The Three Musketeers (1948) User Reviews (63)

exciting spectacle from MGM

[blanche-2 · 8/10 · 15 February 2008]

MGM pulled out all the stops for this 1948 version of "The Three Musketeers." Filmed in color and directed by George Sidney, it has a large, all-star cast consisting of Gene Kelly, Lana Turner, June Allyson, Van Heflin, Cornell Wilde, Vincent Price, Angela Lansbury, Robert Coote, Frank Morgan, Keenan Wynn and John Sutton. Gene Kelly is D'Artagnan, who arrives to join the Musketeers and ends up having to fight three duels in a day with Athos (Heflin), Porthos (Young) and Aramis (Coote). They all wind up friends.

The Musketeers' first assignment is to steal the Queen's jewels back for her - a gift of twelve diamond studs from her husband (Morgan). She has given them to her lover, the Duke of Buckingham, but now needs them back to wear in nine days' time. Cardinal Richlieu (Price), anxious to reveal the secret relationship between the two, dispatches his evil mistress, Lady De Winter (Turner) to steal two of the studs. Richlieu wants France to declare war against England and completely destroy the King's powers.

The Musketeers have to get the jewels from the Duke and return with them to Paris. With two diamond studs missing, they have an added task of picking up two replacements from a jeweler and getting them to the Queen in time to wear them at a banquet. In the process of all of this, D'Artagnan falls in love with the Queen's lady-in-waiting, Constance (Allyson).

All of the acting is wonderful, with the role of Lady De Winter expanded from the original book. Lana Turner is perfect as De Winter - gorgeous, cool, irresistible and deadly. The scenes between Constance and De Winter toward the end of the film are among the best in the movie, very suspenseful (and different from the book). Turner to me looks carefully made up to hide some extra pounds, not to mention being tightly corsetted. The movie was filmed right after Lana had broken up with the great love of her life, Tyrone Power, which may have had something to do with it.

Van Heflin is sympathetic and strong as Athos, who has a past with De Winter and still loves her, and Vincent Price makes an excellent Cardinal Richlieu. Gene Kelly is the ideal D'Artagnan, and his casting is very clever, giving him a chance to show the great athleticism that contributed so much to his dancing. His swordplay is amazing, really making the swordfights entertaining. Though the role has very serious moments, Kelly gives it a lightness and humor when needed. Especially fun is the scene where D'Artagnan, in the dark, poses as Lady De Winter's lover.

There are, as mentioned, many versions of this Dumas classic. This one is vividly entertaining, colorful and energetic, with a very attractive cast, good direction, and a thrilling score. Highly recommended.

Spectacular swordplay in musical style that results to be a superior version of the classic Dumas novel

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 16 May 2010]

M-G-M presents Dumas' exciting story of love and adventure ,¨The three musketeers¨ . For the first time is adapted in the greatest Hollywood splendor , the complete romance , the historical characters, the full novel just as Alexandre Dumas write it . It is packed with comedy , derring-do , intrigue, a love story , action , drama and moving swordplay . An awesome casting and lavish production shot in Metro Goldwyn Studios make for a fairly amusement swashbuckler . This is the classic version of the Dumas's novel with a handsome Gene Kelly in a brave role as a young and handsome soldier of fortune , a dashing , audacious lover . This is a slight and high budgeted retelling about the durable Alexandre Dumas's novel with all-star-cast . This delightful adaptation based on Alexandro Dumas classic novel starts with the youngster D'Artagnan who arrives in Paris to find Mister Treville(Reginald Owen) , chief of Musketeers . But he meets three two-fisted Musketeers , Athos (Van Heflin) , a rollicking adventurer , fighting to live and living to love , Porthos (Gig Young) and Aramis (Robert Coote) . DÁrtagnan to be aware they are Musketeers and is invited to unite them in their objective to struggle against guards of Cardinal Richelieu , his deputy Rochefort (Ian Hunter) , and an astute secret agent named Milady De Winter (Lana Turner) who is lovely as a jewel , deadly as a dagger the wickedest woman in all Christendom . Meanwhile , D'Artagnan falls in love with a gorgeous young named Constance (June Allyson), daughter an innkeeper , she is a golden-haired beauty entangled in a web of treachery and intrigue . Furthermore , there is developed an intrigue between Luis XIII (Frank Morgan ) , Queen Anna of Austria (Angela Lansbury) , dazzling as her gilded palace for her , men dared a thousand perils , and Duke of Buckingham (John Sutton) ; and , of course ,the nasty Richelieu (Vincent Price) . The musketeers join forces for royal vengeance with the shout : ¨One for all and all for one¨.

It's a magnificent rendition from the immortal novel in big budget and breathtaking scenarios . The picture contains rousing action , intrigue , romantic adventure , mayhem and a lot of fencing . Entertaining swashbuckling with lavish production by Pandro S. Berman , glamorous gowns and luxurious sets by Oscar winning Cedric Gibbons . Sympathetic performances by main star cast and enjoyable secondary cast ; as the marvelous main actors are completed by stellar support cast full of classical and veteran players as Vicent Price , Reginald Owen , Keenan Wynn , Frank Morgan and several others . Colorful cinematography in the splendor of Technicolor by Robert Planck . Evocative musical score by Herbert Stothart based on Tchaikowski themes . Lush production design is well reflected on the luxurious interiors and exteriors filmed at Hollywood . The motion picture was well realized by George Sidney (Scaramouche , that he subsequently made in similar style). This classy story is subsequently remade on several versions , firstly take on this classic turns out to be the following : 1921 silent version by Fred Niblo with Douglas Fairbanks . And going on 1935 adaptation by Rowland V. Lee with Walter Abel and Paul Lukas ; 1973 amusing version by Richard Lester with Michael York , Oliver Reed and Raquel Welch ; 1993 modern adaptation by Stephen Herek with Charlie Sheen , Kiefer Sutherland , Oliver Platt and Chris O'Donnell , and 2001 rendition by Peter Hyams with Justin Chambers , Mena Suvari and Tim Roth , among others. ¨The three Musketeers¨ is an outstanding and entertaining adaptation of the classy that will appeal to the costumer genre buffs and it results to be an excellent adaptation with big budget based on the classic tale .

Colorful Rendering of Dumas' Tale.

[rmax304823 · 6/10 · 3 June 2008]

D'artagnan (Gene Kelly) is a feisty country bumpkin who manages to join the company of three devil-may-care musketeers (Van Heflin, Gig Young, and Robert Coote). The four find themselves up to their feather plumes in intrigue, romance, and action. Madame de Winter (Lana Turner) is a treacherous murderer. Constance (June Allyson) is a virginal Queen's maid. The King is supposed to rule France but Richelieu (Vincent Price) is the eminence rouge behind the throne -- nasty, power-hungry, and manipulative. Both ladies are killed, but France is saved from something-or-other and the four musketeers get what they want.

I managed to follow the business about the diamond studs well enough, I think, but I got lost later on. There's never much doubt about who is good and who is evil, though. Richelieu, by this time, was a Cardinal in the Catholic church but he's identified only as a politician -- I guess for obvious reasons. He's obviously on the bad side because he wants to go to war. It must be the Thirty Years War. I've forgotten whatever I learned in high school about the Thirty Years War. It had to do with Catholics against Protestants and turned political over time and there was a great deal of suffering among innocent people. That's all I know. I'm only happy it wasn't the HUNDRED Years War because I remember even less about that one.

The first half of the film is sort of fun, in a family-oriented way. (This is MGM in its hay day.) Gene Kelly overacts outrageously, as he did during the send up of silent movies in "Singin' in the Rain," but it somehow seems appropriate, since everybody seems full of ham. And of course it's always exhilarating to see Kelly jumping from roof to roof, swinging on ropes, and fighting with furniture during sword play. (He didn't do his own stunts on horseback, though. He couldn't ride well, there having been so few chances to gallop a horse through Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when he was growing up there.) Aramis and Porthos have little to do or say in the film. Only Athos has pathos. Van Heflin's role is mostly dramatic and he handles it well. Lana Turner's wicked charm has always eluded me. And June Allyson is no Queen's Maid. She's Jimmy Stewart's devoted and patient wife. The part would have suited her well if the film had been turned into a musical -- "The Dueling Cavalier", maybe.

The costumes will coagulate your eyeballs. The plumes, the flowing capes, the floppy boots and hats. And what colors! From Chinese red, through chartreuse, to powder blue.

Kids will enjoy the first half especially, since it's mostly constructed of fights, horse play, and wisecracks among the musketeers. It doesn't try to get serious until the second half, which deals mostly with tragic love stories bolstered or undone by one of Tchaikovsky's symphonies.

Entertaining, if a bit unfocused.

[gridoon · 7/10 · 19 December 2002]

It starts out as a broad slapstick comedy, and when Gene Kelly has the opportunity to showcase his acrobatic skills, it's good old-fashioned swashbuckling fun. But after the first 20 minutes it turns into mostly heavy drama, and the swordfights are actually few and far between. The problem with the script is that, trying to cover all the characters and subplots of the book, it has no time to develop them enough, and the story lacks a strong central focus. At times you wonder exactly what each person is trying to achieve, and where some of the characters you know are basic have gone (the main example: Richelieu, excellently played by Vincent Price, has only about three of four scenes in the entire film). Still, it's a good-looking, entertaining production. (**1/2)

A Classic Tale Done Justice

[André-7 · 9/10 · 28 February 2002]

The Hollywood of the classic studio system is not known for its kindness in adapting great literary works. Often overwrought or oversimplified, cut down or bastardized, the movie versions rarely capture the essence or the form of the books they pretend to adapt.

This one is exceptional. Both the pathos and the verve of the Dumas novel (itself a roman-feuilleton - a serial- which it is rumored Dumas didn't actually write) are wonderfully captured, and Kelly is the dream D'Artagnan. Every bit of physicality and fun that he brought to his choreographies in the musicals is used beautifully to bring grace and energy to the duels. The humor of the star is used quite brilliantly. Compare the toungue-in-cheek pastiche THE DUELLING CAVALIER in SINGING IN THE RAIN with this earlier work. Look up a few of his directorial efforts (The Cheyenne Social Club) with the humor here.

Each fan of Dumas will have his favorite version of THE THREE MUSKETEERS, but we all must agree this is a noble and (overall) successful effort.

Stylish but not flawless Dumas adaptation

[dkncd · 7/10 · 14 August 2007]

"The Three Musketeers" is an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel of the same name. The film features sweeping scenes, bright costumes and classical themes. Gene Kelly does well in an energetic performance as D'Artagnan. The rest of the cast is solid as well, particularly Lana Turner and Vincent Price as the scheming villains.

The film features a number of sword fights which are well staged, but become repetitive. The filmmakers tried to balance the action scenes with the intrigue of Dumas' novel. This was welcome, but I found the film had tedious stretches and didn't completely capture the excitement of the novel.

a delight

[planktonrules · 8/10 · 4 June 2006]

While there have been many versions of the THREE MUSKETEERS, this is my very favorite thanks to wonderful writing, acting and cinematography. I just love the incredibly vivid colors of the 1940s Technicolor and this is perhaps the best example of this type of color film that emphasized very bright primary colors--more intense than real life but perfect for showy spectacles like this.

The film begins with Gene Kelly (as D'Artagnon) heading to Paris and accidentally insulting each of the three musketeers. He is challenged to all three to a duel, but the duels are cut short by the troops of the evil Cardinal Richelieu. Then, the story takes off and the intrigue begins.

The film is a perfect example of the "full MGM treatment"--top production values, crisp writing, excellent direction and the best ensemble cast around. See it and have a ball. If you don't, you must be dead.

Surprisingly successful Dumas rewrite

[Igenlode Wordsmith · 1 June 2003]

The true test of a filmed version of a famous novel is not how close the action is to the plot of the book - it's whether it's faithful to the spirit of the original, and above all, whether it *works*. I didn't think casting Gene Kelly as a non-singing, non-dancing D'Artagnan would work: it does. I didn't think censoring the religious references to suit the US market would work - it does. I didn't think this could possibly rival the 1974 Lester/Macdonald Fraser version... well, I'm still not sure about that one, but it's an unexpectedly close call.

Without any question, the outstanding performance in this film is that of Gene Kelly. His athleticism, unsurprisingly, is marvellous, his swordplay is dazzling - but most importantly, as an actor his characterization of the impetuous, susceptible, hot-headed but good-hearted young Gascon is spot on the mark. He plays the part with a humour and charm that leave us likewise loving and laughing in his wake, and the only character with a chance of upstaging him is that truly preposterous yellow horse... a piece of type-casting if ever I saw one!

Perhaps the most disappointing performance, in contrast, is Van Heflin as Athos, the high-minded musketeer who drinks to find oblivion from a dark secret in his past. This Athos is a sullen peasant rather than a tragic nobleman, perhaps because the scriptwriters chose to demote him from Comte to Baron de la Fere. He has none of the charisma that should have been brought to the part, and it's often hard to understand why his three companions put up with him.

The fight scenes are excellently staged, as is to be expected in a precursor of 'Scaramouche', but I personally did feel that they went on for a little too long. Likewise, Anne of Austria was wonderfully imperious, but not as beautiful as the legend would have her. Constance Bonancieux, by contrast, gets a much larger part in this version than in Dumas' novel - and a somewhat less sleazy relationship with the young lodger - and makes the most of it.

The pivotal change in the plot during Milady's stay in England features Constance to a large extent, and is in my opinion actually very effective. The fact that even those of us who know the source material inside out have no idea *how* the inevitable is going to happen increases the tension enormously, and the change of emphasis to the relationship between the two women, rather than the seductive act we have seen several times before, gives both actresses a fresh chance to shine.

Richelieu, shorn of his Cardinal's title to avoid Church offence, has relatively little to do in this version, and D'Artagnan's nemesis Rochefort barely appears at all, though both actors make the most of what screen time they have. There is an effective scene at the end (again, owing nothing to Dumas) where Richelieu reminds the King of his dominion as the power behind the throne, only to save face in a graceful manoeuvre as Louis XIII temporarily asserts himself: we are quite certain that the King will soon be back under his thumb.

Overall, I was very impressed by the way in which this film captured the roistering, sometimes raucous, sometimes melodramatic spirit of its source material. Reading other people's comments about the silent version starring Douglas Fairbanks, I only wish I were likely to get the chance to see that as well!

A mixed musketeers

[jjnxn-1 · 6/10 · 13 October 2013]

Boy is this thing all over the place. Sumptous to be sure it has the MGM touch in spades as far as lavishness goes but an inconsistent tone and some terrible casting choices.

The good-Vincent Price and Lana Turner are perfect in their roles with Lana looking astonishing in some beautiful and some ridiculous costumes. Angela Lansbury, wasted playing Queen Anne, campaigned for the role of Milady; in hindsight it seems incredible that Mayer said no, how great and truly evil she could have been but Lana was a huge star at the time and she is silkily wicked so no real harm was done to the film. June Allyson may not have been the ideal choice but she doesn't disgrace herself as Constance.

The average-Van Heflin, Gig Young and Richard Coote are merely adequate as the musketeers and while Frank Morgan is always a welcome sight he is just so wrong as the king of France.

The bad-Gene Kelly as d'Artagnan, and very bad he is, of course he handles the sword fighting episodes well with a dancers grace. It's his over eager and downright dreadful line readings and reactions that are painful and irritating to watch. Whenever he is on screen the movie stops dead in it's tracks. A very mixed bag.

Lana Turner, the memorable menace of Dumas' evil character...

[Nazi_Fighter_David · 9/10 · 29 August 1999]

When D'Artagnan (Gene Kelly), a brilliant swordsman, left his Gasgon village, in 1625, with a letter to Monsieur De Treville, captain of the King's Musketeers (Reginald Owen), he didn't expect to have in his first day, three duels with the three best swordsmen in Paris: Athos (Van Heflin), Porthos (Gig Young), and Aramis (Robert Coote).

But as the duels were forbidden in Paris by Cardinal Richelieu, Chief Minister to King Louis XIII, D'Artagnan had to challenge, first, Jussac, captain of the Guard (Saul Gorss).

The duel, under Tchaikowsky themes, was hilarious and explosive, with great acrobatic skills, good for lots of laugh, specially when D'Artagnan didn't kill the nobleman but he sent him to Richelieu well humiliated "trousers dropping." This amusing scene opens the door of an eternal friendship between D'Artagnan and the three famous Musketeers...

Cardinal Richelieu (Vincent Price) was unpopular, but extremely powerful... He was an ambitious man who wanted war against England and the complete destruction of the King's powers...

King Louis XIII (Frank Morgan) opposed Richelieu's plan for war with England... But the Cardinal, who well knows everything that transpires or has transpired in France, discovers that George Villiers, the Duke of Buckingham (John Sutton) – in love with the Queen - was in possession of a set of diamonds studs, twelve studs to be exact, that were delivered to him only last night by the elegant Queen Anne (Angela Lansbury) in love with the Duke...

Richelieu asks his mistress, lady De Winter (Lana Turner), to travel to England and to steal two of them... His plan is to demonstrate Buckingham's relation with the Queen, in order to make the poor King "lessen," and "lesser."

The mission of the Musketeers is to return the Jewels to Paris in nine days time, as the Queen has to wear them at the banquet...

Lana Turner gives her finest performance as the cool Lady De Winter, the most notorious woman of France, that Duke of Buckingham even couldn't resist... This lethal lady is rather a peripheral character but so forbidding a creature is she as she lies, steals and murders her way from France to England, from palace to boudoir, that she makes Lucrecia Borgia look like Mary Poppins... Turner's character remained Evil Incarnate from the beginning to the end and the decision to sustain her satanic nature throughout was a great asset to the film and true to the spirit of the original Dumas delineation...

Kelly's D'Artagnan was just as Dumas portrayed him–a 17th-century country bumpkin who combines cockiness with courage, ingenuity and a fine gift of swordsmanship... His first meeting with the three musketeers; their consternation at finding that each is to fight a duel with the newcomer at almost the same hour; their sudden enduring friendship with the country lad; D'Artagnan's romance with Constance (June Allyson), the Queen's lady-in-waiting-all this leads into a rapid succession of adventures on land and sea, in tavern, court and boudoir, as they slash their way through a dozen ambushes to save the Queen's honor and to foil the scheming Prime minister and his evil accomplice in their plot to dethrone the King...

Van Heflin is powerful enough in his colorful role as Athos, a man in love with a woman who was evil, selfish, death, poison, a lady whom he don't dare to forgive...

Vincent Price is exciting as the strong Cardinal... I remember him whispering to the weak King quietly at the end of the film: 'I am the State your Majesty. I am France!'

Loaded with spectacular Swordsplay, and with excellent action scenes, and under George Sidney's good direction, this colorful swashbuckling adventure romance is visually great entertainment...

Still Fun

[Tweetienator · 7/10 · 11 February 2021]

Still a spectacular and fun movie and an adaption of the work by Alexandre Dumas that got the spirit of the writings. The cast with Gene Kelly, Lana Turner and Vincent Price among others is superb. Still a movie to dream and one of my favorites regarding the adventures of D'Artagnan. Athos, Aramis and Porthos. Top movie for the whole family.

Intelligent Version of Dumas's Classic Adventure starring Heflin, Price & Kelly

[silverscreen888 · 8/10 · 4 August 2008]

"The Three Musketeers" is unarguably an adventure film of great physical beauty and quite a bit of narrative power. It stands just after "The Best Years of Our lives" as one of the first Technicolor "A" films that broadened the palette used by filmmakers to include richness as well as, say, western or Arabian settings in adventure movies. To director George Sidney goes much of the credit for the film's swiftness of pace and attractive visual elements. With cinematography by Robert Planck, art direction by Malcolm Brown and the great Cedric Gibbons, elaborate set decorations by Edwin B, Willis and Henry Grace, and costumes by legendary Walter Plunkett, the film moves from rustic scenes to sumptuous interiors via scenes of swordplay that are often stunning. Add makeup by Jack Dawn, hair designs by Larry Germain and Sydney Guilaroff, sound by Douglas Shearer and Herbert Stothart's original music and use of Tschaikovsy themes--and the result I suggest is a quite satisfying viewing experience. But the plot has something more, perhaps, as well. The original Alexandre Dumas's (the father) storyline as treated by Robert Ardrey's screenplay comes out as an intelligent but somewhat satirical-cynical look at life in the France of the time of Cardinal Richelieu and King Louis XIII. In adopting an objective, light-hearted tone, similar to that in "North By Northwest', the producer Pandro S. Berman and the writers gain for the film the ability to do memorable comedy as well as occasionally far-more-serious scenes. What is lost in concentrated dramatic power is made up fin such an adventure if the actors are able to invest its goings on with the seriousness of their taking it seriously, bringing it to life professionally. I suggest that in the lavish production, this level of artistry was almost everywhere achieved. The large cast features such attractive artists as Angela Lansbury as the Queen, John Sutton as Buckingham, June Allyson very-well-used as Constance, Robert Warwick as D'Artagnan's father, Keenan Wynn as Planchet the servant, Reginald Owen and Ian Keith, Patricia Medina and Richard Wyler. In featured roles, one can enjoy stellar work by Robert Coote as Aramis, Gig Young as Porthos, Frank Morgan as the King and Gene Kelly as an athletic and often lyrical D'Artagnan. But the acting honors in the film belong to actor worthies Van Helfin, who dominates in the role of the hard-drinking Athos and Vincent Price, who makes immense amounts out of what he is allowed to do as an understated Richelieu. The curious casting is that of attractive Lana Turner as Lady De Winter; she is not capable yet of classical work, but she suggests some of her part's potential depths. This famous story of the young Gascon joining the three best swordsmen in France and learning more about life than he had bargained for is here given as much power perhaps as it can handle; and rich scenes of sword battles, interpersonal misunderstandings and a sense of controlled importance makes, I suggest, the story's dark moments memorable and the fun more important than it might have been. I find this to be a masterly understatement of a truly classic adventure.

They Liked His Style

[bkoganbing · 7/10 · 23 October 2009]

Gene Kelly's athleticism which is usually on full display in his musical films is given full reign in MGM's big budget adaption of The Three Musketeers, a tale very often told on the big screen. Personally I don't think the movies ever got it quite right, especially when none of the three best actors suited to play D'Artagnan, Errol Flynn, Tyrone Power, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. never got a crack it on the big screen.

The Seventies had an all star epic filming of the Alexandre Dumas classic, but I'm betting that Richard Lester so wished he had all his players under contract to the same studio as Louis B. Mayer did. Look down the cast list, Mayer barely went outside his studio for a player.

I don't think I have to relate any of the plot, one of the most familiar in the world. Gene Kelly fresh off the farm from Gascony with the usual bumptiousness associated with folks from that area of France gets himself in hot water with three Musketeers of the King's personal guard Van Heflin, Gig Young, and Robert Coote. But before fighting any duels with them all three join forces to defeat and send packing some of Cardinal Richelieu's guards. The other three like Kelly's style and he's a musketeer from then on.

That particular duel is choreographed as Kelly would do in any of his numbers in his musicals. It's so good I expected a song to be coming forth almost any minute. This is where Kelly the dancer and choreographer gets to shine.

The rest of the cast is of high quality with Frank Morgan as King Louis XIII, Angela Lansbury as Queen Anne of Austria, Vincent Price as the clever Richelieu, Ian Keith as Price's attack dog Rochefort, Lana Turner as Milady DeWinter who attacks in other ways for Richelieu, June Allyson who's a little too much like her Americanized girl next door as Constance for my taste, John Sutton as the English Prime Minister the Duke of Buckingham, and Keenan Wynn as the loyal if not too bright servant of D'Artagnan.

Milady DeWinter is one of the most evil women in literature and Lana Turner was up to the job. Watching her it's like she channeled back her performance in The Postman Always Rings Twice for this role.

I was curious however that I could find no reference in the film to Richelieu being a Cardinal. In the film he's simply referred to as Richelieu. Note there is no trace of any clerical garb on Vincent Price. My guess is that MGM didn't want to offend the Catholic Church by having a prince of said church shown as the villain. Also as the Cold War was going into deep freeze, Pius XII and his church were seen as an anti-Communist bulwark.

Though I wish that one of the three stars I cited above had ever gotten to play D'Artagnan, The Three Musketeers from MGM in 1948 is not a bad version and Gene Kelly's fans will enjoy it immensely.

Its cast and Oscar nominated Color Cinematography mark this adaptation

[jacobs-greenwood · 5/10 · 6 December 2016]

Directed by George Sidney, with a screenplay by Robert Ardrey that was based on the Alexandre Dumas novel, this particular screen adaptation of the famous story earned an Academy Award nomination for its Color Cinematography (Robert H. Planck's second of four unrewarded Oscar nominations in that category) and is notable for lead Gene Kelly's acrobatic portrayal of D'Artagnan, the fourth musketeer. Otherwise, it's an average action adventure romance drama (swashbuckler) with a highly recognizable cast that seems less than what it could have been.

Top billed Lana Turner plays the wicked Lady de Winter, M'lady, June Allyson plays Constance Bonacieux (the role that Raquel Welch so deliciously made her own in the 1973 remake), Van Heflin seems particularly well-suited to play Athos, the king's musketeer who has reason to drink heavily per his past with M'lady, Angela Lansbury plays Queen Anne, who relies on Constance to use beau D'Artagnan to retrieve her jewels from England's Duke of Buckingham (John Sutton) to keep secret their love from her husband King Louis XIII (Frank Morgan) of France when Prime Minister Richelieu (Vincent Price), who would love to have war between the countries, contrives to expose the clandestine relationship.

Keenan Wynn plays D'Artagnan's trusty servant Planchet. Gig Young appears the least among the musketeers as Porthos, who receives a wound to his tush, and Robert Coote plays the dandy ladies man musketeer, Aramis. Reginald Owen plays the King's Captain of the Musketeers, de Treville. After brash young D'Artagnan, at his father's (Robert Warwick, uncredited) urging, goes to Paris to become a musketeer and soon finds himself scheduled to fight duels with the three titled characters, Ian Keith plays his first real sword opponent, de Rochefort, Richelieu's primary swordsman. Patricia Medina plays M'lady's assistant and spy, Kitty. Byron Foulger appears uncredited as Bonacieux, D'Artagnan's landlord and Constance's father.

ALMOST THERE BUT NOT QUITE...!

[masonfisk · 6/10 · 11 March 2019]

This is the second version, I believe, of the beloved Alexandre Dumas novel starring Van Heflin, Gig Young & a somewhat miscast Gene Kelly. Although I admit this story never intrigued me growing up (I tended to gravitate to superheroes or figures in sci-fi) it does deliver the action goods if that's what you get out of it but by having Kelly on board, who admittedly wanted to mount a musical version of Cyrano De Bergerac & used this vehicle as a testing ground of sorts (according to the TCM intro), he feels right at home jumping & leaping from stage left to stage right but when he had to deliver the overripe dialogue, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd burst into peals of laughter between takes. Only the supporting roles, essayed by Lana Turner, Vincent Price & Frank Morgan (the Wizard of Oz himself) fare better since they knew what level this kind of material needed to be delivered at. On the whole I'd give this outing a mild recommend but I feel Richard Lester's 1973 version is the best since it doesn't take the material too seriously & ventures firmly into the world of camp & satire w/exciting results.

A great movie with spectacular and skillful sword fights

[Jekyll-5 · 9/10 · 3 May 1999]

Being only 20 years old, it may be strange for me to have a favourite actor who's era of greatness was that of the mid 20th century. However, the 1948 version of Dumas' 'Three Musketeers' continues to remain one of my favourite movies, especially with the enigmatic performance of Gene Kelly being at the forefront.

The story follows the journey of a young Gascon named D'artagnan who endeavours to become one of King Louis XIV (I think) musketeers. I must point out that at this point, I always thought that there were only EVER three musketeers. However I soon realised that the three charcters at the focus of the story are but three of a large cadre of the aforementioned individuals.

The reason I liked this movie was not for its intriguing story but for the sword fights. The only other movie where I have seen sword fighting of such a skillful measure is that of the duel between Mandy Patinkin and Cary Elwes in 'The Princess Bride'. Even the newer version of 'The Man in the Iron Mask' and the pitifully woeful version of the 'Three Musketeers' starring Kiefer Sutherland, fail to master that sleek elegance and skill that is evident in the Gene Kelly version: rather they resort to a series of hard whacks and punches to achieve their aim.

Even though several of the death scenes involve the swords clearly being passed under armits and next to hips (similar to one of my favourite scenes in Cy Enfield's 'Zulu', where Hook, a soldier, stabs a Zulu with a bayonet under his armpit, and we are witness to a clear indent in the wall), this movie remains one of the better versions of Dumas's novel.

I give it 8.5 out of 10

James Durham

Maddening!

[Nemesis7293-1 · 6/10 · 11 March 2019]

MGM's gorgeous 1948 version of "The Three Musketeers" is part of an excellent film......but, sadly, the other part is Gene Kelly. In most aspects the film is wonderful. Van Heflin's and especially Lana Turner's performances are among the very best of their careers. The only real flaw in the film is the usually excellent Gene Kelly's performance, and it is major and catastrophic! His D'Artagnan is jarringly, surrealisticly out of tone with everything else in the film. Granted, the character should be somewhat comic, but Kelly plays it manically, hysterically over the top, as if he wandered in from the Tex Avery cartoon next door. Unspeakably cringe inducing! And a terrible shame, since the remainder of the film is SO good!

Entertaining and visually stunning-one of my favourite adaptations of the novel

[TheLittleSongbird · 9/10 · 24 October 2009]

I really liked this version of the Three Musketeers. Then again I have liked a vast majority of the adaptations of the novel, even the 1993 version which is admittedly my least favourite of the ones I liked, but it still entertained me. The novel itself by Alexandre Dumas is superbly written and a truly entertaining read. This adaptation does deviate from it, but considering how beautiful it looked and how entertaining it was I am past caring.

I only have two real complaints of this movie. The film does suffer from being overlong at over two hours, consequently I did feel some scenes dragged but only slightly. My other complaint was that I wished Angela Lansbury and Vincent Price had more screen time. Lansbury is a fine actress, but because she is given very little to do, she failed to make an impression. Price is another fine actor, chiefly remembered for his performances in films like Pit and the Pendulum, Great Mouse Detective, Witchfinder General and Fall of the House of Usher. Sadly, as Cardinal Richelieu he is only in three or four scenes, but he was still good.

On the whole, this 1948 film has its good points. The music score is superb, and the cinematography magnificent. The scenery is splendid and I thought the costumes were truly lavish especially Milady's dresses. The film is shot in dazzling Technicolour that still looks amazing even by today's standards. The sword fights are constantly energetic and lively, and don't feel clumsy at all. The script is on the whole good, same with the acting. Although I did worry that Gene Kelly would be out of character, as I associate him mainly with musicals, he was wonderfully athletic as D'Artagnan. Van Heflin, Gig Toung and Robert Coote all gives spirited turns as Athos, Porthos and Aramis. But who impressed me most were Lana Turner who was both beautiful and haunting as Milady and June Allyson as the lovely Constance.

Overall, this 1948 film does have its flaws, but what mattered to me was who stunning it looked, it was energetic and entertaining. In these areas, that's where the film succeeded. It isn't completely faithful to the book, but I do think despite its length it is one of the better adaptations of the book out there though the 1973 film gets my vote as the definitive one. 8.5/10 Bethany Cox

Gene Kelly and the Kitchen Sink

[wes-connors · 6/10 · 13 August 2007]

Gene Kelly is the best thing this film has going for it… he captures the adventure, spirit, and humor of both the literary work and the classic interpretation by Douglas Fairbanks. The film should have taken out all of the other "big name" stars, trimmed the script down (to give Mr. Kelly's character a singular focus), and -- this might have been a classic.

If they HAD to keep one of these actresses, I'd keep Angela Lansbury, but in the role Lana Turner played. If Ms. Turner had to be in this movie for box office appeal, I'd try her in the de Winter role. June Allyson doesn't belong in this picture, in any role.

Kelly is terrific. His swordly scenes are a highlight, and the film's expense is obvious. Perhaps they should have played up, rather than play down, the sexual situations -- it's strange to see Kelly kissing everyone in sight, before settling down to one interest. I'm not suggesting the film be explicit, just a bit more bawdy.

****** The Three Musketeers (1948) George Sidney ~ Gene Kelly, Lana Turner, June Allyson

Wonderful film

[The Spectacular Spider-Man · 9/10 · 16 October 2006]

The Three Musketeers is such a terrific adventure story, and one the great Hero Journey stories, that it's very hard to mess up. The Musketeers themselves are hugely appealing characters, drinking, brawling, romancing much of the time but fiercely loyal and devoting their lives to their king.

This 1948 is perhaps the best version, and there are many versions. The 1993 Disney version with Charlie Sheen and Keifer Sutherland and the 1973 version with Oliver Reed and Michael York both entertain, but this version has the spirit of fun and wonder that only golden age Hollywood can supply.

The actors don't just act, the entertain. Gene Kelly shines. The action is dynamic, spectacular and outshines every other musketeer movie. The visuals are bold and colourful. The script is witty captures the slightly whimsical, boisterous approach of Dumas without the slapstick of the Lester movies.

Simply, one of the most entertaining movies you will ever see.

Lana Turner was spectacular!

[0412429602 · 5 August 2002]

This movie was great,the first time I saw it I was five.Superb interpretations, good story and action scenes.

Gene Kelly was fantastic in the role of D'artagnan and Lana Turner was spectacular in the role of the beautiful and dangerous MiLady de Winter.

10/10

Musical Musketeers.

[anaconda-40658 · 7/10 · 19 December 2015]

The Three Musketeers (1948): Dir: George Sidney / Cast: Gene Kelly, Lana Turner, Van Heflin, June Allyson, Angela Lansbury: Pure swashbuckling action that is often corny but also entertaining. I never understood the title since Gene Kelly shows up and ends up becoming a fourth Musketeer. Why not call it The Four Musketeers? At any rate he shows up and ends up in confrontation with the original three Musketeers but after they are nearly arrested, they fight the odds and tick off a lot of high rise officials. There are two lovely femme fatales in this film. One of course, he cannot seem to trust, and the other one risks herself while Kelly follows her around in deep suspicion. There is no point to this spectacle but it is entertaining with its sword play and its lame kill scenes where people drop without any puncture wounds. One can say that children would not be able to watch it then. Kelly is in top spirit as the new Musketeer. Van Heflin plays a fellow Musketeer who seems more experienced with the sword. Lana Turner and June Allyson are the two ominous women and there are jewels involved here as well. Angela Lansbury plays Queen Anne who acts as one of the film's symbols of authority, which the Musketeers make little regard for. This is the typical version of the classic story and it represents it effectively right down to the point of the fourth sword. Score: 7 / 10

Very Ambitious, overall a Classic.

[Chevalier de Spindletop · 10/10 · 9 August 2001]

Well, first allow me to say that I was over all very pleased with the movie.

As a fencer, I greatly enjoyed the foil - like duels between the Musketeers and the Guards, contrary to the rough and undisciplined swordfights in the 1973 version. However, a lot of times when one of the musketeers was engaged with more than one person, he'd parry 4 & 6 the entire time (meaning he defended his upper body) Why didn't one of the guards lunge to 7 or 8 (the lower body)? D'Artagnan and Jussac's duel was great! There were many fencing moves used such as the Disengage and the Coupe'. The only movies I've seen with this Calbre of fencing could be the old version of Cyranno de Bergerac, and The Mark of Zorro.

As far as plot and story line goes, I am glad that I've read this book 3 times because otherwise it would have been hard to follow. After the diamond studs affair, women, war, and the troubled past of Athos hit the viewer all at once. Someone watching this movie and knowing nothing of Dumas' classic charaters might find this just a touch overwhelming. I was however pleasantly suprised to find that D'Artagnan's affairs with Kitty and her mistress Milady were laid out in similar fashion to the book, something I thought too complicated for the length of time devoted to this subplot. The attention to detail was very good over all, however, why did they make Athos a Baron, he was a Count!! It just doesn't make sense to portray the story as accurately as they did and then change Athos' title. There were some parts of the book such as Buckingham's assassination that were modified to be less complicated, and the sword was drawn far more than in the book, but I was still happy with the movie. Once again, Lord de Winter, brother of Milady's 2nd husband, Athos being the first, is omitted from the story, howerver, adding another main character to this story may have bogged it down too much even for my taste. But it at least explains how and why Charlotte Brackston has assumed the name of Lady de Winter.

The players: D'Artagnan, a little annoying, but a brilliant and elegant sword.

Athos, moody, depressed, and a cavalier all the way. He was possibly better than Oliver Reed in the 1973 version.

Porthos did not get much time, but was still enjoyable. His appearance and build was perfect for the role, too bad they didn't give him more of a lead than they did.

Aramis, they showed his fickle view on life well. Provided that his mistress would write, he was a man of the world. When he despaired that she no longer loved him, he was ready to enter the church.

Richeleau, Vincent Price is the best Cardinal I've seen, even better than Heston.

Milady, too much like the book! (that's a GOOD thing) Lana Turner was excellent. Far better than the too-old-to-play-the-part Faye Dunnaway.

Constance, I liked her, she was certainly pretty enough. -- but in the book, she was the landlord's husband!

Rochefort, um.... was he in this one more than 1 scene?

Buckingham, the 1973 version is far better.

Anne, Angela Lansbury would have make a very good queen, had her character been given more screen time.

Louis XIII, the 1921 and 1973 versions had much better kings. The 1921 version's Louis was very strong, while the 1973's was a nitt witt and fop.

Over all, I really liked this version of the story, and consider it to be the best version I've ever scene. Some people have commented on its depressing side, but I liked that. If you ever end up reading all 5 books on the Musketeers, you will find that the other books have that depressing aspect as Athos watches his son be ruined by love. Happy reading!

A colourful adaption at breakneck speed

[IndustriousAngel · 7/10 · 13 March 2017]

There's no shortage a Musketeers adaptions; this one is a success even if there are some shortcomings. What does work: The overall plot is made very clear, and during confrontations the costumes serve to distinguish the players - so it's easy to follow, even for children. There are some good outdoor shots, and most of the interior sets serve their purpose, too. As to acting, Gene Kelly brings his roguish charms and athletics to d'Artagnan, and he also carries himself well after tragedy strikes. Lana Turner as Charlotte de Winter is equally good, overacting just like warranted by the broad melodram and exhaling just the right amount of menace.

What does not work so good: The other actors pale a bit besides the starring duo, especially Vincent Price as Richelieu is not very menacing, nor do we believe in his intellectual schemer. The music is very in-your-face (just my opinion, of course) and rarely lets the actors work their magic. But the biggest problem is the pace: We hurry from key scene to key scene without a chance to catch some breath, it's so jumpy the plot is in constant danger of getting whiplash syndrome. And said key scenes are also often extremely short - d'Artagnan marries Constance in 5 seconds and gets widowed in 20.

Despite those shortcomings, a hearty recommendation - it's a fun adaption with not a single boring moment.

A Good Mock-Fest Candidate

[aimless-46 · 4/10 · 26 March 2007]

"The Three Musketeers" (1948) is probably the most spectacularly miscast film in cinema history. This will be either hilarious or painful; depending on a viewer's sense-of-humor perversity quotient.

The idea of casting Lana Turner and June Allyson in a period costume drama was absurd on its face, but the results are actually worse than you could imagine.

Turner was arguably the least talented of the big-name actors of her era. Her appeal was strictly physical and she was serviceable playing herself in "Andy Hardy" type stuff. But she simply had no ability (even with good direction) to play anyone else, let alone an exotic villainess like the Dumas' Lady De Winter. And by the late 1940's the aging process had hit her particularly hard; taking away any trace of the youthful glow that had seemed so magical early in her career. At the time of casting Turner (still clueless that she had lost the physical appeal that had made her a star and apparently unaware that her career was already headed steeply downhill) was reluctant to take a "supporting" role.

Then there is Allyson; she had a clue about acting but her presence brought no magic to the screen. Her most successful roles were as contemporary tomboys, not as an inspirational love interest in a lavish costume drama. Allyson was all Bronx and that just doesn't fit the tone of the Dumas classic.

As D'Artagnan, Gene Kelly at least provides a reason to watch "The Three Musketeers". He is physically suited to the role and handles the acrobatic action sequences quite well. But Kelly was more dancer than actor. As someone said, his acting is much like Bob Hope without the comedic sensibility. I found it hard to keep from thinking about his faux silent film part in "Singing In the Rain".

Vincent Price's Richelieu was probably fine in 1948, but his subsequent ghoul movie and "Batman" fame works against him with today's viewers.

You won't recognize him in costume, but once you hear the half-witted Planchet speak you will say: "Hey that's Keenan Wynn". Unlike Price, Wynn's wide range of subsequent character roles don't undermine his performance.

"The Three Musketeers" is set in 17th century France as young D'Artagnan joins the three best swordsmen in Paris: Athos (Van Heflin), Porthos (Gig Young), and Aramis (Robert Coote).

Oz's Wizard, Frank Morgan, plays King Louis XIII, another astonishing bit is miscasting but the part is too small for that to be of much significance. The King and Richelieu are at odds over going to war with England, but Richelieu has the goods on the Queen (Angela Lansbury) and hopes to force a war.

There is action, romance, great production design, and an excellent underlying story. Unfortunately the humorous casting decisions make it extremely difficult to suspend disbelief and get into the film as anything more than an old movie. Turner's stuff has mock- fest potential but she is thankfully only a "supporting" character.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.