It was 20 years or more ago that I first saw these wildly fun, deliciously funny swashbuckling joys on the TV. Thanks in part to two new 4K restorations of THE THREE MUSKETEERS and THE FOUR MUSKETEERS, we get them back to enjoy anew! 17th Century Paris is a place beset with rogues. Then along comes young, naïve and very energetic D’Artagnan (Michael York). He leaves home to seek his fortune as a swordsman with the help of three musketeers. Hard as nails Athos (Oliver Reed), arrogant Porthos (Frank Finley) and chivalry Aramis (Richard Chamberlain). They want peace and hope. Good times for France and its people. Their enemy is aristocratic schemer Cardinal Richelieu (Sir Christopher Lee), who sets about unseating them and their plans! With as much menace as he can…

Director Richard Lester (A Hard Day’s Night, Help!) absorbs Dumas story and gives a zip of the British. Wit, sword play and a frenetic energy. It excels at being fun enough to wow an audience of many but also never faults at given us something to enjoy in regard of action and comedy. It is well known that during production on the first film, the producers realized that the project was so lengthy that they would not be able to complete it as intended. So it was cut into two pictures, causing the famed Salkind Clause (go look it up). Neil Sinyard, avoids a bit of this and focuses instead on the Britishness of the production, Lesters skills and the amazing cast. He is insightful and better than the documentary, which is a bit more padded and I found it heavier than it should be.

So three becomes  THE FOUR MUSKETEERS, reuniting the same cast. D’Artagnan is at the king’s service, rebels are still determined to prevent any meddling by the English before the city falls and Bonacieux (Raquel Welch) is in on the game. Musket balls fly,  swords swish and at the end, tragedy is in the offing. The sequel lights up the screen neatly and here is available on its own disc with additional extras. These are actual few, with Sinyard again reclaiming top spot and discussing all about the creation issues and the production process. The second part of the documentary is better, being more leaner and focused, with at least a better hold on my attention.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS

• Neil Sinyard on The Three Musketeers
• The Saga of the Musketeers Part 1
• The Making of The Musketeers vintage EPK
• Original US trailer
• Original UK trailer

THE FOUR MUSKETEERS

• Neil Sinyard on The Four Musketeers
• The Saga of the Musketeers Part 2
• Original Trailer