THE THREE MUSKETEERS
US, 1993, 105 minutes, Colour.
Charlie Sheen, Chris O'Donnell, Keifer Sutherland, Oliver Platt, Rebecca De Mornay, Hugh O'Conor, Tim Curry, Gabrielle Anwar, Michael Wincott, Paul McGann?, Julie Delpy.
Directed by Steven Herek.
The Three Musketeers is yet another remake of the popular Dumas story. It is particularly American, geared for the audiences of the '90s with its young American stars (and American tone), Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen, Chris O'Donnell. Critics at the time made the comparison with Young Guns: Young Swords.
The film is beautifully photographed on location in Austria by Dean Semmler. The treatment is lavish, with emphasis on decor and costumes, on actions, stunts and chases.
The three stars are particularly American and modern in their style. However, Tim Curry relishes his role as Cardinal Richelieu. Rebecca de Mornay is suitable as Milady. Constance, in this version, is relegated to the background.
The swashbuckling tone of the original is kept, plus its sense of whimsy. However, the macho style of the musketeers is a touch chauvinist, a kind of boyos' day and night out which makes the film a little silly.
Steven Herek went on to make Mr Holland's Opus and 101 Dalmatians.
1.The popularity of the Dumas story, the various versions? Adventure? Tongue in cheek?
2.Adapted for the '90s, the stars, the Young Swords, the American style?
3.The Austrian locations, sense of period, the countryside, Paris and its markets, palaces, squares, dungeons? Calais? The rousing score?
4.The swashbuckling action, stunts and chases?
5.The historical background: France, the young Louis XIII and his Austrian wide? Richelieu and his plans, Milady and the spy networks, the links with the British, the role of the musketeers to protect the king, their being disbanded?
6.The musketeer tradition, swordsmen, loyal guards? Their being disbanded? Richelieu's officer, the loss of his eye to D'Artagnan's father? The musketeers leaving, the three and their rebellion? Down and out? Serious/comic? The three encounters with D'Artagnan, the preparations for the duel, the officer and the guards coming to arrest the musketeers, the fight, `All for one and one for all'?
7.Athos and his seriousness, meeting D'Artagnan, his role as leader, the long story of his marriage to Milady and his thinking her dead, meeting her in Calais, her execution and death? His place in the loyalty to the king, the chase to Calais, the fights?
8.Aramis as a ladies' man, the lady's husband and the gun, teaching, his theological background, the clash with D'Artagnan, taking D'Artagnan to the inn and turning him into a ladies' man? The fights, the chases, his being shot, saved by the cross?
9.Porthos and his comic style, offhand remarks, with D'Artagnan, the fights, the confrontation with the Asian warrior on the ship?
10.D'Artagnan and his leaving home, the brothers chasing him, wanting to be a ladies' man, going to Paris, wanting to join the musketeers, finding that they had been disbanded? The three encounters, the three duels? Confronting the captain of the guard, the fight? In prison, the torture, the interrogation, overhearing Cardinal Richelieu and Milady, the escape, the encounter with Milady and the seduction, his escape? With the queen and Constance? In action, the flight to Calais, joining in the action adventures? The final confrontation with the assassin, the swashbuckling fight on the roof? Becoming a musketeer - and the finale with the brothers from his home town? His loyalty to his father and the tradition of his father?
11.Richelieu and his power, seeing him in the dungeons, the prisoners, his religious hypocrisy, the relish of his offhand sayings, his reliance on his officer, Milady and the Duke of Buckingham, the encounters with D'Artagnan, his patronising of the king organising the assassination? His having to flee, the chase and the fights?
12.The queen and her background from Austria, her love for the king, his youthfulness? Their being together, dominated by Richelieu? Public appearance - and the assassination attempt?
13.The officer of the guard, loyal to Richelieu, the disbanding of the musketeers? His injury from D'Artagnan's father, fighting with D'Artagnan?
14.Milady, the story of her marriage, the death, to be executed, love for Athos? Her spying for Richelieu? The encounter with D'Artagnan, her arrest, the trial on the cliff edge, her killing herself?
15.Constance, lady-in-waiting, helping D'Artagnan with the sword during the duel?
16.The musketeers, the final confrontation, the swashbuckling - and the humour as D'Artagnan is chased by the men from his village?
