Customer Reviews

Duel of the Champions

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A first time after many times,I'm sorry to say that the quality of this DVD was very poor. The original VHS version I recorded was originaly better quality - also widescreen. Perhaps they will come out with a more high quality version. It would have cost me more to send it back than I paid for it. So I put it up to experience.

Kindest Regards

Peter J Barr

This was one of Alan Ladd's last films. It tells the story of the Horatii brothers in the very

early days of Rome when the Romans were fighting against the Albans for control of

the land. This is a good entry in the Sword and Sandal genre but the Diamond DVD is

not very good quality. Also the running time of DUEL OF CHAMPIONS is 105 minutes and the DVD runs only 90. The long out of print VHS from Lightning Video was a much

better transfer and was the full running time too. If you have it, hang on to it.

It is a mystery to me why this very good film has been relegated to a dime store quality DVD. The story line centers around the Roman legend concerning the three brothers who fight for Rome against the three brothers who represent the Albans. It was a pivotal moment in Roman history as it marked the beginning of Rome's conquest of the Mediterranean. Some of the acting is a little overly theatrical. And Alan Ladd is up in years. However, I found this movie to be nonetheless captivating and worthy of five stars.

The Story is about two families from different waring tribes. Each represents their Country's King, with winner take all as the prize. Three brothers from each side must fight to the death. Throw in one sides beautiful sister, who falls in love with one of the brothers from the other side and you have a story within a story. If you like stories about the beginnings of Ancient Rome, then this is the movie for you. Alan Ladd plays his usual smiling laid back self and is almost believable as a Roman and the eldest of the three brothers.Duel of Champions - Gladiator

I purchase this video new on a Platinum label. It is of poor quality and appears as if it was videotaped, slightly out of focus, from a movie screen through a hazy window. It is not widescreen and, in fact, the conversion to full screen is done poorly. There is also an annoying hiss on the audio track. The film would normally be four or five stars but, due to the poor quality, I give it no more than two stars, and that is probably being generous.