Probably most of you have seen at least one version of D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers, but I will be writing about the USSR version of it, which I doubt is well known beyond post-Soviet countries. It is a three-part musical series first aired in 1979 and is considered to be one of the Soviet Union classics. I watched it the first time when I was 10 or so and even though it is quite filled with flaws and ridiculous stuff I came to consider it as one of my childhood classics, which I keep coming back for.
D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers poster (Image source: https://rutube.ru/metainfo/tv/6440/)
The story portraits France at the beginning of the 17th century. D'Artagnan being poor and young is heading to Paris in order to join royal musketeers as his father did before. On the way, he gets in a conflict with Rochefort, an agent of the Cardinal, which results with him being robbed and beaten. When he meets with M. De Tréville, the captain of musketeer guards he sees Rochefort and begins to chase him. On his way, he crashes into wounded musketeer Athos, who calls him an idiot and challenges to the duel. After he accidentally tears off musketeer's Porthos's expensive cloak, which results in a challenge to the second duel. He gets also into the third duel with Aramis who D'Artagnan insults by compromising his affair with a lady. When the scheduled duels come, all three musketeers (Athos, Porthos, and Aramis) realize that they are fighting the same man when D'Artagnan shows up. The dueling is compromised by Cardinal's guardsmen. Musketeers and D'Artagnan join in a common fight against the guards, which results in a victory and their friendship.
D'Artagnan and the Musketeers becoming friends (Image source: https://veralline.com/blog/open/2429.html)
Soon they rescue Constance, the Queen's maid from the Cardinal's people and D'Artagnan falls in love with her. After this incident, Cardinal tries to lure D'Artagnan into his service without any success. Thereafter the Queen of France gives diamond pendants to her lover Carl Stewart of Buckingham and Cardinal learns about it. He hires skillful spy, Milady de Winter, to steal these pendants and convinces King of France Louis XIII to demand that his Queen shows up with these pendants to the ball. Queen is in despair and Constance is offering her help together with D'Artagnan. However, Constance is poisoned by Milady de Winter and dies to leave D'Artagnan heart-broken, but the mission succeeds nonetheless.
Constance and D'Artagnan (Image source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076998/mediaviewer/rm1832258560)
Soon a war between France and England breaks out and D'Artagnan now a musketeer sets out on duty with the Musketeers. An unsuccessful attempt on his life is made by Milady. After her several intrigues and plotting together with the Cardinal, D'Artagnan and three musketeers manage to capture her and take her life.
Cardinal, Rochefort, and Milady (Image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptch-079IdU)
At the end of third part Cardinal initially accusing D'Artagnan and the musketeers of desertion offers the Musketeers a rank of lieutenant, which they refuse. Aramis offers to give this rank to D'Artagnan. To lay down the charges for deserting Athos offers to take a challenge in the dangerous Saint-Gervais tower against countless enemies. They come back as winners and D'Artagnan deservedly becomes a lieutenant of the royal musketeers.
What I love about D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers series is how the stories are being told and enhanced with the music letting the viewer feel emotions and get to know the characters. It is a powerful tool, which makes the movie so special and unforgettable. It is also quite interesting how different is acting when comparing the movie from 1979 and now - somehow everything seems exaggerated and far from real, but I am not saying that it is a bad thing - it brings more attention and interest. I can surely say that these series are interesting enough to watch over and over again or even listen to the soundtracks on their own. Or maybe it's just me being nostalgic. :)
Here is the main theme song of the series:
D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers poster (Image source: https://rutube.ru/metainfo/tv/6440/)
The story portraits France at the beginning of the 17th century. D'Artagnan being poor and young is heading to Paris in order to join royal musketeers as his father did before. On the way, he gets in a conflict with Rochefort, an agent of the Cardinal, which results with him being robbed and beaten. When he meets with M. De Tréville, the captain of musketeer guards he sees Rochefort and begins to chase him. On his way, he crashes into wounded musketeer Athos, who calls him an idiot and challenges to the duel. After he accidentally tears off musketeer's Porthos's expensive cloak, which results in a challenge to the second duel. He gets also into the third duel with Aramis who D'Artagnan insults by compromising his affair with a lady. When the scheduled duels come, all three musketeers (Athos, Porthos, and Aramis) realize that they are fighting the same man when D'Artagnan shows up. The dueling is compromised by Cardinal's guardsmen. Musketeers and D'Artagnan join in a common fight against the guards, which results in a victory and their friendship.
D'Artagnan and the Musketeers becoming friends (Image source: https://veralline.com/blog/open/2429.html)
Soon they rescue Constance, the Queen's maid from the Cardinal's people and D'Artagnan falls in love with her. After this incident, Cardinal tries to lure D'Artagnan into his service without any success. Thereafter the Queen of France gives diamond pendants to her lover Carl Stewart of Buckingham and Cardinal learns about it. He hires skillful spy, Milady de Winter, to steal these pendants and convinces King of France Louis XIII to demand that his Queen shows up with these pendants to the ball. Queen is in despair and Constance is offering her help together with D'Artagnan. However, Constance is poisoned by Milady de Winter and dies to leave D'Artagnan heart-broken, but the mission succeeds nonetheless.
Constance and D'Artagnan (Image source: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076998/mediaviewer/rm1832258560)
Soon a war between France and England breaks out and D'Artagnan now a musketeer sets out on duty with the Musketeers. An unsuccessful attempt on his life is made by Milady. After her several intrigues and plotting together with the Cardinal, D'Artagnan and three musketeers manage to capture her and take her life.
Cardinal, Rochefort, and Milady (Image source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptch-079IdU)
At the end of third part Cardinal initially accusing D'Artagnan and the musketeers of desertion offers the Musketeers a rank of lieutenant, which they refuse. Aramis offers to give this rank to D'Artagnan. To lay down the charges for deserting Athos offers to take a challenge in the dangerous Saint-Gervais tower against countless enemies. They come back as winners and D'Artagnan deservedly becomes a lieutenant of the royal musketeers.
What I love about D'Artagnan and Three Musketeers series is how the stories are being told and enhanced with the music letting the viewer feel emotions and get to know the characters. It is a powerful tool, which makes the movie so special and unforgettable. It is also quite interesting how different is acting when comparing the movie from 1979 and now - somehow everything seems exaggerated and far from real, but I am not saying that it is a bad thing - it brings more attention and interest. I can surely say that these series are interesting enough to watch over and over again or even listen to the soundtracks on their own. Or maybe it's just me being nostalgic. :)
Here is the main theme song of the series:
Interesting post. I read a Russian poem book when I was in high-school and enjoyed it. I've also heard that the special effects work of some Russian cinema pioneers were way ahead of Hollywood back in like the 50s and 60s. I would like to watch some Russian cinema at some point, but few releases make it to European markets, probably because of the stigma of Russian propaganda.
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