The Return of the Musketeers

LCD · 1st March 2003, 03:41 AM

We just finished watching the third instalment of the musketeer film with Mr. Lee as Rochefort. It does look quite nice as far as sets go, but some of the vim and verve has gone. There are some really funny parts, though. It was good casting with Kim Cattrall as Rochefort's and Milady's daughter - who falls in loves with Athos' son. But Mr. Lee had neither enough to say nor enough swordplay! The ending was quite sentimental, and it did bring a tear to the eye, as the four musketeers went riding off down the road...and nice touch that the film was dedicated to Roy Kinnear.

lisaleslie76 · 13th March 2003, 09:07 AM

I saw that movie in January on the WB channel and I thought that movie was really good. I liked the sword fights in the movie, particularly the musketeers against Kim Cattrall.

**Alison Gilbert** · 4th April 2003, 11:29 PM

Update me, update me, what third instalment ?? Being a bear of little brain, I thought the character of Rochefort was killed in the second film. (well that is what it looked like anyway)

cheers a bunch

Alison G

**Dave Hutchens** · 5th April 2003, 04:37 AM

Yep, it sure looked like Rochefort was killed in The Four Musketeers, but he wasn't...apparently. He's back in all his glory in Return of the Musketeers, made in 1989.

The film isn't bad...worth a look, if not just for Mr. Lee.

milady 82 · 6th April 2003, 04:51 AM

Rochefort and Milady de Wilnter also had a daughter.
Rochefort was put into the Bastille.

The really sad thing about the movie is that the actor who played Planchett was killed in an equistrian stunt during the filming. I think that is why the movie is like it is, everybody was really bothered by his death. They all liked him. It was a real tragedy to loss such a funny man!

**Don Boycik** · 6th April 2003, 10:27 AM

roy Kinnear which is prob spelled wrong was great in HELP! an Willy Wonka an the chocolate factory. i haven't seen that many of his films outside of those. besides the muskateers films. has anyone?

**Dave Hutchens** · 6th April 2003, 11:03 AM

I wasn't aware that Roy Kinnear died during the production of this film.

How very sad indeed...he was such a truly wonderful comedian, and just a thoroughly loveable personality.

6th April 2003, 03:28 PM

Quote:

I wasn't aware that Roy Kinnear died during the production of this film.

Yes, Roy died falling off a horse, most of the filming had been done by then, his family agreed that the filming go on.
At the end of the film there is a dedication to the memory of Roy Kinnear.
It was very sad, Roy was a very good man, and he is still missed by many.

star38

**Matt Gemmell** · 6th April 2003, 06:58 PM

Roy was a comedic actor who flourished mainly in 70s British sitcoms . Most of these probably did'nt travel much out of the UK but for us Brits he was a well known face on t.v .( oops , showing my age here )

LCD · 7th April 2003, 04:26 AM

That's OK, Matt G, about showing your age. I'm of quite an age too. I mean, does anyone else remember Rising Damp?

But about the Musketeers. Sadly, Oliver Reed has now passed on as well. But I could imagine another sequel, with Rochefort -- yes, I know the boat blew up but no one can be sure he didn't somehow escape off the ship before the explosion. I think there could very easily be another film of escapades if a good storyline came along.

**Charles Prepolec** · 7th April 2003, 05:07 AM

Quote:

I mean, does anyone else remember Rising Damp?

Not too long in the tooth there. After all, Rising Damp only ran from 1974-78 with a wretched film following on in 1980. I used to get quite a kick out of Leonard Rossiter in all his seedy glory inexplicably chasing after Frances de la Tour. Pity that his co-star Richard Beckinsale passed away at 32, as he was a warm talent that should have had a long career in showbiz. On a side-note, we can look forward to seeing his legacy, his lovely daughter Kate, in next year's Van Helsing film.

**Don Boycik** · 7th April 2003, 07:12 AM

if U happen to look at The Internet Movie data base Michael York is again reprising his role from The musketeers movies i can't spell his name or else i would type it here. he's filming right now as a matter of fact. also speaking of Michael York they are gonna make a 4th Austin Powers movie an it's suppose to have all the women from the 1st three movies. which U Know should be good,

Jurious · 9th April 2003, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Rochefort and Milady de Wilnter also had a daughter.
Rochefort was put into the Bastille.

I understand that 'The Return of the Musketeers' was based on one of Dumas' sequel stories to "Les Trois Mousquetaires", called "Twenty Years After" (that'll be "Vingt Ans Apres", or something like that, 'en Francais'...). In this novel, though, Milady had a son, not a daughter, and I don't reckon that there was any inclination in the novel (though I have yet to read it) that he was Rochefort's offspring. I'm just wondering if anyone knows why there was a change in gender for Milady's child for the film? I'm not complaining, though, I'm just curious!

It must be said that Rochefort's character was very much fleshed out in the 'Three' and 'Four Musketeer' films compared to his role in the book, with an undeniable chemistry made between his character and that of Milady's, so I guess having him as the father of Milady's illegitimate child made sense. As one of the chapters in the novel puts it, they were 'Two Kinds of Demons'. ;) Heh. They did get on well in the few-and-far-between short sequences that they were in each other's company in the book, but such an inferred relationship as what the film gave us was not really present in the text as far as I'm concerned; I'm glad, however, that his role was 'enlarged upon' in the movies - it made him a much more ruthless and interesting character.

And I, too, thought that Rochefort had been run through in 'The Four Musketeers', like you Dave and Alison! Though in the books he did indeed have to spend some time in the Bastille, so I'm guessing they used this material for his return in the third film. He and D'Artagnan didn't have any climatic duels in the novel, unfortunately, so he was in absolutely no danger of dying there. It was mentioned that the two did fight on several occasons after its end, even though they were forced to become friends by the Cardinal.

Not the most thrilling ending in the world, but hey, it was still an awesome book.

lisaleslie76 · 9th April 2003, 10:37 PM

That is true. Dumas' The Three Muskateers, The Four Muskateers, and The Return of the Muskateers were based on novels by Dumas.