THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK

US, 1998, 132 minutes, Colour.
Leonardo di Caprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gerard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne, Anne Parillaud, Judith Godreche, Edward Atterton, Peter Sarsgaard, Hugh Laurie.
Directed by Randall Wallace.

Alexandre Dumas' tale of the ageing Musketeers and the legend of Louis XIV's twin brother has been filmed many times. While there is some swashbuckling action for the film's climax, the treatment here is more serious than previously.

For older audiences there are fine performances from Jeremy Irons as an ascetical, clerical Aramis, Gerard Depardieu as a bawdy, buffoonish Porthos, John Malkovich as an intense Athos and Gabriel Byrne as the sincere protector of the King, D'Artagnan. For the younger audiences, there is Leonardo di Caprio playing an arrogant king as well as his kinder brother.

Sumptuously filmed in France, the themes of government, justice and integrity are to the fore, a more intelligent treatment than merely matinee entertainment. It is only the irritating array of multi-national accents that jars. Spectacular and serious.

1. The popularity of the Dumas story? History, intrigue, action, spectacle? A serious swashbuckling story?

2. The perspective of the 1990s, a more serious approach, the strong cast, the use of French locations, the emotional score, values?

3. The re-creation of 17th century France, the palaces, exteriors and interiors, homes, streets, the rivers, the dungeons? Authentic atmosphere?

4. The Three Musketeers and their popularity of the past, D'Artagnan being young? Their work, loyalty to the Crown, to the queen? Ideals? Their being older, their disgust with the new king, the ordinary lives they led, Athos and his son, Aramis as priest, Porthos and his hedonist life, D'Artagnan and his loyalty? Their losing contact with each other? Their private hopes, love for action, vision of death? All for one and one for all?

5. The initial focus on D'Artagnan, in the streets of Paris, seeing the fights, the riots, the people complaining about the food, starvation, rotten food, the role of the king? Being with the king, training the Musketeers, his loyalty to the queen, love for her? His observing Christine and Raoul? Going to Athos, the promise to save Raoul? The regrets, his character, in action, the information about Philippe and not knowing it, his past relationship with the queen? Athos and his anger about Raoul’s death, D'Artagnan letting him go? The plan with Philippe? His seeing the impostor, the revelation of the truth, the truth about Louis? His reaction against Louis, fighting with the Musketeers, taking the bullet for his son? The end and his funeral?

6. Louis XIV, his later reputation, Dumas taking the story of the Man in the Iron Mask and linking it to the monarchy? Speculation? His age, arrogance, his love of fashion, his whims with his advisers, listening to them, condemning them to death, the issue of the rotten food, his knowledge of the riots? His eye on Christine, the seduction, knowing that she was with Raoul? The assassination attempt and his being shaken? D'Artagnan saving his life? Sending Raoul to the front, his lies? The seduction of Christine and her reaction? The revolutionaries? The ball, his fears as he saw the iron mask? His being taken, afraid, the truth about Philippe, his condemning him? His anger, D'Artagnan shocked, his imprisoning Philippe again, the final confrontation after following D'Artagnan, the fight, his becoming the new prisoner in the iron mask – and the epilogue saying that he was released and freed to live his life out in the country?

7. Philippe, the glimpses of the prisoner in the iron mask, the background of his story, Aramis and his role, guilt, the twins, Aramis and his plan to bring Philippe back, the boat and his being disguised as a friar, taking in the dead body, the plague, smuggling Philippe out of the dungeon? The Italian style, confession? Philippe as nice, deferential, learning his identity and the effect, the details of the training, his clumsiness, with Athos, Athos becoming a father figure, his wanting to take Raoul’s place? The pressures, the time? The actual substitution, his mother knowing the truth, his helping the falling lady, his exit, D'Artagnan’s suspicions, the confrontation from Christine – and the pathos of her death? The fight, his being imprisoned once again, the escape, fighting with the Musketeers? His taking his place as the king? The imprisonment of his brother, his later freeing him? Leonardo di Caprio making differences for each of the roles?

8. Raoul and Christine, at the palace, the king and his bedding the women, the decision to seduce Christine, the assassination attempt, Raoul and his going to the army, his loyalty and integrity, the battle, the letter for Christine, his death? Christine receiving the news, Athos and the letter? Christine and her confrontation of the king at the ball, her suicide?

9. Aramis, serious, priest, at prayer, his criticisms of Porthos and his hedonism? The interview with Louis, the commission to seek out the head of the Jesuits and kill him, the irony that he was that person? With Athos, the plan, the discussions with each of them, his past, confessing his guilt, his leadership amongst the Musketeers, his sardonic humour? His guilt, going to action, keeping the uniforms, being ready for the final confrontation?

10. Porthos, with the women, his drink, contemplating suicide, wanting action, arranging the costumes for the release of Philippe, his wanting action, his attempts at suicide – and Aramis sawing the beam? His dealing with Philippe?

11. Athos, his age, love for his son, his anger and disgust with the king, the confrontation with D'Artagnan, the news of Raoul’s death, the attack at the palace, D'Artagnan letting him go? His willingness to be part of the plan, helping in the action, teaching Philippe, seeing him as his son?

12. The queen, her place at the court, sad, her love for D'Artagnan, meetings with him? The formalities and reserve? The news of the twins, her learning the story, meeting with Philippe, going to the ball, the love between mother and son?

13. The court, the pomp, costumes, décor, the gardens, the masked ball, the dancing, the advisers – and their being executed at whim?

14. The ordinary people, their hunger, the attack on the Musketeers, the riots? D'Artagnan and his powerful speech, persuading them to hold back? The Musketeers’ assistant, Lieutenant Andre, his loyalty to D'Artagnan, his learning the truth about Louis, his collaborating in Louis’ imprisonment?

15. The build-up to the confrontation, Philippe and the substitution, the Musketeers and the rescue, the fight, the truth, the fierce attack on them and their survival, their loyalty to the king, becoming his advisers?

16. The subsequent reign of Louis XIV as the Sun King?