The Four Musketeers (1974) (4 Stars)

This is a sequel to "The Three Musketeers", made a year earlier. Actually, both films were made together. The intention was to release them as a single film, but during production it was decided the resulting film would be too long, so they were split into two.

That's what I've read, but it's not the impression I get when watching the films. They have distinct styles. Both films have a lot of comedy, but in the first film the swordfights are slapstick comedy, whereas the swordfights are more realistic in the second film. The second film also seems to have a bigger budget, based on the extravagant battle scenes and the increased number of extras.

The background of "The Four Musketeers" is a battle in La Rochelle between the Catholics and the Protestants. The Musketeers have divided loyalties. On the one hand, they're servants of the king and faithful Catholics. On the other hand, their friend the Duke of Buckingham is allied with the Protestant rebels. As they mockingly say to one another, "We're at war to decide whether psalms should be sung in French or Latin. But isn't that what all religious wars are about?" 

The Queen of France has ended her affair with the Duke of Buckingham, but she doesn't want him to be killed in a war between France and England. It's common knowledge that she's friends with her dressmaker Constance Bonacieux, who's also D'Artagnan's lover. On the instructions of Cardinal Richelieu, Milady de Winter seduces D'Artagnan to break up the connection, but D'Artagnan rejects her. She feels insulted and wants D'Artagnan dead at all costs.

It's interesting how the film is wrapped around historical events. The Duke of Buckingham was assassinated by an English soldier called John Felton on 23rd August 1628. The film shows that he was persuaded to kill him after being seduced by Milady de Winter, a person who never existed in real life.

I've given both films the same rating, but I think I slightly prefer "The Four Musketeers". There's more action, which appeals to me.

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