The Three Musketeers (1948)

Strong and Moving!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

This MGM lavish production of "The Three Musketeers" rivals the very best of the swashbucklers. Others have noted the traditional three heroes of this genre – Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power. They starred in many of the best of this film genre, playing Zorro, Robin Hood and a host of pirates and cavaliers. A couple of other top swashbucklers come to mind, mainly for the two films they excelled in – Stewart Granger in "Scaramouche" (1952) and Ronald Colman in "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1937). I mention all of these because the name Gene Kelly doesn't as readily come to mind when thinking of swordplay with lots of acrobatics. But this film firmly plants him in "The Three Musketeers" as among the best of the genre. As other viewers have commented, this movie shines on all levels. It's especially excellent for its great color, for an excellent screenplay adaptation, and for a huge cast of talented performers who delight and entertain in their roles. I think three roles stand out. Lana Turner seems to exude evil in her portrayal. A masterful job, indeed. Vincent Price had a much smaller part, but no one could better portray the sinister, conniving, scheming and crooked Richelieu. One word comes to mind for this part as played by Price – dastardly. The third, of course, is Gene Kelly in the starring role as D'Artagnan. What he may have lacked in suave appearance compared to Errol Flynn and Ty Power, he more than made up for in his sheer athletic and acrobatic abilities. All the great swashbuckler actors had good moves and sword play, but Kelly's performance here outshines them all. The word that comes to mind for the swiftness, deftness and agility in his moves is "smooth." He made it look effortless. And no other movie I can think of had any better sword play than this one. Kelly excelled at that as well. Throw in a good amount of humor with such an affable character and we have a perfect D'Artagnan.It all adds up to one immense piece of entertainment and fun. This great film's suitable for the whole family.

I really liked this version of the Three Musketeers. Then again I have liked a vast majority of the adaptations of the novel, even the 1993 version which is admittedly my least favourite of the ones I liked, but it still entertained me. The novel itself by Alexandre Dumas is superbly written and a truly entertaining read. This adaptation does deviate from it, but considering how beautiful it looked and how entertaining it was I am past caring.I only have two real complaints of this movie. The film does suffer from being overlong at over two hours, consequently I did feel some scenes dragged but only slightly. My other complaint was that I wished Angela Lansbury and Vincent Price had more screen time. Lansbury is a fine actress, but because she is given very little to do, she failed to make an impression. Price is another fine actor, chiefly remembered for his performances in films like Pit and the Pendulum, Great Mouse Detective, Witchfinder General and Fall of the House of Usher. Sadly, as Cardinal Richelieu he is only in three or four scenes, but he was still good.On the whole, this 1948 film has its good points. The music score is superb, and the cinematography magnificent. The scenery is splendid and I thought the costumes were truly lavish especially Milady's dresses. The film is shot in dazzling Technicolour that still looks amazing even by today's standards. The sword fights are constantly energetic and lively, and don't feel clumsy at all. The script is on the whole good, same with the acting. Although I did worry that Gene Kelly would be out of character, as I associate him mainly with musicals, he was wonderfully athletic as D'Artagnan. Van Heflin, Gig Toung and Robert Coote all gives spirited turns as Athos, Porthos and Aramis. But who impressed me most were Lana Turner who was both beautiful and haunting as Milady and June Allyson as the lovely Constance.Overall, this 1948 film does have its flaws, but what mattered to me was who stunning it looked, it was energetic and entertaining. In these areas, that's where the film succeeded. It isn't completely faithful to the book, but I do think despite its length it is one of the better adaptations of the book out there though the 1973 film gets my vote as the definitive one. 8.5/10 Bethany Cox

"The Three Musketeers" is unarguably an adventure film of great physical beauty and quite a bit of narrative power. It stands just after "The Best Years of Our lives" as one of the first Technicolor "A" films that broadened the palette used by filmmakers to include richness as well as, say, western or Arabian settings in adventure movies. To director George Sidney goes much of the credit for the film's swiftness of pace and attractive visual elements. With cinematography by Robert Planck, art direction by Malcolm Brown and the great Cedric Gibbons, elaborate set decorations by Edwin B, Willis and Henry Grace, and costumes by legendary Walter Plunkett, the film moves from rustic scenes to sumptuous interiors via scenes of swordplay that are often stunning. Add makeup by Jack Dawn, hair designs by Larry Germain and Sydney Guilaroff, sound by Douglas Shearer and Herbert Stothart's original music and use of Tschaikovsy themes--and the result I suggest is a quite satisfying viewing experience. But the plot has something more, perhaps, as well. The original Alexandre Dumas's (the father) storyline as treated by Robert Ardrey's screenplay comes out as an intelligent but somewhat satirical-cynical look at life in the France of the time of Cardinal Richelieu and King Louis XIII. In adopting an objective, light-hearted tone, similar to that in "North By Northwest', the producer Pandro S. Berman and the writers gain for the film the ability to do memorable comedy as well as occasionally far-more-serious scenes. What is lost in concentrated dramatic power is made up fin such an adventure if the actors are able to invest its goings on with the seriousness of their taking it seriously, bringing it to life professionally. I suggest that in the lavish production, this level of artistry was almost everywhere achieved. The large cast features such attractive artists as Angela Lansbury as the Queen, John Sutton as Buckingham, June Allyson very-well-used as Constance, Robert Warwick as D'Artagnan's father, Keenan Wynn as Planchet the servant, Reginald Owen and Ian Keith, Patricia Medina and Richard Wyler. In featured roles, one can enjoy stellar work by Robert Coote as Aramis, Gig Young as Porthos, Frank Morgan as the King and Gene Kelly as an athletic and often lyrical D'Artagnan. But the acting honors in the film belong to actor worthies Van Helfin, who dominates in the role of the hard-drinking Athos and Vincent Price, who makes immense amounts out of what he is allowed to do as an understated Richelieu. The curious casting is that of attractive Lana Turner as Lady De Winter; she is not capable yet of classical work, but she suggests some of her part's potential depths. This famous story of the young Gascon joining the three best swordsmen in France and learning more about life than he had bargained for is here given as much power perhaps as it can handle; and rich scenes of sword battles, interpersonal misunderstandings and a sense of controlled importance makes, I suggest, the story's dark moments memorable and the fun more important than it might have been. I find this to be a masterly understatement of a truly classic adventure.

Gene Kelly is the best thing this film has going for it… he captures the adventure, spirit, and humor of both the literary work and the classic interpretation by Douglas Fairbanks. The film should have taken out all of the other "big name" stars, trimmed the script down (to give Mr. Kelly's character a singular focus), and -- this might have been a classic.If they HAD to keep one of these actresses, I'd keep Angela Lansbury, but in the role Lana Turner played. If Ms. Turner had to be in this movie for box office appeal, I'd try her in the de Winter role. June Allyson doesn't belong in this picture, in any role.Kelly is terrific. His swordly scenes are a highlight, and the film's expense is obvious. Perhaps they should have played up, rather than play down, the sexual situations -- it's strange to see Kelly kissing everyone in sight, before settling down to one interest. I'm not suggesting the film be explicit, just a bit more bawdy.****** The Three Musketeers (1948) George Sidney ~ Gene Kelly, Lana Turner, June Allyson