Lester's effort is indeed the very best of feature presentation(s) of Dumas' The Three Musketeers. The next best, whichever that is, is not even close. The cast is practically perfect - it's only drawback being Dumas' Musketeers are all considerably younger than the actors appear to be in the film. But each of them are so good it's a very minor detail. It's interesting to note Raquel Welch says she played Constance's action/slapstick scenes as if she were Stan Laurel. Also notable, a film full of so many character parts being played by mostly A-list stars/lead actors. That Lester manages to weave truly entertaining comedic moments throughout, mostly but not entirely avoiding outright farce, and credibly maintaining the serious and deadly ongoing drama is a tribute to script and direction. Even Charlton Heston gets a funny scene in the Bastille with Spike Milligan bookended with an unseen prisoner somewhere in a line of gibbets calling out, "Morning, Your Grace," as Heston's Cardinal Richelieu strides by, and Heston scowling his executive disappointment at his torture staff's apparent poor attention to their craft. The tandem pair of Fay Dunaway's Milady and Christopher Lee's Rochefort are almost supervillains unto themselves as they are projections of Cardinal Richelieu's power supreme in all but name. The fight choreography is top notch and at the time was one of the earliest period films to present a more realistic and physical combat over the Hollywood norms of stylizing Olympic fencing and saber punctuated with dialogue. I can understand why there was no real need to shoot what would be a small a minor segment to the overall film, but in the book there's a part where Athos and his servant hole up in an innkeeper's cellar after being betrayed by him and they withstand all attempts at dislodging them, and while besieged they manage to eat and drink near to the entirety of the inn's larder and wine/beer cellar, only to ultimately emerge dead drunk but in righteous victory for their mistreatment by the innkeeper.
THE ultimate adaptation of "The Three Musketeers" and one of the best book-to-movie adaptations in general. Cast, directing, perfect balance of original source and necessary changes, cinematography, sets... Real masterpiece.
This is the duo of films that at age eight got me interested in history. The depictions of common, noble, and royal gripped me. They also gave me insight into MPatHG.
Very good commentary on one of the greatest adventure films of all time. Every element is individually magical, and rarer still, all the elements come together successfully to create Cinemagic. In a brief aside, you mentioned "Murder By Decree", which still has the best pairing of actors for the roles of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: Christopher Plummer and James Mason in his final film. "Murder By Decree" is a brilliant, highly original and disturbing mystery by Bob Clark, whom some credit with the invention of the modern Slasher Flick (1974's "Black Christmas") but who also gave the world the most delightful Yuletide movie, "A Christmas Story". Thank you for bringing attention to the too-little-known combination of Sherlock Holmes with Jack the Ripper. Its images still haunt me, fifty years after my father took me to see it in a Montreal cinema. And here's hoping that the Flashman Papers will soon be produced as a Cable limited series or even better, as a series of movies released first to cinemas around the world. It is hard to believe that today's Political Correctness would permit the kind of language used in the novels. It is tougher still to imagine which actor would be perfect in the role of Harry Flashman, Esq., OBE, etc. etc. As of 2024, my pick would be the terrific Lee Pace, but he is steadily ageing out of the role of Flashy. In the 1970s, I would have picked Oliver Reed, but he was cast as Bismarck. They had better start soon! G-d bless George MacDonald Fraser for his Flashy and for his Musketeers! Hip-hip, Hoorah! --OronOfMontreal
This remains my favorite version of these stories adapted to another medium. If you dig around in the interview you'll find out that they were fighting with live swords and they were injured by the swords and other objects they were hitting each other with. Oliver Reed took a sword through the wrist. Christopher Lee who was a master swordsman was very wary of his co-stars who were all a little wild.
The first scene in the great BBC historical docudrama "The First Churchills" is of the meeting of John Churchill and D'artagnan at the siege of Masstricht and D'artagnan's fall. One hero enters one hero leaves...good stuff.
Gotta say, as much as I enjoyed these two films, the French just surpassed them. The Three Musketeers, Part 1: D’Artagnan, and Part 2: Milady, are, in my opinion, far superior than any movie adaptations I’ve ever seen. They are thrilling adventure movies that deserve more attention here in the states. Amazing, especially the second film, which is as good an adventure movie that I’ve seen in years. Bravo!
You're shout out of Hawk the Slayer wins me over as a life-long subscriber.
These movies were my childhood
Lester's effort is indeed the very best of feature presentation(s) of Dumas' The Three Musketeers. The next best, whichever that is, is not even close.
The cast is practically perfect - it's only drawback being Dumas' Musketeers are all considerably younger than the actors appear to be in the film. But each of them are so good it's a very minor detail. It's interesting to note Raquel Welch says she played Constance's action/slapstick scenes as if she were Stan Laurel.
Also notable, a film full of so many character parts being played by mostly A-list stars/lead actors. That Lester manages to weave truly entertaining comedic moments throughout, mostly but not entirely avoiding outright farce, and credibly maintaining the serious and deadly ongoing drama is a tribute to script and direction.
Even Charlton Heston gets a funny scene in the Bastille with Spike Milligan bookended with an unseen prisoner somewhere in a line of gibbets calling out, "Morning, Your Grace," as Heston's Cardinal Richelieu strides by, and Heston scowling his executive disappointment at his torture staff's apparent poor attention to their craft.
The tandem pair of Fay Dunaway's Milady and Christopher Lee's Rochefort are almost supervillains unto themselves as they are projections of Cardinal Richelieu's power supreme in all but name.
The fight choreography is top notch and at the time was one of the earliest period films to present a more realistic and physical combat over the Hollywood norms of stylizing Olympic fencing and saber punctuated with dialogue.
I can understand why there was no real need to shoot what would be a small a minor segment to the overall film, but in the book there's a part where Athos and his servant hole up in an innkeeper's cellar after being betrayed by him and they withstand all attempts at dislodging them, and while besieged they manage to eat and drink near to the entirety of the inn's larder and wine/beer cellar, only to ultimately emerge dead drunk but in righteous victory for their mistreatment by the innkeeper.
THE ultimate adaptation of "The Three Musketeers" and one of the best book-to-movie adaptations in general. Cast, directing, perfect balance of original source and necessary changes, cinematography, sets... Real masterpiece.
It is indeed. Outstanding cast. Christopher Lee is brilliant when being sarcastic. Roy kinnear is hilarious also.
It is, they are, terrific films.
This is the duo of films that at age eight got me interested in history. The depictions of common, noble, and royal gripped me.
They also gave me insight into MPatHG.
Very good commentary on one of the greatest adventure films of all time. Every element is individually magical, and rarer still, all the elements come together successfully to create Cinemagic.
In a brief aside, you mentioned "Murder By Decree", which still has the best pairing of actors for the roles of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: Christopher Plummer and James Mason in his final film. "Murder By Decree" is a brilliant, highly original and disturbing mystery by Bob Clark, whom some credit with the invention of the modern Slasher Flick (1974's "Black Christmas") but who also gave the world the most delightful Yuletide movie, "A Christmas Story". Thank you for bringing attention to the too-little-known combination of Sherlock Holmes with Jack the Ripper. Its images still haunt me, fifty years after my father took me to see it in a Montreal cinema.
And here's hoping that the Flashman Papers will soon be produced as a Cable limited series or even better, as a series of movies released first to cinemas around the world. It is hard to believe that today's Political Correctness would permit the kind of language used in the novels. It is tougher still to imagine which actor would be perfect in the role of Harry Flashman, Esq., OBE, etc. etc. As of 2024, my pick would be the terrific Lee Pace, but he is steadily ageing out of the role of Flashy. In the 1970s, I would have picked Oliver Reed, but he was cast as Bismarck. They had better start soon! G-d bless George MacDonald Fraser for his Flashy and for his Musketeers! Hip-hip, Hoorah!
--OronOfMontreal
This remains my favorite version of these stories adapted to another medium.
If you dig around in the interview you'll find out that they were fighting with live swords and they were injured by the swords and other objects they were hitting each other with. Oliver Reed took a sword through the wrist.
Christopher Lee who was a master swordsman was very wary of his co-stars who were all a little wild.
The first scene in the great BBC historical docudrama "The First Churchills" is of the meeting of John Churchill and D'artagnan at the siege of Masstricht and D'artagnan's fall. One hero enters one hero leaves...good stuff.
I AGREE... THE BEST VERSION ❤ !
This was excellent. Thank you
Well presented, smooth voice and interesting content. 😊
Please continue these videos cupboard of doom ! 😊
Thank you, I will
You forgot Simon Ward as the Duke of Buckingham. He would later play Young Winston in a very good Churchill biopic.
Murder by Decree is my favorite Sherlock Holmes film.
A magnificent film, very dark....
Ohh I like this video interesting 🤔
Thanks
Gotta say, as much as I enjoyed these two films, the French just surpassed them.
The Three Musketeers, Part 1: D’Artagnan, and Part 2: Milady, are, in my opinion, far superior than any movie adaptations I’ve ever seen. They are thrilling adventure movies that deserve more attention here in the states. Amazing, especially the second film, which is as good an adventure movie that I’ve seen in years. Bravo!
The 1993 Disney movie is great too
I don't agree.
It has it's moments. It is not good as a whole.
@@EthelredHardrede-nz8yv that is your opinion
@@biguy617
And that is yours. I fenced how about you?
The 93 version is a very poor adaption of the original works and quite revisionist.
Personally, I don't think Chris Pratt did a good job with ethos.