I watched these great adventure movies, directed by Richard Lester, yesterday. I remember seeing these the last time when i was a kid.
It was intended to be a one three hour film but later it was split into two movies released in 1973 and 1974. The story was of course based on the novel by Alexandre Dumas.
I love the cast: Michael York, Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay, Richard Chamberlain, Raquel Welch, Faye Dunaway, Charlton Heston, Christopher Lee, Simon Ward etc. Raquel Welch was so beautiful, i could watch her all day long
Wonderful settings and locations, cool fight scenes and great costumes. Highly recommended!
Posted by P_a_u_l (Member # 1022) on :
These are brilliant adaptations of the tale - by far the best movie tellings. The cast are wonderful, the scenery and fight scenes enthralling, and every single character delivered superbly - especially Spike Milligan as Raquel welch's husband, and Roy Kinnear as D'Artagnan's manservant.
If you haven't seen these, watch them. Especially if you were at all disappointed by the more recent 'attempt' at telling the story.
Posted by The Good Package (Member # 9492) on :
i liked the 93 version with tim curry quite a bit myself
Posted by The Good Package (Member # 9492) on :
tried watching the 70's version of the count of monte cristo, but i think the 2001 version is too good and it dwarfs its predecessor.
Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
Paul, have you seen The Return of the Musketeers (1989)? Same director and most of the cast + C. Thomas Howell and Kim Cattrall. I wonder where can i get it.
Posted by P_a_u_l (Member # 1022) on :
quote:Originally posted by aTomiK: Paul, have you seen The Return of the Musketeers (1989)? Same director and most of the cast + C. Thomas Howell and Kim Cattrall. I wonder where can i get it.
I've not seen it to my recollection.
You can get it from Amazon on UK VHS HERE Posted by harry2 (Member # 7645) on :
Trivia. Roy Kinnear was filming The Return Of The Musketeers with York, Finlay, Reed , Chamberlain et al and fell off a horse breaking his pelvis. Suffered a heart attack the next day and died. First two films were among the best adaptations, though.
Posted by P_a_u_l (Member # 1022) on :
Yeah - knew that, harry. A real shame, because he was a great comic actor. One additional trivia piece - director Richard Lester quit the business after the accident and Kinnear's death. He and Kinnear were very close friends, and Lester has only done one other directing job since - a concert film for Paul McCartney as a favour for his friend Paul.
Aside from the Three Musketeers, my favourites of Kinnear's were A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory, Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, Eskimo Nell, and in his many appearances on tv comedy shows in the 70s and early 80s.
Posted by Chris the CandyFanMan (Member # 3197) on :
Yep, the man was a real talent; at least through Mr. Salt, he shall have immortality.
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
Kinnear, a real talent, as you guys have noted, is wonderfully funny in his friend Richard Lester's excellent--and quite underrated--thriller "Juggernaut" (1974). When people talk about fine directors, everyone seems to forget Lester. His filmography includes some really great films: "Hard Day's Night," "Help," the first two "Musketeers" films, "Juggernaut," "Robin and Marian," and "Superman II." Any one of those would insure a lasting legacy, but Lester had a bunch. Great director. Posted by aTomiK (Member # 6575) on :
You should also check out the 1984 Lester movie Finders Keepers. Very funny comedy with a great cast: Starring Michael O´Keefe, Beverly D´Angelo, Louis Gossett Jr., Ed Lauter, Brian Dennehy and young Jim Carrey.
Posted by Crash (Member # 7484) on :
I have seen it and like it too.
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
quote:Originally posted by The Good Package: tried watching the 70's version of the count of monte cristo, but i think the 2001 version is too good and it dwarfs its predecessor.
I love this version too. I am pretty sure in the 70's version Dantès does not end up with Mercédès but in this version he does. I still think its one of the best stories ever told.
Does anyone know what happens in the book? I would assume that in the book version he doesn't end up with the girl. I tried reading it a number of years ago and only got about a third of the way through it. It was just too heavy reading for me.
Posted by Lovers with Cassie (Member # 7794) on :
Bernie, in the novel, Edmond loses Mercedes as a result of his retributive rancour, but he does end up with Haydee.
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
Thanks for that. I didn't want to read another 900 pages to find that out. I don't believe any film adaption mentions that part of the story where he ends up with a different girl. Does it?
Posted by Lovers with Cassie (Member # 7794) on :
In the 1934 along with 2002 versions, Edmond finishes up with Mercedes, but in the 1975 rendering he has neither of the two women.
Posted by Bernie_Lomax (Member # 8571) on :
Thanks. You would think that one of the adaptions would show Dantes ending up with Haydee.
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