Now 87 years old, Ridley Scott is, and was, an immense director. A first-rate British filmmaker, he has directed, during his career, some indisputable masterpieces of the seventh art. However, despite the immense recognition he enjoys, Ridley Scott has always been a bit of a sore loser. A grumpy artist, especially since he gets older, he likes to complain about everything and nothing. The proof, once again, since Ridley Scott has just accused the Cannes Film Festival of corruption. We explain to you:
Ridley Scott: this immense director
In 60 years of career, Ridley Scott has touched everything. To science fiction obviously with masterpieces like Alien, the eighth passenger (1979) et Blade Runner (1982); in the peplum with the immense Gladiator (2000) or even the biopic with for example House of Gucci (2021). In short, a jack of all trades, and a very prolific director.
Even though Ridley Scott was appointed to won several Oscars for Best Directorhe never pocketed a statuette. His films have regularly received awards, but he personally, always came home empty-handed. And this, despite three nominations for Gladiator, Thelma et Louise (1992) et The Fall of the Black Hawk (2002). Same in other awards festivals like the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs and the Cannes Film Festival. Would Ridley Scott be shunned by cinematographic institutions? Maybe…
The Duelists vs Cannes
Ridley Scott has often been invited to Cannes Film Festival. Most of the time, only because his films are screened at the opening of the Festival, out of competition. This was, for example, the case for Thelma et Louise and for Robin Hood (2010). But, once, Ridley Scott was in the selection, and competed for the famous Palme d’Or. It was for his very first feature film: the superb The Duelists.
Released in 1977, The Duelists is a brilliant swashbuckling film, very much inspired by Barry Lindon (1975), led by the immense Harvey Keitel et Keith Carradine. A first foray into the big leagues which had left its mark and which had propelled Ridley Scott to the forefront. The Duelists was then nominated twice for the BAFTAs and competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes. Unfortunately for Scott, the film only received Jury Prize for the first work.
During a round table with The Hollywood Reporterseveral major Hollywood directors gathered to discuss the seventh art. Ridley Scott, Denis Villeneuve (Dune), Edward Berger (Conclave), Coralie Fargeat (The Substance) et Rachel Ross (Hale County This Morning, This Evening) hit the fat end. Ridley Scott took advantage of this round table to say everything he thinks about the Cannes Film Festival:
Want to hear a story about Cannes? I made my first film, it cost $800,000, it was called The Duellists. David Puttnam was my producer, he told me they wanted us to be the English film at Cannes. I said, “Wow, that’s good!” “. So I’m in Cannes, and I’m approached by a very important gentleman who was on the committee, a very big American director. He said to me, “I love your movie. The problem is that the jury received $50,000 in bribes to vote for another film.” He said to me, “I’ll create an award for you.” I didn’t get the Palme d’Or. Ironically, the Palme d’Or didn’t go to the guy who paid for them. It went to the two brothers who made Padre Padrone. They deserved it, it was clearly a good film. I said to myself, “Fuck them with this corruption, even at this level.”
In 1977, the Cannes Film Festival Jury was chaired by the Italian director Roberto Rossellini (Germany year zero), who died a few weeks later. Its Jury was made up of directors Jacques Demy et Louri Ozerovfrom the actress Martha Kellercriticism Pauline Kaelfrom the producer Anatole Dauman and writers N’sougan Agblemagnon, Benoîte Groult et Carlos Fuentes. That year, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani won the Palme d’Or for Father Masteret Fernando Rey the Male Actor Award for Elisa, my love.
Ridley Scott has not revealed the name of the person who made his revelations to him. In any case, yes The Duelists did have a special prize this year: the Jury Prize for the first work. In any case, Ridley Scott has just revealed some serious secrets about the functioning of the Cannes Film Festival. Difficult to know if corruption is still prevalent in recent years. But it is a statement which tarnishes the reputation of this Festival, which is nevertheless emblematic of the seventh art. A disclosure which also reminds us of the extent to which our society is corrupted in absolutely all its facets…
