight between Jefferson Blue and Muerte in Undercover Blues: Muerte had a knife and Jeff had a folding baby carriage (very funny).

3. the fight between Robin and Mervin (the Sheriff of Rottingham) in Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

[MR. MISTER]

Any of the "Samurai Trilogy" films by Inagaki (better than any of Kurosawa's imo*) ,
esp "Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple".



* as far as swordfighting goes, anyway.

[samurai7]

Any of the "Samurai Trilogy" films by Inagaki (better than any of Kurosawa's imo*) ,
esp "Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple".



* as far as swordfighting goes, anyway.

I see by your avie, you're a fan of Fritz Lang, like I am.

"M" Greatest performance EVER by Peter Lorre.

[PeterGriffin]

Quentin Tarantino and some other guy at the end of the "Gay Top Gun" trailer.

[TheBurningRed]

While not the greatest sword duel, I would definitly say Luke vs Darth Vader in Episode VI is a good one. While its in the pantheon of sword fights its not that great, but the who the fight is between is emotionally charged.

[jeepers]

Basil Rathbone, hands down.

But you've got to love The Black Knight...:lol:

[Kelzan]

I was about to post this.

There can be only one...

:wall:

Actually the sword fights in the series are far better than the ones in the movies which can be overly grandiose.

[MrShotShot]

Anyone ever catch those specials on History Channel with the period sword experts demonstrating how swords were "really" used in one-on-one combat.

Suffice it to say, it's a far cry from what we see in the movies and on television.

[JudasGoat]

Technically, they're lightsabers, but I have to say the duel between Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

The duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and a newly turned Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith ranks a close second.

yep episode 1, ray park was amazing in that scene. I was also going to vote for the princess bride fihgt with mandy P and that dude from spinal tap, mainly for the emotional quality-humor and vindication.

and then there was a very brief sword fight in indiana jones that rates really high in my book...

[JudasGoat]

Quentin Tarantino and some other guy at the end of the "Gay Top Gun" trailer.

yeah, that'll be your favorite until they make a "two girls and a cup, with a sword thrown in" movie...

[Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese]

Master Killer aka Enter the Wu-Tang: One of the greatest swordfighting flicks of all time.

[JudasGoat]

Master Killer aka Enter the Wu-Tang: One of the greatest swordfighting flicks of all time.

I think that was one I was trying to think of. I knew there was an old school kung-fu movie that had an amazing sword fight in it (several actually) but couldn't think of who or what.
I've some some flicks with Jet Li kicking much butt with his belt as a weapon too. But I left that out since this is about sword fights.

[MrShotShot]

yep episode 1, ray park was amazing in that scene. I was also going to vote for the princess bride fihgt with mandy P and that dude from spinal tap, mainly for the emotional quality-humor and vindication.



Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

BTW, why not have Princess Bride AND lightsabers?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWXcDZNgOWs&feature=related

[F9thRet]

Master Killer aka Enter the Wu-Tang: One of the greatest swordfighting flicks of all time.

Darn good one. I had forgot about it.

Stephen

[King Cantona]

Anyone ever catch those specials on History Channel with the period sword experts demonstrating how swords were "really" used in one-on-one combat.

Suffice it to say, it's a far cry from what we see in the movies and on television.

Of course but we've all seen westerns where someone does a quick draw and shoots someone dead a couple of hundred yards away...

Those old six shooters weren't even accurate at ten yards, but it all makes for the suspension of disbelief that we all need to have when we go to the movies...

[MrShotShot]

Of course but we've all seen westerns where someone does a quick draw and shoots someone dead a couple of hundred yards away...

Those old six shooters weren't even accurate at ten yards, but it all makes for the suspension of disbelief that we all need to have when we go to the movies...

Those are UK six shooters.

See, across the pond we can hit a feller dead between the eyes at 75 yards on horseback at full gallop - oh, and do it 15 times w/o reloading.

[Nevarwinter]

The Princess Bride.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3gfFVmw0kA

that was probably the last great sword fight in any recent movie.

[Gaetano "Tommy" Lucchese]

Darn good one. I had forgot about it.

Stephen

"(Shaolin shadowboxing, and the Wu-Tang sword style)/
(If you what you say is true, the Shaolin and the Wu-Tang could be dangerous)/
(Do you think think your Wu-Tang sword can defeat me?)/
(En garde, I will let you try my Wu-Tang style)."

I'm not sure if I can post the song or not.

[uncledoom]

"(Shaolin shadowboxing, and the Wu-Tang sword style)/
(If you what you say is true, the Shaolin and the Wu-Tang could be dangerous)/
(Do you think think your Wu-Tang sword can defeat me?)/
(En garde, I will let you try my Wu-Tang style)."

I'm not sure if I can post the song or not.

Bring the rukus....

[captusa]

Yeah, the first time I had that on tape (back in the old VCR days) I watched that I don't know how many times, because I couldn't believe it was real. But it is. Best comedic sword fight ever.

Poor Rathbone. Best fencer in all Europe and in the movies he always had to lose. :))

I pick Rathbone and Flynn in Adventures of Robinhood.
Basil lost that one too.
As far as comedic athletes, Charlie Chaplin was a talented athlete and demonstrated it in several films.

Burt Lancaster and his acrobat friend from his circus days (Nick Cravat) had some great sword fights in The Crimson Pirate and The Flame and the Arrow.

[Samm]

Those are UK six shooters.
See, across the pond we can hit a feller dead between the eyes at 75 yards on horseback at full gallop - oh, and do it 15 times w/o reloading.

:)) Yeah... the Wobbly Webley. ;)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Webley_Military_Mark_IV_1793.jpg

The Colt "Peacemaker" was good (relatively) at 75 yards... but I have never personally seen one of the 15-shooter models. ;)

[Broseph]

Anakin vs Obi-Wan was the best.

Obi-Wan + Qui-Gon vs Darth Maul was a close 2nd.

The first one just had a lot more on the line, which is what made it better, hahaha.

[supreme_war_Pig]

The fight in the sword shop in Pirates of the Caribbean was pretty good.

That's what I was gonna say, but now, after reading the OP, I wonder if it was CGI enhanced?

[Dem]

Real sword fights that put the special effects of the light saber battles to shame.

My nominations both involve Basil Rathbone who was (at one time) fencing champion of all Europe.

Always having to hold back when doing sword fights with Erol Flynn you get the idea of how much he had to hold back when you witness this, considered the finest sword fight in movie history.

His opponent is Tyrone Power in "Mark of Zorro." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTyPWvyAF8
That is some amazing fencing, masterfully choreographed.

Anyone ever catch those specials on History Channel with the period sword experts demonstrating how swords were "really" used in one-on-one combat.

Suffice it to say, it's a far cry from what we see in the movies and on television.
Yes! Watching real sword fighting is not as entertaining as watching a choreographed fight, but it's still fun nonetheless.

Two longsword instructors fighting. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5d9tSqkbac)

Various strikes and counter-strikes. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC5FIyfI8TA&feature=channel)

[hatman]

My personal favorite is the climactic scene in "Rob Roy".
Tim Roth's character is another personal favorite, as a villian.

[rightwing2]

I've always enjoyed the final scenes from 'Highlander' and 'Ladyhawk'