The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (1974)

Director: Richard Lester
Starring: Michael York, Raquel Welch, Oliver Reed

Synopsis:
Having saved the Queen's honor from the plot against her, D'Artagnan and his fellow Musketeers must head off a new plot by Cardinal Richelieu to enter into a league with the Duke of Buckingham.

Impressions:
I came upon this film out of sequence, watching it before its predecessor. Funnily enough, even after having just watched the rather goofy '48 version, I still wasn't expecting so much comedy. Most of it is a dry, British sort of humor, with a lot of poorly overdubbed quips, but there are also a fair bit of pratfalls and I'd never expect that Christopher Lee would have a fair knack for physical comedy. Unlike the '48 version, all three of the Musketeers are memorable and charismatic. Oliver Reed gives solemnity as Athos, Richard Chamberlain brings the charm as Aramis and Frank Finlay is entertaining as Porthos. Michael York seems to be a bit of an odd choice for D'Artagnan, but he does well enough and I suppose Raquel Welch is fine as Constance (but that's a bland character anyway). Christopher Lee is great as Rochefort and Faye Dunaway delivers the best portrayal of Lady de Winter I've seen thus far. While Charlton Heston doesn't deliver the same gleeful villainy as Vincent Price or Tim Curry, there is something to be said of his more reserved portrayal of Cardinal Richelieu. This is a bit of an off-kilter production, but it's worth seeing all the same. Give it a watch.

Rating:
Watch It