Three Musketeers (1999 Video) User Reviews

Well Done.

[jrjcat · 7/10 · 13 March 2001]

This is one of the best and one of the most faithful productions of the Dumas novel I have ever seen.It's a filmed 145 minute video stageplay performed by adult actors and actresses of the Northwest Children's Theatre in Portland,Oregon.It starts out with D'Artagnan leaving his home and family in Gascony.Finding trouble along the way to Paris by meeting up with the Cardinal Richelieu's Agents.Then meeting the Three Musketeers by accident and immediately becoming their ally.Later he becomes involved with the Queen's seamstress and gets involved with court intrigues and gets the Three Musketeers involved as well.To save the Queen's honor they have dangerous confrontations with Cardinal Richelieu's Agents Rochefort and Milady.I won't give away what happens but those who know the novel will love this version.If you have seen other versions like the 1948 Gene Kelly or the 1974 Michael York version you will appreciate this one.This is the whole novel portrayed in this one not just part of the novel as in some of the 1930's versions.I will say that the villains Geoffrey Alm (Rochefort),Deirdre Atkinson (Milady) and Tobias Andersen (Cardinal Richelieu) and Brian Russell (the Queen's lover The Duke of Buckingham).They are the ones who stole this show.A production well done.

Well Done

[jrjcat · 7/10 · 13 March 2001]

This is one of the most faithful adaptations of the Alexandre Dumas novel.It's a video stageplay not a movie.The actors and actresses are from the stage.They're adults who work for the Northwest Children's Theatre.This is a Global stage production.This version covers the entire Dumas novel from D'Artagnan's leaving Gascony to join the musketeers.On his way to Paris to enlist in the musketeers he encounters Cardinal Richelieu's two deadliest agents the dastardly Rochefort and the beautiful countess Milady de Winter.From then on he has encounters with the Three Musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis and becomes their new companion and then learns of Cardinal Richelieu's plots against the monarchy and of Queen Anne's indiscretion.Court intrigue,war and crimes also figure prominently in this story.The actor playing D'Artagnan a stage actor named Dana Young does his fencing scenes well a little inexperienced dramatically but he is the right age for the part (18-21). Brian Russell does a great job as the Duke of Buckingham reminds one of actor Billy Zane.Deirdre Atkinson,Geoffrey Alm and Tobias Anderson give wonderful performances as Milady,Rochefort and Cardinal Richelieu.The villains stole the show in this version.I will say that Tobias Anderson's Cardinal Richelieu physically reminds me of how late actor Ray Walston would have looked if he had played the part of the Cardinal.This version had good fencing and good costumery.For purists of the Alexandre Dumas novel you need to see this version.For those who loved the Michael York 1974-75 productions and the Gene Kelly 1948 version you need to see this one.This is the complete novel in 145 minutes.This is also a must for literature teachers to show their students.If you're a Three Musketeer lover as I am you need to see this one.

More faithful to Dumas than most adaptations!

[FromBookstoFilm · 8/10 · 20 February 2007]

Spoilers Ahead! I have seen this version several times. Well written adaptation but 3of the main characters and a minor character were terribly miscast.Dana Young has the youth of D'Artagnan but unfortunately not the looks or ability to carry off the part. Constance not the Constance of the book. Aramis was to poofed up and too tall for the part. The King was the worst portrayal of Louis XIII to date excluding Frank Morgan in the 1948 MGM Three Musketeers. Athos character was well acted but one thing was too obvious the gap in his upper front teeth. Aside from that he had the character down pat. Geoffrey Alm's Rochefort was truly villainous but he didn't resemble the Novel's Rochefort at all but he is memorable as the first bald headed Rochefort and his costume was more 16th century than 17th. Tobias Anderson doesn't look anything like the real Cardinal Richelieu but he played the part well and he does bear a resemblance to Ray Walston. When I see Tobias Anderson I think of Ray Walston as Mr.Hand in the Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Deirdra Atkinson's characterization of Milady excellent. Her performance was in the Faye Dunaway Icy Milady vein. Brian Russell,one of the more handsome Duke of Buckingham's. Tall and gorgeous! Queen Anne played by Kate Donovan excellent much like Angela Lansbury's portrayal in the 1948 MGM version. This adaptation borrowed much from both the Three and Four Musketeers D'Artagnan kills Rochefort at the convent and Milady herself stabs Buckingham to death like Lana Turner did in the 1948 MGM version you don't see that in the 1948 you see her going to Buckingham's room after having just fatally stabbed Constance and later Buckingham is found dead by his servant. All in all a fine production. Costumes were good.Music good.Sets could have used work! It's a must for any Musketeer collector. It compares well with the 1948 MGM Film,The two part Franco-Italian 1961 production,1966 BBC miniseries and Richard Lester's 1974 and 1975 films.