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The Federal Republic of Germany faces off against the incumbent World Champions, the Soviet Union. Published in 1989, opening screen is a montage of scenic Colorado, and the music is out of some after-school gender-awareness program for teenagers. If you can survive that, the fencing is excellent. Six stars. As with our other Colorado '89 tapes, the camerawork is professional, with slow-motion repeats for the interesting touches, overhead shots, close-ups of frustrated faces.

This is the World Championships; the first two fencers, Dimitri Schevtchenkov (of the USSR) and Thomas Endres (of West Germany) aren't going to put their teams in jeopardy with risky actions. The Soviet's movements are spare and direct -- beat six and extend, parry 4 riposte -- meanwhile the German (clearly wishing to roll forward with a marching attack) is forced to act with caution. Winning or losing the first bout of a team match isn't too important so long as the scores are near equal, but you certainly don't want to give the other side a clear victory, juice them up, make your teammates work harder.

Boris Koretski (USSR) faces Alexander Koch (FRG, World Champion 1989). The Russian here is less orthodox and both fencers burn a lot of energy maneuvering. This is an easy opportunity for the Russians to work some mojo on the other side ("Two losses in a row? We must be off today."), which Koch can't allow to happen. Koch, being German, of course favors long absence of blade attacks, in answer to which Koretski steps in to close distance, frustrating most attacks. Koch prepares the attacks, meanwhile pushing Koretski off with point in lines. If you're keen on seeing how world-class foilists in-fight, this is a good bout to watch. Parries close to the body, so large by necessity and therefore so dangerous, somehow find the opponent's blade and change the direction of the action even while their bodies careen together.

Ilgar Mamedov (URS) versus Thorsetn Weidner (FRG). The score being 1-1 between the teams, both fencers are showing high levels of intensity. Two easy touches for the Soviet fencer are answered by 3 by the screaming Weidner. Weidner is very much into the bout -- he twists his ankle at 4-4 though it doesn't slow him down.

Woohoo! Nice surprise for your commentator. The inestimable Alexander Romankov (URS) faces off against Mathias Gey (FRG). You may remember Romankov from the 1988 Seoul Olympics as "The Old Guy with the Bronze Medal", described as The Century's Greatest Fencer. Here he is, approaching 40, schooling a German that since became the terror of the international circuit. Not to take anything away from Mattias Gey, but pay special attention to Romankov's defensive handwork -- NOTHING gets through, not the fourth, fifth, sixth action of the phrase; the first time Gey can touch Romankov it's after the halt and Romkov is standing upright. Gey's no walk-over, however, and his fencing expertise re-asserts itself at least enough to force Romankov off-target after one of those omniscient parries. Our honest assesment is that Gey, a polished and expert fencer, is not soothed by this meeting with Romankov. More like terrified.

For the fourth bout, Koretski (URS) faces Endres (FRG). Endres, who finished 19th, whales on Koretski at the start of the bout, clocking up 3 flashy touches... make that 4... before Koretski can wake up. Endres's exploitation of his lead demonstrates how the German machine was able to clock their opponents in almost every competition. Fearsome German victory.

Schevtchenkov faces Weidner. Somehow -- after Romankov's great performance -- the Soviets seem sluggish and the Germans pumped. Or perhaps Schevtchenkov, who comes off in this video as a very straight-laced fencer, is merely unwilling to risk excitement. Schevtchenkov demonstrates how to incorporate a flick into an old-world form, and land it with a straight blade. What's the psychological environment inside the Lurch-looking Soviet fencer? Tick, tick, tick. When he lands his fourth touch, he screams like a madman. The Weidner pulls out all the stops, including the world's fastest squat counter-attack (which doesn't work). Weidner toils massively, screaming and fleching. Meanwile, Schevtchenkov stops the bout to re-tie his shoe.

Romankov faces World-Champion Koch. Koch is as cautious as Romankov when it comes to prepatory blade actions. They trade ground in silence until Koch unleashes a marching attack. Romankov does what you're supposed to, and counter-attacks while pulling distance, and somehow this actually works. Koch fights back, grabbing some pure adrenaline touches (youth and speed). Romankov's last touch, having already passed in a fleche, is a perfect demonstration of why we should always make a smooth, continuous riposte.

Gey and Mamedov. Gey, perhaps desiring not to lose horribly to a Russian, stomps all over his opponent to the tune of 3-0 before Mamedov can recover. And recover he does -- with formula counters into the German absence of blade attacks. Mamedov will have to work hard to stop Gey's inertia.

Another big treat! Sergei Golubitski (URS) of the Ukraine makes an appearence against Weidner in this epic conflict, perhaps being rotated in for Koretski after Koretski's terminal performance against Endres. Golubitski is to Romankov as Christian Slater is to Jack Nicholson (and when Golubitski's weapon is loose, Romankov brings the wrench). Golubitski, 19 years old, already has the bum left knee that troubles his performance in the late nineties. This young Golubitski is, well, young -- his technique is still raw, his behavior on strip very self-important (nowadays, this has become a massive stage presence), his actions very flashy. If Weidner was expecting a walk-over, however, he is much surprised.

The next bout is quite interesting. Endres has established himself as the "on" fencer in this match, whereas Romankov comes off as a normal fencer who somehow never misses and never gets hit. Indeed, Romankov' staid approach doesn't work too well, as Endres starts clocking up touches. At 3-0, he finally lurches into action with a straight-armed half lunge (that hits). Endres keeps the pressure on, however, which allows Romankov two counter-attacks. At 3-3, the bout appears to be just beginning.

Schevtchenkov versus Gey. Schevtchenkov comes out strong against Gey, racking up 2 touches. Gey stays focused, however, as his magnificent point-in-line (video) demonstrates.

Koch meets Mamedov -- literally. Koch knocks into Mamedov on the first touch, and the rest of the bout is characterized by corps-a-corps actions. Koch is at his flashiest here, with Mamedov serving mostly as a target dummy for Koch's esquive backflicks, flying low-line lunges, behind-the-head fleches. If Koch is troubled by the German bout deficit in this team match, it doesn't show up here. Indeed, he demonstrates a consummate ability to hit at any cost.

Weidner steals a quick touch off Romankov. The Soviet team clearly loves the idea that Romankov gets a lot of strip time. The message here is mixed -- they're anchored by this aging champion with an age differential approaching 20 years. And yet they can pull out an infant Golubitsky to beat a solid German fencer. Weidner quickly demonstrates that he is a true threat to Romankov.

Gey versus Golubitsky. At first, Golubitsky seems outclassed by Gey, his earlier victory a fluke. Soon, however, his skill reasserts itself. Gey, who hasn't been having the best day against the Soviets, is hard-pressed to keep his inertia going against the little Ukranian tyke.

Germany's devastating Endres faces off against Mamedov. Mamedov can win the team match with a victory in this team bout. Endres must win -- if the Germans manage to even the bout score, they'll win on indicators. Mamedov and Endres both fence superlatively in this bout. The tension at 4-4 is palpable, neither side wanting to commit to a developed attack.

The sixteenth bout pits Schevtchenkov against Koch. Whoever wins the next bout wins the match. When there's a lot on the line, fencers aren't afraid to burn energy like mad. Every movement is focused and very serious, there is no "feeling out" the opponent. Everything that doesn't land is a deadly risk to victory. For all his intensity, Koch finds it incredibly difficult to land the point on the reed-like Schevtchenkov. Schevtchenkov, who looks like he's 6'6", capitalizes on his reach.

Reviewed by Walter Flaschka