Rating: 
Summary: Swashbuckling at it's best!
Review: I saw and loved this movie when it first came out in the theatres. When I saw that it was finally being released on video, I couldn't order it fast enough. The casting is perfect, the costumes ar fabulous, the action is constant and the swordfights are believable. If you like action or adventure, buy this movie. If you like comedy, buy this movie. If you like drama, buy this movie. If you like romance, buy this movie. In other words: buy this movie, you won't be disappointed. And don't forget to also buy THE FOUR MUSKETEERS.
Rating:
Summary: An Ecxellent Film on a Great DVD
Review: I usually don't care for costume epics or period pieces. If I weren't a big fan of British horror film actor Christopher Lee, I would never have even bothered to rent Richard Lester's "The Three Musketeers." After two viewings, however, I must say that I am fairly impressed.D'Artagnan joins The Three Musketeers in their quest to save the Queen of France. "The Three Musketeers" is a great movie. The film seamlessly blends three different genres: Historical period piece, comedy, and action movie. Although best known for his television work, Richard Chamberlain gives a fine performance as Aramis. Christopher Lee is almost charismatic as the suave and villainous Rochefort. Charlton Heston is fine in a small role as the scheming Cardinal. In a recent interview, Christopher Lee said that one of the greatest achievements for an actor is to create a piece of work that inspires people to educate themselves. If this observation is true, then Lee should be very proud of himself. Various scholars have said that Lester's "The Three Musketeers" inspired them to learn such subjects as French history and the art of fencing. A movie that is not only for Christopher Lee fans but just about everyone. I plan to see this movie again. Well-recommended.
Rating: 
Summary: A Movie For Just About Everyone
Review: I usually don't care for costume epics or period pieces. If I weren't a big fan of British horror film actor Christopher Lee, I would never have even bothered to rent Richard Lester's "The Three Musketeers." After two viewings, however, I must say that I am fairly impressed. D'Artagnan joins The Three Musketeers in their quest to save the Queen of France. "The Three Musketeers" is a great movie. The film seamlessly blends three different genres: Historical period piece, comedy, and action movie. Although best known for his television work, Richard Chamberlain gives a fine performance as Aramis. Christopher Lee is almost charismatic as the suave and villainous Rochefort. Charlton Heston is fine in a small role as the scheming Cardinal. In a recent interview, Christopher Lee said that one of the greatest achievements for an actor is to create a piece of work that inspires people to educate themselves. If this observation is true, then Lee should be very proud of himself. Various scholars have said that Lester's "The Three Musketeers" inspired them to learn such subjects as French history and the art of fencing. A movie that is not only for Christopher Lee fans but just about everyone. I plan to see this movie again. Well-recommended.
Rating:
Summary: An Ecxellent Film on a Great DVD
Review: Many have rightfully praised the content of the film already, so I refer only to the quality of the DVD edition here. Although the narrow black bars on the top and the bottom of the picture MIGHT be there just for faking a letterboxed presentation <see some other comments below>, the picture does look beautiful regardless, and also, by no means appears to be truncated (the original film was shot just barely in widescreen anyway). Albeit there are a few overexposed scenes here and there (involved with mostly sky backrounds), a DVD transfer is just not able to fix these kind of flaws of the original filmprint. All in all, I definitelly recommend to buy the DVD version even if a few percentage of the picture were missing, because the rest - the vast majority! - is just looking incomparably better than any grainy and fuzzy VHS copy could ever be. So go for only the DVD edition of this film - and forget the old-fashoned, fragile analog video tape; you should enjoy this excellent film (and its "sequel") for many years to come...
Rating:
Summary: Great Fun & The Best Version so far.....
Review: Richard Lester & his screewriter, George Macdonald Fraser (of Flashman fame), made the best & most complete version of the Dumas tale with great flair and wit, seasoning the old story with satiric touches, irony and outright slapstick. Working with a dream cast, Lester shot this and the sequel (The Four Musketeers) all at once (ala Lord of the Rings) allowing him to tell a bigger story without the distractions of aging or changed cast members. It is great fun. Since everyone knows the story I want to point out some of the wonderful qualities of the flim. First,there are the terrific fight scenes staged by Wm. Hobbs, who has his swordfights as exhausting affairs, full of sweat and effort, with no rules, no balletic dueling, but rather FIGHTING, with both hands and feet and anything that can be of use. These are set amongst blowing sheets, in tub rooms, and one especially clever night fight with lanterns blinking on and off. Oliver Reed as Athos especially convinces you that he is FIGHTING, not waltzing about. Next, the wonderful cast, including: Michael York as an enthusistic and eager D'Artagnon; Raquel Welsh as D'Artagnon's paramour, Constance Bonancieux, bountiful and endearingly clutzy; Spike Milligan as Msr. Bonancieux, Raquel's addled and horny husband; Charlton Heston as the shrewd and ruthless Cardinal Richelieu; Christopher Lee, an arch & dignified villain as Rochefort, Richelieu's "blade" (and possibly illegitimate son); Faye Dunaway as the beautiful and treacherous Milady De Winter; Geraldine Chaplin as the ninny of a Queen; Jean Pierre Cassel as the dim and indifferent King. And then, of course the 3 Musketeers: Oliver Reed as a moody & temperamental, but powerful Athos; Richard Chamberlain's refined and aloof Aramis; and Frank Finlay's vain & pompous Porthos. Terrific all! A light and infectiously joyful swashbuckler, Lester also has great fun displaying the extravagance and vanity of the Royals, idling away their time in ridiculous pursuits, completely impervious and indifferent to their servants and the lives of the common people shown in rough and coarse contrast. The King & Queen are clueless, Buckingham (Simon Ward) is a headstrong dolt, Richelieu schemes, and everyone else tries to survive their foolishness. A rare mixture of genres and tones that really works, this witty romp must be seen with its concluding Four Musketeers where the tone shifts yet again. A treat for movie lovers.
Rating:
Summary: ALL FOR ONE AND ALL FOR FUN
Review: Richard Lester's refreshingly breezy adaptation of the Dumas classic is one of the best interpretations of this venerable classic. He combines the elements of swashbuckling swordplay with the satirical buffooneries of the Pink Panther movies. Michael York, scrawny yet efficient, plays D'artagnan with a youthful exuberance. Raquel Welch is hilarious as the bumbling, accident prone Constance, and Spike Milligan is likewise a hoot as her aging and lustful husband. The Musketeers are played by Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay and Richard Chamberlain, and are dashingly heroic, if a little out of shape? Faye Dunaway is cold and calculating as the Lady DeWinter while Geraldine Chaplin is quite coquettish as the Queen. Rounding out the marvelous cast are Charlton Heston, Christopher Lee, Simon Ward and Jean Pierre Cassel. Lester filmed this and its sequel (The Four Musketeers) at the same time, but the studio opted to go with a sequel as the whole movie would have been too long. They are both fine films, although the follow up is a little darker in tone. Well worth viewing for a good time.
Rating:
Summary: ALL FOR ONE AND ALL FOR FUN
Review: Richard Lester's refreshingly breezy adaptation of the Dumas classic is one of the best interpretations of this venerable classic. He combines the elements of swashbuckling swordplay with the satirical buffooneries of the Pink Panther movies. Michael York, scrawny yet efficient, plays D'artagnan with a youthful exuberance. Raquel Welch is hilarious as the bumbling, accident prone Constance, and Spike Milligan is likewise a hoot as her aging and lustful husband. The Musketeers are played by Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay and Richard Chamberlain, and are dashingly heroic, if a little out of shape? Faye Dunaway is cold and calculating as the Lady DeWinter while Geraldine Chaplin is quite coquettish as the Queen. Rounding out the marvelous cast are Charlton Heston, Christopher Lee, Simon Ward and Jean Pierre Cassel. Lester filmed this and its sequel (The Four Musketeers) at the same time, but the studio opted to go with a sequel as the whole movie would have been too long. They are both fine films, although the follow up is a little darker in tone. Well worth viewing for a good time.
Rating: 
Summary: Why can't Fox-Lorber do it right?
Review: Richard Lester's The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers deserved a state of the art transfer, in correct aspect ratio, a director's commentary, and a full range of access features. Fox-Lorber didn't even bother to give us the correct aspect ratio! The film is presented in a 1:66 that lops off information from what may have been a 1:85 image. This is unbelievable! Richard Lester's The Three and Four Musketeers together comprise one of the most memorable films of the 1970's. They are as fresh now as they were in their original theatrical release. They deserved the kind of treatment that The Criterion Collection has given other acknowledged classics. They certainly deserved better than the miserable results that Fox-Lorber has served up. If you are as offended by what Fox-Lorber has done as I am, then let me urge you to write to them and voice your complaints.
Rating:
Summary: The Three Musketeers
Review: Set in 1500's France, a young Gaston named D'Artagnan (Michael York) leaves his family with hope of becoming the king's musketeer. After facing humiliation in his daily exploits, he inadvertently offends three musketeers at different times and each force him to duel to the death the next day (the musketeers: Athos is Oliver Reed, Porthos is Frank Finlay, and Aramis is Richard Chamberlain). However, they all form an alliance after being forced to fight off the Cardinal's authority. Soon after, D'Artagnan falls in love with his landlord's beautiful wife Constance (Raquel Welch) and finds that the Duke Of Buckingham (Simon Ward) is in love with subtly somber The Queen Of France (Geraldine Chaplin). When the Duke and the Queen meet, the Queen gives the Duke her diamond necklace so he can remember her. A spy is pertinent, sees their exchange and reports it to Cardinal Richelieu. Cardinal Richelieu (Charlton Heston), a delicately ominous figure, wants nothing but to take control of France from the King, and the queens missing diamonds are a good opportunity for him to cause the king trouble. It's up to D'Artagnan and the musketeers to return the diamonds to the queen by traveling to England. The obstacles to reaching the destination is easily offended and violent men with varying political views, bandits, the skilled and deadly Rochefort whom D'Artagnan encountered several times (Christopher Lee) and the cardinal's covert agent Milady (Faye Dunaway). This film version of Alexander Dumas's masterpiece story is filled with incredibly enjoyable elements. There is much slapstick humor that is never forced, pretentious or overly distracting; there is a good amount of swashbuckling action; the performances (especially by Roy Kinnear as the abused servant) are well done and amusing; and the sets are extremely memorable. See it! Sequel: The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (which was originally going to be utilized as footage for this film) Overall rating: 5 stars Rated PG for violence, and some restrained sexual innuendo.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best comedy/swashbucklers ever made
Review: The other reviewers have commented nicely on the look of the film, the cast, the humor, and how much fun it is. I want to highlight the fight scenes in this and the sequel. Unlike the gentlemanly thrust/parry/thrust of the Errol Flynn school, these are no-holds-barred all-out free-for-alls, and they feel more accurate. It does seem that Lester went out of his way to place the fights in odd settings (e.g. a laundry, a frozen stream), but it works, and works well.
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