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By
NICK ZEGARAC
Primarily known as a musical
director, George Sidney proves equally adept at
delivering the goods with lavish period costume
melodramas; of which his, The Three Musketeers
(1948) must rank as one of the most joyous and
engaging of all incarnations of this famed
Alexander Dumas story. Making stunning use of sets
and costumes from MGM's lavish Marie Antoinette
(1938); the film begins with the spirited arrival
of strapping young peasant, D'Artagnan (Gene
Kelly). He has pledged his loyalty to King Louis
XIII (Frank Morgan) and the Queen (Angela
Lansbury). However, what D'Artagnan possesses in
athleticism and determination he wholly lacks in
discipline.
Enter Athos (Van Heflin), Porthos (Gig Young) and
Aramis (Robert Coote). Insulting all three upon
his arrival to the musketeer's training camp,
D'Artagnan wins them over in short order by
defending their honor against de Rochefort (Ian
Keith) – the right hand of Prime Minister
Richelieu (Vincent Price).
Richelieu has ambitious plans to dismantle the
king's authority and make himself supreme ruler of
France. Though, an unpopular voice in government,
Richelieu wields genuine power within the more
private and devious circles of French court –
enough to sustain envy and hatred for his efforts.
Meanwhile, D'Artagnan plays the gallant romantic
fop, flirting with his downstairs neighbor, the
fair and angelic, Constance Bonacieux (June
Allyson). Constance is a go-between Queen Anne
(Angela Lansbury) and The Duke of Buckingham (John
Sutton). But Richelieu is a master manipulator. He
employs his most ambitious and devious spy, the
Lady de Winter (Lana Turner) to set about a theft
and intrigue that will expose the affair and
topple the monarchy.
Staging the melodrama as though it were a musical,
director Sidney provides a sumptuous visceral
experience. The plot moves like gangbusters. The
cast, all pistons firing, transcends Robert
Ardrey's often trite screenplay to deliver potent
characterizations that delight and enthrall. Each
adventurous thread holds the rest of the elements
in play. On this occasion, the swashbuckler has
indeed acquired a mantel of genuine quality. For
one, for all – The Three Musketeers delivers.
Warner Home Video's DVD is, in a word,
outstanding! The original hues of Technicolor
positively glow from every frame – rich, textured
and vibrant beyond all compare. Contrast levels
are ideally realized; blacks are deep/whites are
clean. Age related artifacts are practically
non-existent. The image is refined and smooth –
near reference quality for a film of this vintage.
The audio is mono but nicely cleaned up. This disc
comes highly recommended! Sadly, there are NO
extras. |
