The Musketeers

Yet another thread that doesn't seem to exist despite the half a million adaptations that exist across film, television, and animation. Feel free to discuss any of the various incarnations!



I have a special fondness for the Disney's The Three Musketeers. It bears almost zero resemblance to that most famous of books, but I was sufficiently entertained. Oliver Platt's turn as Porthos in particular stands out, as does Michael Wincott's portrayal of Rochefort. Gabrielle Anwar could do no wrong since that Richard Grieco classic, If Looks Could Kill!

I digress, though. I would contend that none of the English-language versions are any good. The steam punk-esque elements of 2011's The Three Musketeers (helmed by Paul W.S. Anderson) weren't entirely objectionable in concept, but that film should have never been greenlit. Following his work in Pirates, Orlando Bloom should have been a natural. He had his moments, but they were too far and few.

The '48 version with Gene Kelly has some great comedic elements, but the sword fighting is off putting because they're clearly using fencing foils.* Which is unconscionable. If there's anything in the Western tradition that compares to the martial arts' ...well, filmability, it's sword fighting.

*-Sport fencing is only peripherally related to actual blade combat. Staging a convincing swordfight is a damn hard thing to do because the people involved really need to look like they know what they're doing. See Rob Roy's climatic duel for a modern classic. Alatriste too.

The Man in the Iron Mask is a commendable with John Malkovich and Leonardo diCaprio is a commendable piece of work, but it's, like, a chapter in the sequel 20 Years After; otherwise known as Book 2 of the d'Artagnan Romances. Had they done more it could have been something truly exceptional.

The Richard Lester directed version - both parts - come the closest, but something about it seems stuck in the seventies. It might be the heavy use of facial makeup in other an otherwise excellent pair of films.

The French version with Mylene Demongeot as Milady de Winter and Gérard Barray as d'Artagnan was equally well done, but it's been dogs years since I've seen it. I don't think it ever made the jump to digital.

For me, the biggest problem is length. The first book is absolutely sprawling that it lends itself far better to a longform series. It seems that somebody at The Beeb had a similar idea and commissioned a ten-part mini series set to debut in the UK presently. (Finally!)



From Left to Right: Athos (Tom Burke), Porthos (Howard Charles), d'Artagnan (Luke Pasqualino), and Aramis (Santiago Cabrera).

Generally speaking, I like the look. It's updated of course, but it still feels very much of the period in spirit at least. Though, I can't help but think that Aramis walked off the set of a Western.

It won't be a faithful adaptation of the book, but all new adventures per the series' showrunner.

IGN said:

The series will use the book as a foundation, but not follow the trajectory of the original story faithfully. "I didn?t want to adapt the book," Hodges said. "The book effectively becomes a serial, and this is a series this is a series of new adventures. But what it does do is take themes, ideas, all clearly characters from the book, and use them in ways that sometimes are familiar from the book and sometimes very, very different to the book, but it isn?t an adaptation of the book, and it doesn?t follow the famous story that has been adapted a number of times. I wanted to do something completely new."

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Stop in on the official site for further information.

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Three episodes in and The Musketeers seems to have garnered positive reviews thus far! Unfortunately, those of us Stateside who wish to watch the series legally need to hold out until Spring 2014. Stop in at BBC America's official site to keep abreast of all the details!

In the meantime, the Beeb has released a behind-the-scenes trailer with the actor discussing some of their training as swords and horsemen. Y'know, if there's one thing I genuinely liked about the Studio System was if they thought you needed to know how to dance, they damn well had you learn how to dance. Too many modern productions skip out on the little things like that.

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And if you can get past the truly awful rapping (?!) then there are some new snippets from the various action pieces in another extremely well edited trailer.

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And while it's still quite early enough for opinions to change, but Howard Charles' portray of Porthos looks like it'll be a winner.

My first exposure to the Three Musketeers was in my childhood, when I ate my first-ever 3 Musketeers candy bar...

In seriousness, I've seen The Man In The Iron Mask, and though it's been a while, I remember really loving it. That and The Mask of Zorro are top-of-the-line swashbuckling films from the 90's, to me.

Le Saboteur said:

I have a special fondness for the Disney's The Three Musketeers. It bears almost zero resemblance to that most famous of books, but I was sufficiently entertained. Oliver Platt's turn as Porthos in particular stands out, as does Michael Wincott's portrayal of Rochefort. Gabrielle Anwar could do no wrong since that Richard Grieco classic, If Looks Could Kill!

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Here Here, highly entertaining, campy fun. Don't expect more and you'll be fine.

All for one, and more for me!

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Pale Horse said:

Here Here, highly entertaining, campy fun. Don't expect more and you'll be fine.

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I'll join in on this one. Always enjoyed this film.

I especially love the American casting (and I'm including Canadians here, eh?):

1. Charlie Sheen ... Aramis (making clear that Platoon was the aberration).
2. Kiefer Sutherland ... Athos (sadly the first nail in his leading man movie career. I thought he was great but I don't think this film did good box office and rounders and whatever else he was in next didn't do much. Check this site, I always thought a lot of this guy-- like an up and coming Bogart and I'm glad TV and 24 came along to give him a good stage)
3. Chris O'Donnell ... D'Artagnan (will this role ever be filled by anything other than by a lightweight?)
4. Oliver Platt -- pre-weight gain he kills every scene he's in.

So brazenly American, they were, in a way, the Team America World Police of their day.

Great thread!!!
I agree--the Disney version was awesome, and my favorite of all. Platt was epic--as everyone has pointed out.

I also enjoyed Man in the Iron Mask. Loved the story of the older Musketeers reuniting and the tension.
The casting was stellar--Malkovich and Irons nailed it.

The disney version has a special place in my heart. I always liked that story, and the time period in general.

The Man in the Iron Mask is a good movie I agree. As someone said earlier in ther thread, the idea of old musketeers reuniting is really interesting, and the cast was superb.

the recent version I couldn't even finish. 5 min was enough for me.

Athos, Aramis, and Porthos just dropped by to inform you that this newest incarnation of The Three Musketeers now has a North American premiere date: 22nd June 2014 on BBC America! Check your local listings for the proper channel!

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Until then, the least effeminate d'Artagnan in recent memory wants to share some of the SFX that they employ on the show. You won't learn anything new if you know anything about practical effects, but it's still amusing.

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Moi aussi said:

Alatriste too.

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Yes, and one day you'll actually write about it too.

In the meantime, Viggo Mortensen stars as the titular Captain and gives his entire performance in flawless Spanish. While largely unseen outside of Spain, a Fox International DVD exists under the title: Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer. It'll play in Region 1 & 4 players, so if you're interested in this kind of stuff pick it up! If you follow a tributary up that mighty river, you'll be able to have it for about eleven bucks including portage fees.

At about $30-million it's Spain's most expensive production to date and you can see that reflected on the screen. It's a gorgeously attired and shot feature, but for a fan of of the books, it's maddeningly episodic. No matter how skilled a writer you are, you can't condense five (now six) books into a single film even if that film is approaching three hours in length.

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Now, like Dumas' Musketeers, after reading and hearing the rumors of a Capitan Alatriste teevee series, it appears to have become a reality!

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No idea on an air date yet, but the trailer does end with "Proxiamente". Or, "soon" or "shortly" en ingles. I don't suppose that it really matters since only Henry Jones VII will be able to see it. We'll have to see if it gets picked up Stateside or I'll be making a very expensive trip to the video store.

The cat playing El Capitan looks good, and I don't know who that is playing Angélica de Alquézar, but she's no Elena Anaya!

For me the Richard Lester directed version will not be topped. Michael York, oliver Reed, etc. Great film, quite true to the book and fabulous sword fights.

I thought the bbc version was dire. Reminiscent of the last bbc Robin Hood show.

Djd1 said:

For me the Richard Lester directed version will not be topped. Michael York, oliver Reed, etc. Great film, quite true to the book and fabulous sword fights.

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Somebody has to bear the weight of well tailored clothes. Which is one of my knocks against Lester's adaptation; the clothes often appear as mere ornamentation, rather than something a soldier would actually live in. I would rank it higher if it wasn't so, so clean.

Djd1 said:

I thought the BBC version was dire. Reminiscent of the last bbc Robin Hood show.

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I didn't hate Robin Hood, but it didn't make an impression upon me either. So, I didn't watch anything more than the pilot. I'll keep that in mind when it premieres next month, but The Musketeers already looks better than Robin Hood ever did.

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I've mentioned this elsewhere, but one of the things I really, really liked about the old Hollywood Studio System: they would teach you what they wanted you to know. For example, got a dance number? Here's your instructor. Cut a rug, kid. Today the lead will be filmed closeup and they'll cut away to an obvious double's legs for the footwork. It's maddening.

On a related note, the lovely Sophie Marceau (Braveheart) took a turn in the titular role of d'Artagnan's Daughter. The trailer quality is rather crappy, but Netflix has a nice streaming copy available now. Careful, though. It's in dirty, dirty French. If you can get around that, there's some wicked awesome swordplay, an engaging story, and great scenery.

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While not exactly part of the cape et epee genre, Bertrand Tarvenier did return to the period with the more recent The Princess of Montpensier. It's more along the lines of a historical drama, but the battle sequences are spectacular and the duels, oh the duels, are absolutely spot on. See the one minute and five second mark.

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Just for fun, El Capitan facing off against the Inquisition.

Lester's musketeers were dressed in acurate period costumes. These BBC ones are dressed in some quasi medieval , leather fetishists version....

Friends on the Continent can take in the musketeer's historical component with a new whiz bang exhibit at La Musée de l'Armée @ L'Hôtel National des Invalides in Paris. It'll only be there for another month and a half, so get those plane and train tickets in order! In the meantime, check out some of these swell trailers Le Musée put together.

Careful, though. They're in filthy, filthy French.

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There are even live demonstrations of fencing techniques common of the 17th Century! It's a nice touch and ties nicely into our evolving conversation on museums.

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Rather than clutter up the thread with video links, do check out the museum's YouTube page for the full series of videos if you're so inclined. Once you're finished there, do check out the Conservatoire National d'Escrime Ancienne as well.

Musée de l'Armée said:

Thanks to The Three Musketeers and the extraordinary popularization of the heroes created by Alexandre Dumas through picture books, the advertising and toy industries, and most of all the movie industry, we think we know all there is to know about musketeers, whose blue tabards, pugnacity and exploits have earned this elite unit worldwide fame. Yet, those soldiers left but very little physical evidence, paradoxically concealed to us by the work of the novelist and the legend he contributed to build.

This exhibition is dedicated to the "real" musketeers, to these young men who witnessed the splendour of the Court and the extreme violence of the wars of the seventeenth century. As historians, our exploration of the work of Alexandre Dumas extends beyond the figures of d'Artagnan and his fellow comrades-in-arms. Dumas willingly changed the chronology of events and fictionalized real episodes in order to suit the plots and the settings of his narrative. However, as we are transported into Cardinal Richelieu?s own private office, the bastions of the Siege of La Rochelle, Fouquet?s magnificent residences and the gaol of the Man in the Iron Mask, it seems perfectly clear to us that no one better understood and restored the spirit of the Grand Siècle than Dumas himself. Let him guide you throughout this journey between History and fiction, the former ? as you will discover ? sparing no fewer surprises than the latter?

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The Museum's Facebook page has a few photos of the exhibit itself, as well as the expo's official site where you can download the official English language guide!

Direct link to the booklet here. If you can go, do so! They're even screening a handful of flicks from the late twenties and early thirties!

Finally, there is a forthcoming web series that looks like it might be worth paying attention to. I first heard about it a year ago -- and promptly forgot about it -- but the team has finally released a proper trailer! Doesn't look half bad either.

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If you'd like more information about The First Musketeer, they have a YouTube page with more behind-the-scenes videos, a Facebook page with up to date news and information, as well as a proper website.

The Young Athos.



And if all pf that sounds like too much reading, here's a nice behind-the-scenes look at the production.

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Le Saboteur said:

Athos, Aramis, and Porthos just dropped by to inform you that this newest incarnation of The Three Musketeers now has a North American premiere date: 22nd June 2014 on BBC America! Check your local listings for the proper channel!

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On the eve of the 22nd the New York Times has weighed in with a favorable review. Notably, the reviewer makes note of Porthos's mixed race heritage -- and includes a link to the Harvard Review review of Tom Reis's New York Times Bestselling/Pulitzer Prize winning history about Alexander Dumas's father -- The Black Count. This is really an excellent read and I recommend it. I'm not big on European History and now that my kids are getting old enough I intend to have them read it to learn something about both the French Revolution and that crazy Napolean (not to forget slavery in the West Indies).

Le Saboteur said:

Yes, and one day you'll actually write about it too.

In the meantime, Viggo Mortensen stars as the titular Captain and gives his entire performance in flawless Spanish. While largely unseen outside of Spain, a Fox International DVD exists under the title: Alatriste: The Spanish Musketeer. It'll play in Region 1 & 4 players, so if you're interested in this kind of stuff pick it up! If you follow a tributary up that mighty river, you'll be able to have it for about eleven bucks including portage fees.

At about $30-million it's Spain's most expensive production to date and you can see that reflected on the screen. It's a gorgeously attired and shot feature, but for a fan of of the books, it's maddeningly episodic. No matter how skilled a writer you are, you can't condense five (now six) books into a single film even if that film is approaching three hours in length.

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Shame on me for not reading your posts more clearly. Alatriste has been in my Netflix Queue forever. Check these pages, I've been a huge fan of Viggo since IndianRunner and I have long been keen on getting my hands on this film. Speaking of Viggo's language skills, he runs a small press -- Perceval (Sp?) Press that publishes his art books and other interesting titles. I have an odd alternative history of the Cuban Revolution that he's published. Odd but interesting.

Joe Brody said:

I'm not big on European History and now that my kids are getting old enough I intend to have them read it to learn something about both the French Revolution and that crazy Napoleon (not to forget slavery in the West Indies).

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L'Empereur was hardly crazy/evil/whatever. Something to ponder: Had Napoleon been offered his first choice as a naval artillery officer, would things have proceeded as they did?

Also: My favorite useless fact from Robespierre's Reign of Terror: When the guillotine and the firing squad became too slow for executions, enemies of France were routinely lined up and executed with grape shot.

Hail Her Majesty!

Joe Brody said:

Shame on me for not reading your posts more clearly. Alatriste has been in my Netflix Queue forever.

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I do attempt to be clear, but you might want to purchase Alatriste. I don't think Netflix will ever acquire a copy. For that matter, I'm still awaiting solid information on the teevee series. Since the initial trailer, there hasn't been much in the way of news. There have been some pictures from the set, but a premiere date has been lacking.

Senor Perez-Reverte did Tweet this picture a while ago featuring Aitor Luna and Marcos Ruiz as El Capitan and Inigo Balboa respectively.



There was also this snap of Gualterio Malatesta.



More here.


If you missed the exhibit at Les Invalides, you have nearly two more years to prep yourself for The Three Musketeers Musical Spectacular's debut at the Palais du Sport in 2016!

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Le Saboteur said:

L'Empereur was hardly crazy/evil/whatever.

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Dude invaded Egypt. Case closed. Unless you want to go for mentally deficient in lieu of crazy. I can work with that.

Joe Brody said:

Dude invaded Egypt. Case closed. Unless you want to go for mentally deficient in lieu of crazy. I can work with that.

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Careful. Your lack of experience with Napoleonic history is showing. While I would dearly enjoy spending the next several hours addressing your misconceptions regarding Le Grande Armee d'Orient's Egyptian escapades, this isn't a.) the thread for it and b.) I really don't feel like expending the energy.

Though, one finds the most interesting ephemera in previously read books. I just came across a receipt from the Bar Hemingway @ the Ritz, four postcards that should have been mailed five years ago, and a business card for something called The Panorama-Kan of Meiji Japan. Sounds like a lecture I forgot to attend.

But to get briefly back on topic, through my own meagre translation skills I was able to determine that principle photography on Las Aventuras del Capitan Alatriste only ended in January of this year, and that they've accumulated ~145 hours of footage! That's a lot of editing! I'm still not sure what direction they're going with the production, but telenovelas typically have several hundred episodes before they close up shop.

So far though, the production values look great. They've really nailed the look of 17th Century Spain.

Le Saboteur said:

Careful. Your lack of experience with Napoleonic history is showing. While I would dearly enjoy spending the next several hours addressing your misconceptions regarding Le Grande Armee d'Orient's Egyptian escapades, this isn't a.) the thread for it and b.) I really don't feel like expending the energy.

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I gotta call you on that. Start a new thread if you must. I welcome the education. You don't have to be versed in the nuance of Napoleonic history to appreciate no matter how you slice it, the Battle of the Nile ends with the French fleet sunk by Nelson. The only reason why the French Navy was in Egypt in the first place was because of Napoleon. Period. Command is a b****.

Le Saboteur said:

L'Empereur was hardly crazy/evil/whatever. Something to ponder: Had Napoleon been offered his first choice as a naval artillery officer, would things have proceeded as they did?

Also: My favorite useless fact from Robespierre's Reign of Terror: When the guillotine and the firing squad became too slow for executions, enemies of France were routinely lined up and executed with grape shot.

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Sorry for the thread drift - and I do welcome any remakes of the Musketeers,

But Le Saboteur, I do dabble in selling historic French artifacts. I actually have a bunch of vintage French rifles! They are in amazing condition. Never fired, and only dropped twice.....

Ok back to the thread...

Le Saboteur said:

For that matter, I'm still awaiting solid information on the teevee series. Since the initial trailer, there hasn't been much in the way of news. There have been some pictures from the set, but a premiere date has been lacking.

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It?s been almost eight full months since that lo-o-ong trailer for Las Aventuras del Capitan Alatriste appeared on ?net. During that time it production appears to have gone into complete radio silence; aside from the odd picture or two, nothing appears to have been released or mentioned. And the show never hit Spanish airwaves.

There still isn?t a premiere date listed, but rumors are now coalescing around a January/February release. In anticipation of that release the production team behind the series, Beta Films, has released a swanky new trailer! Coming in at a very brief twenty-five seconds there?s only a smidgen of footage, but it continues to have great potential ? the costumes look great, the fights appear well choreographed, and, perhaps most importantly, it avoids the ?slick? appearance common to telenovelas.

Unfortunately it?s still only set to transmit in Spain (where the rain falls mainly on the plain), but Beta Films? version of The Borgias was picked up by Netflix. There?s an established relationship, so it?s possible that it?ll come Stateside at least; otherwise, we?ll have to hope for a home video release or on-line stream.

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A largely incomplete web site has gone live as well. So far there's a synopsis and a hefty character gallery, but for some inexplicable reason they want you to log into their site in order to watch the trailer. Check the embedded one above instead.

Series Synopsis said:

In an age when life hangs between two swords

Set in 1623, two years before Alexandre Dumas' Three Musketeers, and based on the best-selling novels by Arturo Perez Reverte (The Ninth Gate), we relive the historically true-to-fact "Spanish Match" through the eyes of master swordsman and street-wise soldier of fortune Diego Alatriste, nicknamed "the Captain".

After years of futile negotiations, Charles, Prince of Wales and his trusted counsel, the Duke of Buckingham, travel incognito to Madrid to enforce the prince's wedding with the Spanish infanta, María Ana of Austria, sister to King Philip IV. A "match" opposed by seemingly insurmountable forces: the holy inquisition and the Grand Inquisitor himself, Emilio Bocanegra, as well as Cardinal Richelieu, infamous counselor to King Louis XIII of France. Propelled by the sheer lust for power in the guise of religious righteousness, no intrigue is ruthless, no bloodshed vile enough to prevent the planned alliance of these two super-powers of the times, Spain and England. But destiny is decided not only in the palaces, but in the dirty, low-down streets of Madrid - the home of Diego Alatriste and his 14-year-old apprentice Iñigo de Balboa.

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Parry & thrust your way over here for the full site.

According the site, the first season's run will consist of eighteen 50-minute episodes! Fortunately for us, it appears that the producers are focusing on the events of the first novel and avoiding the movie's only real pitfall. It tried to cram too much into a limited running time, and by doing so sucked out much of the movie's heart.

Stop by the taberna for a rundown on the principle players and their motivations.




Did you catch The Musketeers during its original run BBC America? If not, it's currently available at better retailers everywhere! I have yet to see an official release date for Series 2 yet, but there are rumors of a January premiere. Which would make sense. It is the same time that Series 1 aired in Blighty. The series has also made the move to a later 9pm air time that has caused some fan speculation about a shift in tone -- perhaps more violent action and/or sex.

Colin Salmon (Keen Eddie, Arrow, Die Another Day) will guest star as Tariq, a Moor with a shadowy past on the run from something in Spain. Hopefully he'll appear in a more ensemble role rather than a one-off appearance!



And your moment of... "expert" critiquing. To be expounded upon later.

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This is how complicated matchlocks and wheelocks were to fire in the 17th Century. Flintlocks really advanced the rate of fire, reliability, and safety of the riflemen.