The Three Musketeers (1973)

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Directed by Richard Lester.

Starring Richard Chamberlain, Faye Dunaway, Frank Finlay, Oliver Reed, Raquel Welch, Michael York, Charlton Heston.

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Richard Lester's adaptation of The Three Musketeers was only the latest of many when released in 1974, but it arrived with a spirit all its own, one influenced as much by Lester's '60s work as the Alexandre Dumas classic. Even so, it followed the plot of Dumas' novel fairly closely, its liberties in interpretation taken elsewhere. Coming off the success of Cabaret, Michael York plays D'Artagnan, the provincial, would-be swashbuckler who travels to Paris to make his name. There he encounters the eponymous heroes: cynical Athos (Oliver Reed), dashing Aramis (Richard Chamberlain), and arrogant Porthos (Frank Finlay). The trio introduces him to the world of court intrigue as they work to protect the Queen (Geraldine Chaplin) from the schemes of the villainous Richelieu (Charlton Heston) and his followers, Rochefort (Christopher Lee) and Milady (Faye Dunaway). Lester shot the film in conjunction with its sequel, The Four Musketeers. Originally intended as a single film, the split prompted a lawsuit from the cast demanding payment for both films. ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide

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A Funny Thing Happened On The W ...
by aidanbrack in The Bigger Picture

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"Set in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is the story of the attempts of a lazy, sloppy and conniving slave (played by Zero Mostel) to win his freedom. Adapted from a Broadway musical, there are surprisingly few songs in the movie, apparently being chopped by screenwriters Melvin Frank and Michael Pertwee. With his master and mistress away, the slave Pseudolos realises that their son, Hero (Michael Crawford), is in love with a virgin concubine who is owned by their next door neighbour, Marcus Lyrus (Phil Silvers of Bilko fame). Unfortunately the girl has been sold to a general returning that very day from war in Crete. Pseudolos, having been promised his freedom by Hero if he can arrange for them to be together, finds his plans falling apart at every turn as his actions become more and more outrageous in best farce fashion. The story, inspired by the work and characters of Roman playwright Platus, does a good job of taking a class ... " [More]

Review by All Movie Guide

All Movie Guide

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It might have seemed unlikely at the time, but in The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers, Richard Lester found one of the best outlets for his unique sensibility. All the swashbuckling presented endless opportunities to indulge his love of slapstick set pieces, but, just as importantly, the schemes and double crosses of the plot opened the door for an abundance of jaded political commentary. The musketeers find themselves fighting against the malevolent selfishness of Charlton Heston to a far greater degree than they fight for the more or less benign selfishness of Geraldine Chaplin, presented throughout as vain, childish, and generally unworthy of the loyalty shown her. What matters far more is the camaraderie of the musketeers themselves, the bond between a handful of friends far more worthwhile than any ideology, a theme emphasized even more heavily in the sequel. Only poorly implemented post-sync dialogue undermines the project, occasionally negating the performances of a perfectly cast ensemble. ~ Keith Phipps, All Movie Guide

Tags: athos , aramis , dartagnan , porthos , courage
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