Enjoyable adaptation of the oft-filmed Alexandre Dumas novel. One of the better versions I've seen. I should say upfront that I've never been a huge fan of the story. I read it as a kid before ever seeing any of the movies. It's undeniably a classic but it was never a favorite of mine. This movie is pretty faithful to the book, although there's much more emphasis on comedy. The cast is terrific. Richard Chamberlain, Oliver Reed, and Frank Finlay are great as the title characters. Michael York does a fine job as d'Artagnan. If I had one complaint, it's that d'Artagnan seems a dim-witted rube in his earliest scenes but after becoming friends with the Musketeers, he's suddenly much smarter and more competent. There doesn't seem to be any reason for this beyond "we thought the shtick in the early scenes was funny." Raquel Welch is stunning and quite good in a humorous part. Faye Dunaway is also enjoyable. Christopher Lee and Charlton Heston are fun. Period costumes and sets are nice. Filmed at the same time as its sequel, The Four Musketeers. It's not the kind of movie I rewatch often, but it is entertaining.
Review of The Three Musketeers
