My favourite version is the one from 73/74. Christopher Lee was brilliant. I love the funny parts. Athos was played by Oliver Reed. Such a great cast and score.
@@Redneck322hm the '93 version is funny but for me it looks more like a adventure movie for kids and young adults. But youre right, the cast is very good😊
The 70s version benefited from Christopher Lee's actual mastery of the sword, Oliver Reeds genuine despair and chemistry with Faye Dunaway, Michael York's youthful passion, and Raquel Welch funny and tragic turn plus Heston as the cardinal. Gosh I could go on for several more paragraphs too.
It also had what is recognised within the industry as the best swordplay fight scenes in the history of cinema. Brilliantly original set pieces, wonderfully choreographed and excellently enacted. Each scene was different, exciting and often hilariously funny and each of the characters had their own style of fighting that perfectly fitted their persona.
Totally agree with your summary, the Richard Lester directed Musketeer movies of 1973 and '74 (released just 6 months apart) are quite brilliant, and totally stand up today. In my opinion their all-star casts cannot be surpassed by any other version of the Musketeers (and certainly not that ghastly Charlie Sheen abomination of 1993). Christopher Lee was perfection as the villain Count de Rochefort, and the great Oliver Reed was perfectly cast as the brooding, charismatic Athos. There isn't a single duff casting - even the great Spike Milligan strikes the right, surreal comedic note! The third and final Dick Lester Muskateers movie, 1989's 'Return of the Musketeers' was a disappointing affair. 15 years on, the cast were no longer in their exciting, physical prime, and we'd lost the two sublime female leads of the first two movies. Raquel Welch and Faye Dunaway. Sadly British actor Roy Kinnear who'd featured in all 3 Dick Lester Muskateer movies, died during the making of the third aged 54, after falling off a horse. The movie was dedicated to him as a result. They cheated the third movie by bringing Back Christopher Lee's villain the Count de Rochefort, when he was clearly killed with a sword to the heart by Michael York's D'Artagnon in the second, 1974 film. In the final '89 movie, Rochfort mentions that he lay bleeding all night on the cathedral floor where that duel took place, but survived to be thrown in the Bastille for many years. As If!
I'm really glad to see that most comments I've read so far agree that the '73/'74 versions were by far the best. York & Lee really shined in '73 just as Reed & Dunaway in '74, (although two darker characters in film you'll never find than the latter). Such a great, great cast in both these films. Just a treasure for anyone to seek out. I can't believe Mojo spent so much time on the '93 piece of sh*t that doesn't even come close to any other film on this list. With the exception of the fine acting of Tim Curry, who makes everything better, this cast doesn't even deserve to shine the boots of the '73/'74 cast.
Dumas Musketeers is a wonderful classic! It gives You purpose and A tremendous wish of knowing more. I started reading after the first one.l’m 57 and I still read those wonderful classics.
Lester's 3 & 4 Musketeers was the best all around for a number of reasons, not the least of which being Charlton Heston's Richelieu in which he is perfect. The Musketeers - imperfectly cast for being a little too old for the parts they play but all very good none the less, especially Oliver Reed. Geraldine Chaplin as Ann of Austria, Fay Dunaway as Milady, and Raquel Welch as Constance are all great. And a special notice for Spike Milligan as M. Bonacieux because he is hilarious. The sets, the costumes, the fight choreography, and the production design are all as good as it gets.
I consider the 73 version, the best and I stood by this opinion long before I knew who the actors (outstanding by the way) were, afterwards I am partial to the new BBC series Musketeers, what I really like about the two is that the Cardinal Richelieu was not portrayed as a bad guy (in a traditional sense at least) rather a person on other side of the fence working toward the same goal. The 94 version, maybe a few scenes, but that's about it. 2011 I thought was utter garbage in my opinion. Seriously, airships? More than a century before an actual documented man-made flight with a balloon. There is an embellishment of a story and then there is Michael Baying the story.
I think Richard Lester's first two Muskateer movies of '73 and 74 (which are practically one film as they were made simultaneously with the same cast and released just 6 months apart), were by far the best made by anyone. That Charlie Sheen '93 version was an abomination! It's impossible to match the quality of the all-star cast Lester assembled for his first two Muskateer movies - Oliver Reed, Christopher Lee, Raquel Welch, Faye Dunaway, Michael York, Frank Finlay, Richard Chamberlain, Simon Ward and the rest, were all in their sexy, dynamic prime, and all turned in fantastic performances. Unfortunately Lester made a third movie in 1989 'Return of the Muskateers', which did not come close to the high quality of the first two, 15 years on, the cast looked much older, especially Oliver Reed who was rather booze ravaged. The plot and script were not a patch on the two originals either - the slapstick had become predictable. Tragedy marred that third movie too. Beloved British comedy actor Roy Kinnear, reprising his role as the Muskateers sidekick Planchet, died after falling off a horse while filming in Spain in September 1988. The movie was dedicated to him as a result.
To this day I cant watch the 90's version. The trailer with Platt screaming like an idiot ensured that. The 70's movies are among my favorites to this day.
The 1973 version wasn’t perfect, but the cast! 😳 Outstanding! I wish someone would go back to the source, re edit it and clean it up make one movie and make things right.
IMHO, The man in the Iron mask is a masterpiece, not given nearly enough recognition. It really - more than any other - capture the personalities of Athos (the father), Porthos (the vain, but cheerful hedonist), Aramis (the mischievous, but religous mastermind/agent/priest) & dartagnan (whose comitment to soldier's hounour still remains his greatest virtue - or so it would seem ;)
I was crushed when I saw what Anderson did with the 2011 version. You had Ray Stevenson, who was pretty much born to play Porthos, wasted in this bizarre monster of a steampunk movie with flying frigates and collapsing buildings in Venice.
An oath is an oath precisely because it cannot be removed. That must be on the greatest lines in movie history. Man in Iron Mask is an Alexandre Dumas novel ? Never knew. Have to check it.
The greatest and true wonderful blessing of all film version of The 3 Musketeers will always be the animated version by John Halas. No version will ever be as perfect as the John Halas film version. The greatest TV and magnificent TV version will always be the Benny Hill Show segment version.
I need to see the original French version, movies get adapted into English all the time, I need to see the stories in their original languages if there needs to be subtitles, let it be. For French I don't need to read the subtitles because I speak it fluently, my first language.
Beg to differ. It is based on a Cartoon version from the Banana Splits tv show. The screenplay by David Loughery is awful. Richelieu plotting to assassinate the king in order to himself become the king shows an American ignorance of even the basic understanding of European Monarchy. He also conducts satanic rituals in the catacombs under the castle at Versailles. (!)
My favourite version is the one from 73/74. Christopher Lee was brilliant. I love the funny parts. Athos was played by Oliver Reed. Such a great cast and score.
Mine too, fun but still violent.
I disagree on your opinion because the 1993 version of the three musketeers had a more memorable cast for its heroes and villains.
@@Redneck322hm the '93 version is funny but for me it looks more like a adventure movie for kids and young adults.
But youre right, the cast is very good😊
The 70s version benefited from Christopher Lee's actual mastery of the sword, Oliver Reeds genuine despair and chemistry with Faye Dunaway, Michael York's youthful passion, and Raquel Welch funny and tragic turn plus Heston as the cardinal.
Gosh I could go on for several more paragraphs too.
It also had what is recognised within the industry as the best swordplay fight scenes in the history of cinema. Brilliantly original set pieces, wonderfully choreographed and excellently enacted. Each scene was different, exciting and often hilariously funny and each of the characters had their own style of fighting that perfectly fitted their persona.
Those two movies followed by the sequel “The return of the musketeers” are by far the best.
Totally agree with your summary, the Richard Lester directed Musketeer movies of 1973 and '74 (released just 6 months apart) are quite brilliant, and totally stand up today.
In my opinion their all-star casts cannot be surpassed by any other version of the Musketeers (and certainly not that ghastly Charlie Sheen abomination of 1993).
Christopher Lee was perfection as the villain Count de Rochefort, and the great Oliver Reed was perfectly cast as the brooding, charismatic Athos. There isn't a single duff casting - even the great Spike Milligan strikes the right, surreal comedic note!
The third and final Dick Lester Muskateers movie, 1989's 'Return of the Musketeers' was a disappointing affair. 15 years on, the cast were no longer in their exciting, physical prime, and we'd lost the two sublime female leads of the first two movies. Raquel Welch and Faye Dunaway.
Sadly British actor Roy Kinnear who'd featured in all 3 Dick Lester Muskateer movies, died during the making of the third aged 54, after falling off a horse. The movie was dedicated to him as a result.
They cheated the third movie by bringing Back Christopher Lee's villain the Count de Rochefort, when he was clearly killed with a sword to the heart by Michael York's D'Artagnon in the second, 1974 film. In the final '89 movie, Rochfort mentions that he lay bleeding all night on the cathedral floor where that duel took place, but survived to be thrown in the Bastille for many years. As If!
Most of all it had the huge advantage of George MacDonald Fraser as the scriptwriter.
I'm really glad to see that most comments I've read so far agree that the '73/'74 versions were by far the best. York & Lee really shined in '73 just as Reed & Dunaway in '74, (although two darker characters in film you'll never find than the latter). Such a great, great cast in both these films. Just a treasure for anyone to seek out.
I can't believe Mojo spent so much time on the '93 piece of sh*t that doesn't even come close to any other film on this list. With the exception of the fine acting of Tim Curry, who makes everything better, this cast doesn't even deserve to shine the boots of the '73/'74 cast.
Dumas Musketeers is a wonderful classic! It gives You purpose and A tremendous wish of knowing more. I started reading after the first one.l’m 57 and I still read those wonderful classics.
The Richard Lester version is the definitive classic imo
Yes, Musketeer movies may come and go but The Three Musketeers (1973) is the only one I'll gladly give my time to watch again.
About Rochefort's scar,
it's actually his defining feature as he's described through half the original book.
Yep clearly they never read the book
Good catch!
Lester's 3 & 4 Musketeers was the best all around for a number of reasons, not the least of which being Charlton Heston's Richelieu in which he is perfect. The Musketeers - imperfectly cast for being a little too old for the parts they play but all very good none the less, especially Oliver Reed. Geraldine Chaplin as Ann of Austria, Fay Dunaway as Milady, and Raquel Welch as Constance are all great. And a special notice for Spike Milligan as M. Bonacieux because he is hilarious. The sets, the costumes, the fight choreography, and the production design are all as good as it gets.
I consider the 73 version, the best and I stood by this opinion long before I knew who the actors (outstanding by the way) were, afterwards I am partial to the new BBC series Musketeers, what I really like about the two is that the Cardinal Richelieu was not portrayed as a bad guy (in a traditional sense at least) rather a person on other side of the fence working toward the same goal. The 94 version, maybe a few scenes, but that's about it. 2011 I thought was utter garbage in my opinion. Seriously, airships? More than a century before an actual documented man-made flight with a balloon. There is an embellishment of a story and then there is Michael Baying the story.
Agreed it is most accurate despite what these idiots at watch mojo say
I think Richard Lester's first two Muskateer movies of '73 and 74 (which are practically one film as they were made simultaneously with the same cast and released just 6 months apart), were by far the best made by anyone. That Charlie Sheen '93 version was an abomination!
It's impossible to match the quality of the all-star cast Lester assembled for his first two Muskateer movies - Oliver Reed, Christopher Lee, Raquel Welch, Faye Dunaway, Michael York, Frank Finlay, Richard Chamberlain, Simon Ward and the rest, were all in their sexy, dynamic prime, and all turned in fantastic performances.
Unfortunately Lester made a third movie in 1989 'Return of the Muskateers', which did not come close to the high quality of the first two, 15 years on, the cast looked much older, especially Oliver Reed who was rather booze ravaged. The plot and script were not a patch on the two originals either - the slapstick had become predictable.
Tragedy marred that third movie too. Beloved British comedy actor Roy Kinnear, reprising his role as the Muskateers sidekick Planchet, died after falling off a horse while filming in Spain in September 1988. The movie was dedicated to him as a result.
I prefer the 73 Richard Lester version myself.
I'm with you MrColuber. Worth the price of admission for William Hobbs' work with the sword fights.
@Richard Johnson best version by far..the Disney version is a joke
My favourite version too.
Absolutely. It's a classic.
Definitely the best, although I admit I haven’t seen all versions.
To this day I cant watch the 90's version. The trailer with Platt screaming like an idiot ensured that. The 70's movies are among my favorites to this day.
The 1973 version wasn’t perfect, but the cast! 😳 Outstanding! I wish someone would go back to the source, re edit it and clean it up make one movie and make things right.
IMHO, The man in the Iron mask is a masterpiece, not given nearly enough recognition. It really - more than any other - capture the personalities of Athos (the father), Porthos (the vain, but cheerful hedonist), Aramis (the mischievous, but religous mastermind/agent/priest) & dartagnan (whose comitment to soldier's hounour still remains his greatest virtue - or so it would seem ;)
Liberties? The 70s one is accurate as fuck
It is *_by far_* the most accurate of them all. WM needs a fact checker.
I was crushed when I saw what Anderson did with the 2011 version. You had Ray Stevenson, who was pretty much born to play Porthos, wasted in this bizarre monster of a steampunk movie with flying frigates and collapsing buildings in Venice.
An oath is an oath precisely because it cannot be removed. That must be on the greatest lines in movie history. Man in Iron Mask is an Alexandre Dumas novel ? Never knew. Have to check it.
my first one was the 1973
Cool i Love D'artagnan And The Three Musketeers
The greatest and true wonderful blessing of all film version of The 3 Musketeers will always be the animated version by John Halas. No version will ever be as perfect as the John Halas film version. The greatest TV and magnificent TV version will always be the Benny Hill Show segment version.
All of them are historical figures
totally my top 3 are Gene Kelly's, the one from disney on 93, and man of the iron mask although in no particular order
I've seen many versions of this tale. The best, IMHO, is the 1921 silent version with Douglas Fairbanks.
Agreed!!
I also think the silent Man in the Iron Mask is the best version too!
While the 1973 film is the best screen adaptation, I never liked the cartoon Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds
Yes, indeed.
Funny enough the new The Three Musketers is a movie that i enjoy from time to time. However i have seen almost to Many times.
Another random but cool adaptation was "Dartacán y los tres mosqueperros".
The BBC did an excellent 6 hour version years ago that is worth checking out too.
Damn, what a way to slaughter those French names
Don't forget Dogtanian.
THE priv life Guard of
The Queen of FranCE good movie
The new one looks WAY over the top. Less is more Hollywood.
0:39 dat acting though.
What about Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds?
Why do the 3 Musketeers Use swords insted of Musket?
Because muskets are a once-and-done weapon?
I need to see the original French version, movies get adapted into English all the time, I need to see the stories in their original languages if there needs to be subtitles, let it be. For French I don't need to read the subtitles because I speak it fluently, my first language.
There is a 1950s version with Bourvil that is actually pretty decent (although overly talky). It captures the Gallic wit.
1948 is by far the best
Les 3 mousquetaires. Los tres mosqueteros
your pronunciation is horrific, have you ever actually watched any of these movies?
No and they never clearly read the book either
Why were they called the three musketeers when there was four of them?
D'Artagnan is a candidate. Not an official musketeer.
You forgott all french movies!
paul ws Anderson put that woman in all is movies
That woman is his wife.
Where is the soviet version???
Even though I'm from the Czech Republic, the soviet version is one of my favourites.
1993 musketeers is the best one
Beg to differ. It is based on a Cartoon version from the Banana Splits tv show. The screenplay by David Loughery is awful. Richelieu plotting to assassinate the king in order to himself become the king shows an American ignorance of even the basic understanding of European Monarchy. He also conducts satanic rituals in the catacombs under the castle at Versailles. (!)
no the 1973 version is
King Louis XIIII
King Louis XIV