The Four Musketeers [DVD] [1975]: Amazon.co.uk: Michael York, Raquel Welch, Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain, Frank Finlay, Christopher Lee, Geraldine Chaplin, Faye Dunaway, Roy Kinnear, Michael Gothard, Nicole Calfan, Ángel del Pozo, Richard Lester, Alexander Salkind, Ilya Salkind, Michael Salkind, Pierre Spengler, Wolfdieter von Stein, Alexandre Dumas père, George MacDonald Fraser: DVD

Reviews

Special Features
1.78 Wide Screen
16:9 Anamorphic Wide Screen
English
Region 2

Synopsis
Chapter two of Lester's winking, rollicking takes on Dumas's famous swordsmen produced at the same time as his Three Musketeers with the same leads. Great swordplay (executed by the stars; York claims each was injured during shooting) and two great female stars in Dunaway and Welch.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Three Musketeers [DVD] [1973]

DVD ~ Oliver Reed

5.0 out of 5 stars (4)

The Three Musketeers [DVD] [1994]

DVD ~ Charlie Sheen

3.4 out of 5 stars (12)

The Count Of Monte Cristo [DVD] [1975]

DVD ~ Richard Chamberlain

4.7 out of 5 stars (3) �4.98

Duellists, The [DVD] [1977]

DVD ~ Keith Carradine

4.7 out of 5 stars (18)

The Man In The Iron Mask [DVD] [1998]

DVD ~ Leonardo DiCaprio

4.4 out of 5 stars (15) �3.98

› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

boys-own adventure(1)

christopher lee(1)

dumas(1)

raquel welch(1)

swashbuckling(1)

See all 7 tags...

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.2 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All for one, and one for all (in a set), 22 Mar 2005

By	Darren Harrison "DVD collector and reviewer" (Washington D.C.) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Complete Musketeers: Three Musketeers/Four Musketeers [DVD] [1975] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC] (DVD)

Anchor Bay deserves a great deal of credit for this informative and entertaining double feature of the two classic Musketeer films from the early 1970s.
Originally planned as one long epic movie (including a then standard intermission in the middle) the decision was made at some point during the production of THE THREE MUSKETEERS that they would either have one four hour movie or two separate movies. Rather than cut out some of the fantastic scenes that had been shot to make the movie more manageable the production company made the more sensible decision to cut the production in two releasing THE THREE MUSKETEER' one year and then THE FOUR MUSKETEERS shortly after.
Not everyone involved in the production of the movie was happy about the decision. Actress Faye Dunaway publicly stated that (had she known about the splitting of the movie into two) she would have refused to do it since her role in the first was so small. The move led to some litigation and was eventually settled but today movie contracts include what is termed "The Salkind Clause" (named after the Salkind's who produced the MUSKETEER movies) to protect actors from such moves.
It is perhaps for this reason that Faye Dunaway is one of the only still living members of the main cast who does not appear on camera for the excellent hour-long documentary THE SAGA OF THE MUSLETEERS that Anchor Bay has put together for this release.
Perhaps a deliberate reflection of the movie (or perhaps simply due to limited space on the DVDs) the documentary is split into two half-hour parts on each disc. Recounting their memories of the production are actors Charlton Heston, Raquel Welch, Michael York, Frank Finlay and Christopher Lee who cover nearly every aspect of the production from their casting to some of the close calls and injuries the actors sustained performing their own stunts and swordflighting with real, very lethal swords.
Lee, himself an expert swordsman, had to remind a rather over enthusiatic Oliver Reed (who abandoned the staged moves for a fight for some more improvised swings) that it was "only a movie."
Also on camera for interviews are producers Ilya Salkind and Pierre Spengler (who would both go on to produce SUPERMAN) who discuss not only the actual production of the movies but also where the initial idea came from and the recruiting of Director Richard Lester. Salkind recounts how Lester initially turned down the invitation to direct the movie, referring to it as "a children's book" (as it was seen at the time). It was not until Salkind actually sent him a copy of the actual Alexandre Dumas novel that Lester became excited by the prospect of directing the adaptation.
With a screenplay by George MacDonald Fraser (of the FLASHMAN novels and later of 1983's OCTOPUSSY) these two movies work remarkably well. Even though there are some surprising stylistic differences (surprising since it was originally meant as one movie). The first movie is definitely more comic in tone and the second darker and more dramatic. This is not to say the second movie is lacking in humor - just witness the Musketeers eating lunch as the prefer for battle with the Protestants.
Of the two I actually prefer the second movie much more because I feel the characters are more drawn out and the intrigue more involving, The climatic sword fight and Oliver Reed-Faye Dunaway subplot are both highlights in my opinion. The second movie also features the shocking deaths of two of the more likeable major characters.
Overall, a fantastic job by Anchor Bay. One can only hope that the third movie in the series, 1989's THE RETURN OF THE MUSKETEERS which was also directed by Richard Lester and included the majority of the original cast, will one day be released on DVD.
Well recommended.

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous Sequel, 6 April 2005

By	E. Davis "emohawk2006" (Les Avants, Switzerland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The Four Musketeers provides a very good lesson for modern directors as to how they should make sequels. Do it at the same time as the original.

All actors are present and in fine form, including a formidable performance by Michael York in the lead role. Richard Chamberlain and Oliver Reed excel in roles that seem designed for their personalities.

The story of continuing intrigue and danger in the French courts provides a good story which never slows down and is equally dramatic as it is funny. Indeed slapstick is in abundance in this film but also is the tragic end of the film which soberly wakes up the veiwer to seeing just how ruthless Mi Lady De Winter or Rochforth can be. The ending has a touch of schmaltz but is well deserved for a masterpiece in cinematic adaptation of a Alexander Dumas' legendary novel.

The DVD is pretty basic all you really get is the film perhaps a documentary here and there wouldn't hurt now and then. I also would have prefered to have bought both the "Three" and "four" in one set but alas we must suffer for cinema.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

5 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The popcornisation of a French popular classic, 19 Jul 2006

By	Jacques COULARDEAU "A soul doctor, so to say" (OLLIERGUES France) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)

Some directors should know when they have to stop transforming European or French popular literature into some kind of superficial merry-go-round circus. In this case, even the title is absurd. There has never been in the wide popular conscience of the French any fourth musketeer. These are three even when they are legions. And everyone from seven to seventy-seven knows that the famous three musketeers were four and yet they remain three for all these people. The producer has been very careful to find another title for the French version of this film, of course. A king who is childish and infatuated with his own vanity. A cardinal Richelieu who is vicious and so easily tricked. Fortifications in ruins in the 17th century. A monkey on some roost in Paris. A little bit of unrevealed, though suggested, sex and no nudity beyond the limits of normal bathing suits of the very early 1940s. Even some American Indians in London. A lot of horse-riding, with or without saddles. More duels and fencing than real sword fights. Even some kind of a fire in some stables and at least two people killed, one by murder, the other by duelling, in a French Roman catholic monastery. All that superficial and exotic stuff for an audience that is seen as not able to look at some more profound reflections on this troubled century. That's what happens when a French classic is rehatched and rebaked in some Californian sauce and served with ketchup and cole slaw. It becomes champagne without the bubbles or Perrier without the water. Flat.

Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University of Paris Dauphine & University of Paris I Pantheon-Sorbonne

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 4 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable sequel to The Three Musketeers
I can see the points that the 3* reviewer is making and I'm sure if this was a dramatisation of a much loved English novel, I would be spitting nails too. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Meerkat

› See all 4 customer reviews...

Listmania!

The best gangster films (not in any order like): A list by Mr. J. S. A. Hughes
17th Century Costume Dramas: A list by Madame Louise de la Baroque "Opulent, decadent libertine"
Top 100 Recommended Films for Screenwriters (Part 1/4): A list by Mr M W Prince

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

DVD & Blu-ray > Action & Adventure

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

The Body Shop

Protect and boost your glow with The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost.

›Shop The Body Shop

Up to 75% off Shoes

Save up to 75% on shoes for the whole family.

›Shop clearance shoes

We've Got Converse

Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

Treat Someone

With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

	61% buy Three Musketeers/Four Musketeers [DVD] [1973] 5.0 out of 5 stars (3) �5.78
	29% buy the item featured on this page: The Four Musketeers [DVD] [1975] 4.2 out of 5 stars (4)
	5% buy The Three Musketeers [DVD] [1994] 3.4 out of 5 stars (12)
	3% buy Duellists, The [DVD] [1977] 4.7 out of 5 stars (18)


Amazon Home

International Sites: United States \| Germany \| France \| Japan \| Canada \| China

Business Programs: Sell on Amazon \| Fulfilment by Amazon \| Join Associates \| Join Advantage

Customer Service \| Help \| View Basket \| Your Account

About Amazon.co.uk \| Careers at Amazon

The Four Musketeers [DVD] [1975]

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Product details

Reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

Customer Reviews

Customer Discussions

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Listmania!

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

The Body Shop

Up to 75% off Shoes

We've Got Converse

Treat Someone

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History