L'uomo dalla maschera di ferro

The humor , in its different versions, is the lead virtue of this film. the second - Jean Marais, off course. it is not the best version of the novel of Dumas, but it is nice, full of seductive duels, naive, romantic. and it is enough for a film with many flaws but full of good intentions.

The picture contains rousing action , intrigue , exciting swordplay , romantic adventure , mayhem and results to be pretty entertaining . This is an epic retelling about the durable Alexandre Dumas's novel and is set in 17th century in the French court , dealing with a hidden heir , imprisoned in Ste-Marguerite citadel , France's most isolated island prison . It holds a strange captive called Henri (Jean Francois Poron as a suffering inmate turning to valiant swashbuckler and playing a double role as King) who is jailed and hidden his identity wearing an iron mask but his existence threatens the reigning . As twins brothers , separated at birth , one become in Louis XIV of France and the other , Henri , is unjustly imprisoned . Both of whom are sons of the Queen mother Anna of Austria (Germaine Montero). The prison governor's daughter (Claudine Auger) is secretly in love with him and manages a getaway just when the musketeers arrive . The ruler Mazarin (Enrico Maria Salerno) , the Louis XIV's favorite , needs to marry a very young and immature Louis XIV off to a Spanish Infante , Mª Teresa of Spain , to seal a peace treaty . As Mazarin sends the reckless musketeer Charles d'Artagnan (Jean Marais) and to secretly bring the inmate , in his mask . But D'Artagnan and his allies (Sylva Koscina , Jean Rochefort , Claudine Auger) scheme a plan to free Henri , clashing against a malicious Cardinal and other aristocrats .

It's a mediocre rendition from the immortal novels ¨Les Trois Mousquetaires" and "Vicomte De Bragelonne" about a captive locked at a citadel , as St Marguerite fortress holds a mysterious convict whose iron-masked face nobody may see on pain of death . Amusing swashbuckling with decent production , glamorous gowns and luxurious sets . Furthermore , a vein of humour is evident here , though sometimes falling flat . Spectacular as well as delightful swordplay in colorful style , this is a so-so version of the classic Dumas novel set in 17th Century France . It's a passable rendition from the immortal novel with pretty budget and breathtaking scenarios . For this new retelling is adapted in the greatest splendor , the complete romance , the historical characters , but being extremely free to vintage novel , in fact , Athos , Portos and Aramis don't appear . It is made in enough budget and packed with silly comedy in charge of Jean Rochefort , derring-do , intrigue , a love story , action , drama and moving swordplay . An awesome casting and lavish production shot in French Studios and location make for a fairly amusement swashbuckler .

Nice acting by Jean Marais , he gives a charming acting and manages to use his fists , swords and to do some acrobatics . Marais was a prestigious actor being special relevancy his relation to Jean Cocteau , as they remained close friends until Cocteau's death . Cocteau had a major influence on life and career of Jean Marais who appeared in almost every one of Cocteau's films. Together they made such classics as Beauty and the Beast (1946) , Orfeo (1950) and testament of Orfeo (1960) , to name a few . He also starred several adventure movies mostly directed by Andre Hunebelle such as 1962 Mysteries of Paris , 1961 The miracle of the wolves , 1960 the captain and 1959 The hunchback . During the 1960s and 1970s, Marais went on to star in several popular comedies, such as the Fantomas (1964) trilogy by director André Hunebelle . He co-starred with many major French actors of the time, including such stars as Louis de Funès and Mylène Demongeot in the Fantomas trilogy, and also Jean Gabin, Guy Delorme, Bourvil, Danielle Darrieux, Michèle Morgan, and Yves Montand. Furthermore , the sympathetic actor Jean Rochefort and two European beauties who will get big successes : Claudine Auger and Sylva Koscina . And special mention for the notorious Italian actor Enrico Maria Salerno as Cardinal Mazarin , who rules France in the name of immature king Louis XIV , but finds him dangerously flirtatious . Pleasant performances by main star cast and enjoyable secondary cast , as the marvelous main actors are completed by stellar cast full of good and veteran French players . Glamorous production design is well reflected on the luxurious interiors and exteriors . Evocative and lively musical score along with colorful cinematography by Pierre Petit , being stunningly shown on the splendorous images and filmed on location in Étangs de Commelles, Coye-la-Forêt, Oise, France . The motion picture was regularly realized by Henry Decoin and it was one of the top 20 grossing movies of its year in France .

This classy story is previous and subsequently remade in several versions , firstly shot a mute rendition , 1929 , with Douglas Fairbanks , Tiny Sandford , Léon Bary , Henry Otto . Followed by the first sound recounting by James Whale (1939) with Louis Hayward and Joan Bennet . A 1998 retelling by William Richert with Edward Albert , Dana Barron , Timothy Bottoms , Meg Foster , James Gammon . And a TV adaptation titled ¨Man in iron mask¨ by Mike Newell with Richard Chamberlain , Louis Jourdan , Jenny Agutter and Ralph Richardson . Finally in 1998 by Randall Wallace with Leonardo DiCaprio , Gerard Depardieu , John Malkovich and Jeremy Irons . This is the most recent and lavish adaptation of the classy story . Rating : 5/10 . Acceptable and passable but middling . It will appeal to the costume genre buffs and Jean Marais fans .

A well-known Dumas tale;the best swashbuckler actorFrance ever had:Jean Marais;a French beauty ,Claudine Auger,who was to be Domino in "Thunderball";and Henry Decoin ,a skillful craftsman.

But it's not enough,cause the story lacks intensity ,and ,whereas you expect an action-packed movie,all you get is a slow-moving tale which hesitates between comedy and true adventure.Some people will not agree,but the made-for-TV version starring Irons,Di Caprio and Byrne is much more exciting.So is the French own made-for-TV one,the fourth segment of the "D'Artagnan" miniseries in 1969.

Jean-François Poron,who was the Duke of Nemours in "la Princesse de Clèves" where he played opposite Jean Marais too,is the "twins" here.