Os Três Mosqueteiros

This film begins with a young man named "d'Artagnan" (Walter Abel) leaving his small village in France to join the King's Musketeers in Paris. Unfortunately, on the way there, he gets into a scuffle with a man named "Count de Rochefort (Ian Keith) and is subsequently knocked unconscious. After taking a couple of days to recover from his head wound, d'Artagnan quickly continues his journey to Paris to finally introduce himself to the leader of the King's Musketeers, "Captain de Treville" (Lumsden Hare). Naturally, being the son of a former King's Musketeer, d'Artagnan is warmly welcomed and subsequently accepts the privilege of becoming a cadet in that highly respected organization. But then, as fate would have it, while talking to Captain de Treville, d'Artagnan just happens to spot Count de Rochefort from a distance--and hurriedly dashes out of the room to settle a score with him. Unfortunately, on the way to confront him, he accidently offends three strangers within the course of only a few minutes and is challenged to a duel by each of them. Never one to back down, he proudly accepts their challenge. However, upon appearing at the stipulated place, he and his worthy opponents are confronted by a party of six men under the orders of "Cardinal Richelieu" (Nigel De Brulier) who have come to arrest them for violating the law prohibiting dueling. Recognizing that they are outnumbered, d'Artagnan joins his three opponents in a fight against Richelieu's men. Afterward, having acquitted himself quite nicely, he is welcomed by his three worthy opponents into the brotherhood of the King's Musketeers. What he doesn't know is that there is a great deal of political intrigue in Paris at this time and he will need the help of these three Musketeers to navigate through the pitfalls and survive from that point on. Now, rather than reveal any more, I will just say that this was a fairly entertaining action picture which successfully incorporated a little humor and intrigue into the mix as well. Admittedly, the script seemed a bit too vague at times and the movie itself was quite dated. But even so, I still found it to be good enough for the time spent, and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

This is quite an interesting version of the 3 Musketeers. It does not follow all of the book, and ends about half way into the book. I thought Walter Abel was great in this version. If you see the 1948 Gene Kelly version, you will note that Kelly definitely copies the Abel look for the hero. Also another great film score. Favorite scenes include, the Assembled body of the Musketeers at their fencing exercises, and the meeting between the Queen her English lover. Action packed, because it is shorter than most versions, and quite stirring.

Cocky young swordsman D'Artagnan (Walter Abel) arrives in Paris and is taken under the wing of three musketeers (Paul Lukas, Moroni Olsen, Onslow Stevens). First English-language film version of the Alexandre Dumas story. It's pretty dull stuff. Walter Abel is painfully miscast. This was his first starring role. He would have better luck in his career as a character player. Film debut of Moroni Olsen. Three Musketeers movies should be fun, exciting, and action-packed. This one's tedious. Even the action is unexciting. Max Steiner wrote the music and lyrics for the corny theme song. Hardly his best work. Watchable but forgettable.

Of all the major American and British sound versions of the Dumas classic made up to 1999, this is easily the worst. The trouble is in the casting and the direction. Walter Abel was "introduced" in this film, although he had actually been in films since as far back as 1930, and because this was his first swashbuckling role, the producers didn't know what to make of him. He has none of the dash of Douglas Fairbanks,Don Ameche, Warren William, Cornel Wilde, or even Gene Kelly, and none of the charming awkwardness of Michael York, all of whom have played D'Artagnan in other films.

In fact, Abel gives, in plain English, a bad performance, partly because he is so totally miscast. Film fans will recognize him as one of those actors whom you see often,but never know what their name is. He would give better performances later in his career as worried, nervous managers (in "Holiday Inn") or business executives( i.e. Gregory Peck's boss, who falls memorably out the window to his death in "Mirage"). The other roles are indifferently cast and performed--this could be any one of a hundred B-movies--even the villains,and that's the real problem. A swashbuckler is supposed to be exciting and thrilling,and this one is neither--it's as if director Lee just didn't care.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS is a cheap, 1935 version of the Alexandre Dumas novel made by notorious programmer studio RKO Radio Pictures. Despite the shortness of the running time this is a plodding affair that looks quite dated to the modern eye. The heroes are stiff and wooden and the bad guys straight out of a pantomime.

It is true that the movie has a sufficient period 'look' to it, although a lot of the locations, like the wooded track which carriages run through repeatedly throughout the movie, are re-used. This kind of film was crying out to be made in colour because the vibrant costumes are wasted. The script is lean but lacks decent characterisation although it has to be said the female characters are far better written and more interesting than the male ones and quite alluring at times, particularly Margot Grahame's de Winter.

Sadly, the titular musketeers are both interchangeable and dull and Walter Abel's d'Artagnan is hardly a guy to root for; maybe a sanctimonious fellow you'd like to give a good pasting instead. The sword fights are pretty excruciating and although there are flashes of inspiration here and there (the climactic carriage chase is rather fine) it's not enough to prevent this from being a bore.