The Three Musketeers (1935 film)
Encyclopedia
The Three Musketeers is the first English-language talking picture version of Alexandre Dumas, père
's novel of the same name
. It stars Walter Abel
, Ian Keith
, Margot Grahame
, and Paul Lukas
.
for Paris
, armed with his father's sword, an old horse ambitiously named Charlemagne
, and a letter of introduction to his godfather, Captain de Treville (Lumsden Hare
), commander of the King's Musketeers
. Along the way, he attempts to rescue Milady de Winter (Margot Grahame) from highwaymen
, but it turns out she came to meet their leader, the Count de Rochefort (Ian Keith). When Rochefort insults D'Artagnan, the latter insists on a duel
. Instead, Rochefort has his men knock D'Artagnan out, while he blackmails Lady de Winter into helping him in his plot to seize power.
Upon reaching Paris, D'Artagnan is dismayed to learn from de Treville that he must serve two years as a cadet, or perform "extraordinary deeds of valor," before becoming a Musketeer. Then he spots Rochefort on the street. In his haste to confront his enemy, D'Artagnan slights three Musketeers, Athos (Paul Lukas), Porthos (Moroni Olsen
), and Aramis (Onslow Stevens
), in turn, agreeing to duel all three. When his opponents arrive at the appointed place and hour, they are amused to discover they are all engaged to cross swords with the same man. However, Cardinal Richelieu's Guards try to arrest them all for dueling. D'Artagnan joins the outnumbered Musketeers and acquits himself well.
His three new friends secure him free lodging by threatening landlord Bernajou (Murray Kinnell
) with an imaginary law and find him a servant named Planchet (John Qualen
). That night, D'Artagnan is pleasantly surprised when Bernajou's ward Constance (Heather Angel
) enters the room. It turns out that it is actually her chamber, though she is rarely there, as she spends most of her time at the palace as lady-in-waiting to the queen. Constance has arranged a rendezvous between Queen Anne
(Rosamond Pinchot
) and her lover, the English Duke of Buckingham (Ralph Forbes
). Buckingham threatens to wage war to obtain Anne, but she dissuades him by appealing to his love; she gives him her diamonds as a pledge for peace. Bernajou, lusting for Constance and suspicious of her meeting a lover, has hidden in an armoire
and witnesses their meeting. He is arrested and reveals the details to Rochefort, who is in league with Richelieu to bring about the queen's downfall and thus thwart Buckingham. Rochefort lies to Richelieu that the queen gave her diamonds to start a war between France and England, and they scheme that she must appear wearing the diamonds at the king's anniversary ball eight days hence.
When D'Artagnan finds out from Constance the queen's danger, he decides to ride to England and retrieve the jewelry. De Treville assigns him help: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Alerted by Bernajou, Rochefort sends his men to attack them along the way. One by one, the others remain behind to hold off their enemies, and only D'Artagnan reaches Calais
, where he discovers that Lady de Winter has killed Buckingham's valet and stolen the diamonds. She is not fooled by his attempt to gain her confidence and has her men tie him up and throw him in her carriage. She stops at an inn on her journey back to Paris; by chance it is where the Musketeers had agreed to rendezvous. They free D'Artagnan and take Lady de Winter prisoner, after which Athos reveals that she is his murderess wife. At Athos's ancestral home, where Constance is waiting, Lady de Winter throws herself into the river. At the ball, D'Artagnan unmasks Rochefort as a traitor, producing a secret treaty taken from Lady de Winter and offered by Rochefort to Buckingham in which the king and Richelieu would be assassinated. Hearing that D'Artagnan is just a cadet, the king immediately makes him a Musketeer.
of fourteen years ago." Hal Erickson opined, "This is considered the dreariest of the many versions of The Three Musketeers."
Lucille Ball
is listed as an uncredited extra.
Alexandre Dumas, père
Alexandre Dumas, , born Dumas Davy de la Pailleterie was a French writer, best known for his historical novels of high adventure which have made him one of the most widely read French authors in the world...
's novel of the same name
The Three Musketeers
The Three Musketeers is a novel by Alexandre Dumas, first serialized in March–July 1844. Set in the 17th century, it recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to travel to Paris, to join the Musketeers of the Guard...
. It stars Walter Abel
Walter Abel
Walter Abel was an American stage and film character actor. His eyes were brown and his height was five foot ten inches....
, Ian Keith
Ian Keith
-Life and career:Born Keith Ross in Boston, Massachusetts, Ian Keith was a veteran character actor of the legitimate theater, and appeared in a variety of colorful roles in silent features of the 1920s. His stage training made him a natural choice for the new "talking pictures"; he played John...
, Margot Grahame
Margot Grahame
Margot Grahame was an English actress most noted for starring in The Informer and The Crimson Pirate. She started acting in 1930 and made her last screen appearance in 1958.-Movie actress:...
, and Paul Lukas
Paul Lukas
Paul Lukas was an Austrian-Hungarian-born actor.-Biography:Born Pál Lukács in Budapest, he arrived in Hollywood in 1927 after a successful stage and film career in Hungary, Germany and Austria where he worked with Max Reinhardt. He made his stage debut in Budapest in 1916 and his film debut in 1917...
.
Plot
Callow youth D'Artagnan (Walter Abel) sets off from GasconyGascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
for Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, armed with his father's sword, an old horse ambitiously named Charlemagne
Charlemagne
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, and a letter of introduction to his godfather, Captain de Treville (Lumsden Hare
Lumsden Hare
Lumsden Hare was an Irish born film and theatre actor. He was also a theatre director and theatrical producer....
), commander of the King's Musketeers
Musketeers of the Guard
The Musketeers of the Guard were a fighting company of the military branch of the Maison du Roi, the Royal Household of the French monarchy.-History:...
. Along the way, he attempts to rescue Milady de Winter (Margot Grahame) from highwaymen
Highwayman
A highwayman was a thief and brigand who preyed on travellers. This type of outlaw, usually, travelled and robbed by horse, as compared to a footpad who traveled and robbed on foot. Mounted robbers were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads...
, but it turns out she came to meet their leader, the Count de Rochefort (Ian Keith). When Rochefort insults D'Artagnan, the latter insists on a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
. Instead, Rochefort has his men knock D'Artagnan out, while he blackmails Lady de Winter into helping him in his plot to seize power.
Upon reaching Paris, D'Artagnan is dismayed to learn from de Treville that he must serve two years as a cadet, or perform "extraordinary deeds of valor," before becoming a Musketeer. Then he spots Rochefort on the street. In his haste to confront his enemy, D'Artagnan slights three Musketeers, Athos (Paul Lukas), Porthos (Moroni Olsen
Moroni Olsen
Moroni Olsen was an American actor.-Biography:Olsen was born in Ogden, Utah to Mormon parents Edward Arenholt Olsen and Marsha Hoverholst who named him after the Moroni found in the Book of Mormon. Some sources have claimed that Olsen's birth name was John Willard Clawson, or even John Willard...
), and Aramis (Onslow Stevens
Onslow Stevens
Onslow Stevens was an American stage, television and film actor.-Career:Born Onslow Ford Stevenson in Los Angeles, California, he was the son of character actor Housley Stevenson...
), in turn, agreeing to duel all three. When his opponents arrive at the appointed place and hour, they are amused to discover they are all engaged to cross swords with the same man. However, Cardinal Richelieu's Guards try to arrest them all for dueling. D'Artagnan joins the outnumbered Musketeers and acquits himself well.
His three new friends secure him free lodging by threatening landlord Bernajou (Murray Kinnell
Murray Kinnell
Murray Kinnell was an English actor. He appeared in 71 films between 1930 and 1937. He was best known as the two-timing petty-larceny hood Putty Nose in The Public Enemy...
) with an imaginary law and find him a servant named Planchet (John Qualen
John Qualen
John Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles....
). That night, D'Artagnan is pleasantly surprised when Bernajou's ward Constance (Heather Angel
Heather Angel (actress)
Heather Grace Angel was an English actress.-Life and career:Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, she was brought up on a farm near Banbury....
) enters the room. It turns out that it is actually her chamber, though she is rarely there, as she spends most of her time at the palace as lady-in-waiting to the queen. Constance has arranged a rendezvous between Queen Anne
Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria was Queen consort of France and Navarre, regent for her son, Louis XIV of France, and a Spanish Infanta by birth...
(Rosamond Pinchot
Rosamond Pinchot
Rosamond Pinchot was an American socialite, stage and film actress.-Early life and career:Pinchot was born in New York City, the daughter of Amos Pinchot, a wealthy lawyer and a key figure in the Progressive Party and the niece of Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot...
) and her lover, the English Duke of Buckingham (Ralph Forbes
Ralph Forbes
rightRalph Forbes was an English actor in the American cinema. He was also a noted stage actor....
). Buckingham threatens to wage war to obtain Anne, but she dissuades him by appealing to his love; she gives him her diamonds as a pledge for peace. Bernajou, lusting for Constance and suspicious of her meeting a lover, has hidden in an armoire
Wardrobe
A Wardrobe is a cabinet used for storing clothes.Wardrobe may also refer to:* Wardrobe , a full set of multiple clothing items* Wardrobe , part of royal administration in medieval England...
and witnesses their meeting. He is arrested and reveals the details to Rochefort, who is in league with Richelieu to bring about the queen's downfall and thus thwart Buckingham. Rochefort lies to Richelieu that the queen gave her diamonds to start a war between France and England, and they scheme that she must appear wearing the diamonds at the king's anniversary ball eight days hence.
When D'Artagnan finds out from Constance the queen's danger, he decides to ride to England and retrieve the jewelry. De Treville assigns him help: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Alerted by Bernajou, Rochefort sends his men to attack them along the way. One by one, the others remain behind to hold off their enemies, and only D'Artagnan reaches Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, where he discovers that Lady de Winter has killed Buckingham's valet and stolen the diamonds. She is not fooled by his attempt to gain her confidence and has her men tie him up and throw him in her carriage. She stops at an inn on her journey back to Paris; by chance it is where the Musketeers had agreed to rendezvous. They free D'Artagnan and take Lady de Winter prisoner, after which Athos reveals that she is his murderess wife. At Athos's ancestral home, where Constance is waiting, Lady de Winter throws herself into the river. At the ball, D'Artagnan unmasks Rochefort as a traitor, producing a secret treaty taken from Lady de Winter and offered by Rochefort to Buckingham in which the king and Richelieu would be assassinated. Hearing that D'Artagnan is just a cadet, the king immediately makes him a Musketeer.
Critical reception
In his New York Times review, Andre Sennwald wrote "The Three Musketeers in its 1935 edition is a reasonably entertaining picture, but it is not in the same league with the athletic Fairbanks' versionThe Three Musketeers (1921 film)
__notoc__The Three Musketeers is an American silent film based on the novel The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas, père. It was directed by Fred Niblo and starred Douglas Fairbanks as d'Artagnan. The film originally had scenes filmed in the Handschiegl Color Process...
of fourteen years ago." Hal Erickson opined, "This is considered the dreariest of the many versions of The Three Musketeers."
Cast
- Walter AbelWalter AbelWalter Abel was an American stage and film character actor. His eyes were brown and his height was five foot ten inches....
as D'Artagnan - Ian KeithIan Keith-Life and career:Born Keith Ross in Boston, Massachusetts, Ian Keith was a veteran character actor of the legitimate theater, and appeared in a variety of colorful roles in silent features of the 1920s. His stage training made him a natural choice for the new "talking pictures"; he played John...
as Count de Rochefort - Margot GrahameMargot GrahameMargot Grahame was an English actress most noted for starring in The Informer and The Crimson Pirate. She started acting in 1930 and made her last screen appearance in 1958.-Movie actress:...
as Milady de Winter - Paul LukasPaul LukasPaul Lukas was an Austrian-Hungarian-born actor.-Biography:Born Pál Lukács in Budapest, he arrived in Hollywood in 1927 after a successful stage and film career in Hungary, Germany and Austria where he worked with Max Reinhardt. He made his stage debut in Budapest in 1916 and his film debut in 1917...
as Athos - Moroni OlsenMoroni OlsenMoroni Olsen was an American actor.-Biography:Olsen was born in Ogden, Utah to Mormon parents Edward Arenholt Olsen and Marsha Hoverholst who named him after the Moroni found in the Book of Mormon. Some sources have claimed that Olsen's birth name was John Willard Clawson, or even John Willard...
as Porthos - Onslow StevensOnslow StevensOnslow Stevens was an American stage, television and film actor.-Career:Born Onslow Ford Stevenson in Los Angeles, California, he was the son of character actor Housley Stevenson...
as Aramis - Heather AngelHeather Angel (actress)Heather Grace Angel was an English actress.-Life and career:Born in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, she was brought up on a farm near Banbury....
as Constance - Rosamond PinchotRosamond PinchotRosamond Pinchot was an American socialite, stage and film actress.-Early life and career:Pinchot was born in New York City, the daughter of Amos Pinchot, a wealthy lawyer and a key figure in the Progressive Party and the niece of Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot...
as Queen Anne - John QualenJohn QualenJohn Qualen was a Canadian-American character actor of Norwegian heritage who specialized in Scandinavian roles....
as Planchet - Murray KinnellMurray KinnellMurray Kinnell was an English actor. He appeared in 71 films between 1930 and 1937. He was best known as the two-timing petty-larceny hood Putty Nose in The Public Enemy...
as Bernajou - Nigel De BrulierNigel De BrulierNigel De Brulier was an English film actor, who launched his career in the theatre stage in his native country and transferred to movies after moving to USA. His first film role was a poet in The Pursuit of the Phantom in 1914...
as Cardinal Richelieu (as Nigel de Brulier) - Lumsden HareLumsden HareLumsden Hare was an Irish born film and theatre actor. He was also a theatre director and theatrical producer....
as Captain de Treville - Miles ManderMiles ManderMiles Mander , born Lionel Henry Mander , was a well-known and versatile English character actor of the early Hollywood cinema, also a film director and producer, and a playwright and novelist.-Early life:Miles Mander was the second son of Theodore Mander, builder of Wightwick Manor, of the prominent...
as King Louis XIIILouis XIII of FranceLouis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority... - Ralph ForbesRalph ForbesrightRalph Forbes was an English actor in the American cinema. He was also a noted stage actor....
as Duke of Buckingham
Lucille Ball
Lucille Ball
Lucille Désirée Ball was an American comedian, film, television, stage and radio actress, model, film and television executive, and star of the sitcoms I Love Lucy, The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life With Lucy...
is listed as an uncredited extra.