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Douglas Fairbanks established himself as the first action hero in a series of lavish, action-packed adventures beginning with
The Mark of Zorro in 1920. The next year Fairbanks called on the director of that success, Fred Niblo, to direct him in the even more ambitious
The Three Musketeers, a swashbuckling costume classic packed with romance, knockabout humor, and Fairbanks's patented brand of gymnastic action. In a perfect match with his exuberantly cocky personality, Fairbanks plays the naive but gifted son of an impoverished nobleman who goes to Paris to seek his fame in the legendary king's guards, known as the Musketeers. The quick-tempered hick is easy to rile and immediately secures duels with the best swordsmen in France, the infamous Three Musketeers, before bonding with them in a brawling fight with the Cardinal's men. Meanwhile, the conniving Cardinal plots to humiliate the Queen and gain the ear of the foppish, easily manipulated King (Adolphe Menjou). The complicated plot introduces more characters than one can easily keep track of and Niblo tends toward static, airy setups that show off the spectacular sets, relying on the bounding energy of human dynamo Fairbanks to create the energy, which he does with cocksure confidence and a smile simultaneously generous, genuine, and just a little smug. Fairbank's version is a veritable blueprint for Richard Lester's excellent 1974 remake.
--Sean Axmaker
Review
The lavish 1921 production of Three Musketeers is primarily a comic action film, yet it also pays extraordinary attention to detail, insuring that the period piece has a ringing authenticity. Alexander Dumas' novel receives the royal treatment, as villages and courts of the 17th century are painstakingly recreated and costumes chosen from antique dresses of the period. Yet the epic film does not suffer from deadly stateliness or stuffiness; in fact, it is a barrelful of fun, thanks mostly to the energetic and occasionally irreverent direction of Fred Niblo and Douglas Fairbanks Sr.'s acrobatic, enthusiastic performance as Gascon D'Artagnan. As the empoverished noble on a quest for justice, Fairbanks strikes a believable balance between comic shwashbuckler and epic hero. A remarkable athlete, Fairbanks handles the action scenes -- from swordplay to horse riding -- with aplomb while managing to convey his character's unflagging good humor throughout. Even in the more serious dramatic moments, he brings across integrity and great charm. Nigel De Brulier, as the Iago-like Cardinal Richelieu, and the "too beautiful" Barbara La Marras Milady de Winter are both fine villains, well-realized foils for the Royal Musketeers. Three Musketeers was a huge critical and box office success upon its release in 1921, and remains for many the finest screen adaptation of Dumas' novel. ~ Dan Jardine, All Movie Guide
