The Four Musketeers (York) [DVD] [1975]

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.

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.

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.
There is also the rather thorny issue of the fact that this was cobbled together out of 'spare' scenes from 'The Three Musketeers' and it does show with a lengthy slide show of scenes from the first film at the start and occasional narrative voice-overs to fill the viewer in.
However, it does complete Dumas' story and it does so in the same amusing and light-hearted manner that Dumas wrote his novel.
I can't speak for period accuracy, but certainly nothing jarred for me.
This is not such a good film as the first, but it is still very enjoyable and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny, and to see the first without this would be to miss out on a lot of the story and some great set pieces.
All the actors are note-perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed both films.