THE THREE MUSKETEERS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 June 1923, Page 2

THE THREE MUSKETEERS

Sixteen duels, a man holding up a broken bridge whilst three riders cross it, the stealing of a queen’s jewels, a desperate fight with a conscienceless woman for their recovery, the smashing of one of the greatest intrigues of history—these are hut a few of the dramatic incidents in Douglas Fail-bank's sixth United Artists picture “The Three Musketeers" to he shown here on Wednesday and Thursday next. Based on the marvellous adventures and escapades of the dashing IVArtaguan and three of King Louis Kill's Musketeers, his impressive photoplay unfolds the history of France in the early seventeenth century, when that monarchy was dominated by the designing and crafty Cardinal Richelieu, n soldier by training, but a statesman and a churchman, onlv by virtue of intrigues he devised. The picture is one of the most vivid and picturesque tales that has ever been prepared for the screen. From the photographic standpoint it is a work of art. while the costumes and settings are marvellous. It must impress upon the mind of the witness the stirring events of Alexandre Dumas’ famous and universally vivid classic, as vividly and indelibly ns the remarkable style of the author compels the admiration of tlie reader. Fairbanks’ interpretation of the dashing and impulsive cavalier presents him to his many admirers in a new light and the work ol the all-star caste that supports him will ensure satisfaction to all lovers ot the photoplay. The adaptation for _ the screen is tlie work of Edward Knoblock. one of the most successful present day | lay-wriglits. D’Artagnan is cast dynamically into an atmosphere of seventeenth eenturv intrigue. From his humble* home in Gascony he journeys to Paris to make hi.- fortune. He is donned only with his father’s Honoured sword and tho heart of a lion, hut with these he steps precipitately into adventure that connects him at once with the proldrins of royalty. He almost christens his -word with the blood of the plotter Do Rochefort, and meets Milady without suspecting the villainy underlying her charm. In Paris his introduction to his future comrades is a challenge to light all tliiee. then comes n sudden turn by which they are handed together for life. His love for Consanee, a. lady-in-waiting to the Queen, leads him to the supreme adventure of the story—a mission to recover from her admirer, in England. 'Buckingham, the evidence needed to convince I-otiis XIII that Anne of Austria is not involved, and to confound the insinuations of her foe, tho Cardinal Some remarkable reproductions are constructed of notable buildings m Franco and elsewhere, including the Louvre, and every other feature of the picture is striking in realism and per-, fection. There is an excellent supporting programme.