THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1973) *** Great cast acting casually. There's a lot to be said for a film on a classic piece of literature (no, my southern friends, the author's name is NOT pronounced "Alexander Dumbass") executed lightly and loosely with a gaggle of big-names obviously having a great time. Michael York has never been better, dominating a screen that also offers up Oliver Reed scowling barborously, Richard Chamberlain in that contemplative mood that made him a favorite of the ladies and even inspired Bo Derek to say that she'd like to "act" with him in a manner similar to her performance with Miles O'Keefe in Tarzan the Apeman, Christopher Lee as a bearded monster in a red suit pretending to be interested in religion, Faye Dunaway as the one who inspired Mata Hari, and Raquel Welch in the low-cut fashion of the day and shakin' it all in a weird way after getting hit in the head by a carnival. It's the kind of film that could have been irritating if it went wrong, but instead offers itself up as a worthy testament to drinking, love, espionage, laughing, sex, violence, mocking the establishment in the style of the day, and the militant proletarianism of Hollywood millionaires (the cast successfully sued producer Ilya Salkind for shooting two films when he pretended to only be shooting only one....they didn't notice that? Damn, they were having a good time).
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