Weapons masters rate seven duels and trials by combat in movies and tv
  • 2 years ago
Medieval-weapons expert Toby Capwell and master-at-arms of the London Longsword Academy Dave Rawlings look at seven duels from movies and TV and rate them based on realism. They discuss the rules and formalities around duels and trials by combat. 

They look at the fight between Adam Driver and Matt Damon in "The Last Duel" (2021), mounted trial by combat in "Ivanhoe" (1952), and a knightly duel in "Excalibur" (1981). They also rate scenes from "Game of Thrones" (2011-2019), "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (2008), "Flash Gordon" (1980), and a fight between Captain Kirk and Gorn in "Star Trek" S1E18 (1967). 

Capwell is an author, lecturer, broadcaster, and the curator of arms and armor at The Wallace Collection in London. He is the historical advisor on the new feature film about King Richard III, "The Lost King," coming out in autumn 2022. Rawlings has over 15 years' experience teaching Western swordsmanship. He has been featured in the documentary series "Warriors" and "Bloody Tales of the Tower." He advised The Wallace Collection on its exhibition "The Noble Art of the Sword," and he teaches longsword at the London Longsword Academy.
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