jrjcat Reviews

The Musketeer (2001)

Save your money wait for the video release

[2/10 · 1 October 2001]

This is one of the worst and loosest adaptations of The Three Musketeers yet. The scenery and swordplay were good. The best actors in the movie were the seasoned ones (Tim Roth for example). Nick Moran and the actor playing Porthos were also well cast. Mena Suvari and Justin Chambers need to take more acting lessons. Catherine Deneuve and Jeremy Clyde gave fine performances but too old for their parts as was the actor playing Planchet. The actor playing Athos was terribly miscast. For anyone who likes good adaptations of the classics please see Richard Lester's 1974/75 Three and Four Musketeers with Michael York,George Sidney's 1948 version with Gene Kelly,the 1999 video stage play and the 1961 two part French production and the 1978 Russian version.If you like silents see the Douglas Fairbanks Sr. version. The Musketeer also cut out the Three Musketeers worst enemy Milady de Winter,the Cardinal's beautiful murderous femme fatale agent. If you don't want to see another version of Three Musketeers then either buy or check out the book online or at your local library.

Three Musketeers (1999 Video)

Well Done

[7/10 · 13 March 2001]

This is one of the most faithful adaptations of the Alexandre Dumas novel.It's a video stageplay not a movie.The actors and actresses are from the stage.They're adults who work for the Northwest Children's Theatre.This is a Global stage production.This version covers the entire Dumas novel from D'Artagnan's leaving Gascony to join the musketeers.On his way to Paris to enlist in the musketeers he encounters Cardinal Richelieu's two deadliest agents the dastardly Rochefort and the beautiful countess Milady de Winter.From then on he has encounters with the Three Musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis and becomes their new companion and then learns of Cardinal Richelieu's plots against the monarchy and of Queen Anne's indiscretion.Court intrigue,war and crimes also figure prominently in this story.The actor playing D'Artagnan a stage actor named Dana Young does his fencing scenes well a little inexperienced dramatically but he is the right age for the part (18-21). Brian Russell does a great job as the Duke of Buckingham reminds one of actor Billy Zane.Deirdre Atkinson,Geoffrey Alm and Tobias Anderson give wonderful performances as Milady,Rochefort and Cardinal Richelieu.The villains stole the show in this version.I will say that Tobias Anderson's Cardinal Richelieu physically reminds me of how late actor Ray Walston would have looked if he had played the part of the Cardinal.This version had good fencing and good costumery.For purists of the Alexandre Dumas novel you need to see this version.For those who loved the Michael York 1974-75 productions and the Gene Kelly 1948 version you need to see this one.This is the complete novel in 145 minutes.This is also a must for literature teachers to show their students.If you're a Three Musketeer lover as I am you need to see this one.

Three Musketeers (1999 Video)

Well Done.

[7/10 · 13 March 2001]

This is one of the best and one of the most faithful productions of the Dumas novel I have ever seen.It's a filmed 145 minute video stageplay performed by adult actors and actresses of the Northwest Children's Theatre in Portland,Oregon.It starts out with D'Artagnan leaving his home and family in Gascony.Finding trouble along the way to Paris by meeting up with the Cardinal Richelieu's Agents.Then meeting the Three Musketeers by accident and immediately becoming their ally.Later he becomes involved with the Queen's seamstress and gets involved with court intrigues and gets the Three Musketeers involved as well.To save the Queen's honor they have dangerous confrontations with Cardinal Richelieu's Agents Rochefort and Milady.I won't give away what happens but those who know the novel will love this version.If you have seen other versions like the 1948 Gene Kelly or the 1974 Michael York version you will appreciate this one.This is the whole novel portrayed in this one not just part of the novel as in some of the 1930's versions.I will say that the villains Geoffrey Alm (Rochefort),Deirdre Atkinson (Milady) and Tobias Andersen (Cardinal Richelieu) and Brian Russell (the Queen's lover The Duke of Buckingham).They are the ones who stole this show.A production well done.

Three and a Half Musketeers (1957)

Very Funny

[8 March 2001]

This movie was released to the United States as the Three and a half Musketeers.I first saw this 12 years ago on the Nostalgia Channel.It hasn't been released on video yet.This is a spoof of The Three Musketeers.It follows the first half of the Alexandre Dumas novel with D'Artagnan's first encounters with the Three Musketeers and saving the Queen's honor from Cardinal Richelieu and his agents Rochefort and Milady de Winter.In this version D'Artagnan is also a master of disguise.He disguises himself as Constance and Cardinal Richelieu in different scenes and not very good but good enough to fool the Cardinal's agents.If you liked the Ritz Brothers version or the 1942 Cantinflas version.You will like this one.Constance is played by Rosa Arenas(also known as Rosita Arenas) veteran actress of Mexican horror films and Milady de Winter is played by Martha Valdes an attractive auburn haired Janet Leigh look-a-like.The actor playing Rochefort does a great job.A sinister looking individual with a patch over his eye and a long scar on the cheek.I can see where he was model for the Rochefort character in other remakes.The sets and costumes resemble the Gene Kelly 1948 version.The Mexican film locations were beautiful reminds one of Normandy,France.This was my favorite of the comical versions of Three Musketeers.I have alot of older Hispanic friends who really enjoyed this version being they grew up with the comedy of Tin Tan and Cantinflas.A must see for those loving spoofs of the classics.

Caesar and Cleopatra (1976 TV Movie)

Very,Very Good.

[4 March 2001]

I really enjoyed this adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play.Genevieve Bujold is excellent as a young Cleopatra.Sir Alec Guinness excellent as Julius Caesar.I first saw this when I was eleven years old.I'm a big fan of classical books and plays.In fact I think this version was better than the 1945 Claude Rains/Vivien Leigh production.The Hallmark Hall of Fame did a great job with this production its a shame its not on video.

The Magnavox Theater: The Three Musketeers (1950) Season 1, Episode 6

Good

[4 March 2001]

This was the first televised version of the novel.It was released to tv first in 1950 and released theatrically as Sword of D'Artagnan.Robert Clarke does a fine job as D'Artagnan he physically resembles the character described by Dumas in his novel.John Sutton brings nobility to the character of Athos.Mel Archer and Keith Richards do well as Porthos and Aramis.Kristine Miller is perfect as Milady de Winter.Paul Cavanaugh excellent as the crafty Cardinal Richelieu.Lyn Thomas and Marjorie Lords turn in good performances as Constance and the Queen.If you liked the Gene Kelly 1948 version,the Don Ameche 1939 and the Walter Abel 1935 you will enjoy this one.

The Three Musketeers: Part I - The Queen's Diamonds (1961)

very good

[7/10 · 1 March 2001]

This is a wonderful faithful version of Alexandre Dumas'The Three Musketeers.It starts out with D'Artagnan meeting his first two adversaries the Count de Rochefort and the beautiful spy Milady de Winter.D'Artagnan arrives in Paris and immediately accidentally insults the Three Musketeers who each one challenges him to a duel.D'Artagnan later joins with them in a duel with the Cardinal's Guards who had interrupted his duel with the first musketeer Athos.Then they all become friends in arms against the Cardinal's Guards.D'Artagnan later meets up with Constance the Queen's dressmaker a relative of D'Artagnan's landlord.This friendship with Constance leads up to D'Artagnan and the Three Athos,Porthos and Aramis going to England to save the Queen Anne from public scandal because of her relationship with the Prime Minister of England the Duke of Buckingham.A fact that Cardinal Richelieu and his agents want exposed so that the Queen will be exiled.D'Artagnan defeats the Cardinal's agents Milady and Rochefort brings back the diamonds the queen gave to Buckingham to the Queen.Saves the Queen's honor and leaves the Cardinal and Milady plotting revenge at the end of the film.Gerard Barray is excellent as D'Artagnan and Mylene Demongeot not only one of the most beautiful screen Milady de Winters rivaling that of Lana Turner but also excellent in the part as well.A fine supporting cast,historically accurate costumes and beautiful scenery rate this a 7 on my scale.This was followed by a sequel The Vengeance of Milady also called Vengeance of the Three Musketeers.If you like the Gene Kelly version or the Michael York 2 part version.You will like this two part version.