The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge (1974)

The Four Musketeers defend the queen and her dressmaker from Cardinal Richelieu and Milady de Winter.

Director:

Richard Lester

Writers:

George MacDonald Fraser (screenplay) (as George Macdonald Fraser), Alexandre Dumas (novel)

Stars:

Michael York, Raquel Welch, Oliver Reed

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Oliver Reed	...	Athos
Raquel Welch	...	Constance de Bonancieux
Richard Chamberlain	...	Aramis
Michael York	...	D'Artagnan
Frank Finlay	...	Porthos
Christopher Lee	...	Rochefort
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Queen Anne of Austria
Jean-Pierre Cassel	...	Louis XIII (as Jean Pierre Cassel)
Roy Kinnear	...	Planchet
Michael Gothard	...	Felton
Nicole Calfan	...	Maid Kitty
Ángel del Pozo	...	Jussac (as Angel Del Pozo)
Eduardo Fajardo
Simon Ward	...	Duke of Buckingham
Faye Dunaway	...	Milady

Storyline

D'Artagnan has become a Musketeer. Protestants hold La Rochelle, and the Queen loves Buckingham, who'll soon send ships to support the rebels. Richelieu enlists Rochefort to kidnap Constance, the Queen's go-between and D'Artagnan's love. The Cardinal uses the wily, amoral Milady de Winter to distract D'Artagnan. But soon, she is D'Artagnan's sworn enemy, and she has an unfortunate history with Athos as well. Milady goes to England to dispatch Buckingham; the Musketeers fight the rebels. Milady, with Rochefort's help, then turns to her personal agenda. Can D'Artagnan save Constance, defeat Rochefort, slip de Winter's ire, and stay free of the Cardinal? All for one, one for all.

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Plot Keywords:

cardinal richelieu | female villain | sword fighting | based on novel | queen | 

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Taglines:

One for all and all for one! (And every man for himself.)

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Genres:

Adventure | History

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

Spain Panama

Language:

English

Release Date:

26 February 1975 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Four Musketeers: Milady's Revenge

Filming Locations:

Twickenham Studios, London, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alexander, Michael and Ilya Salkind Productions, Film Trust S.A., Este Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

108 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Producers Alexander and Ilya Salkind were sued by the actors and actresses who claimed they were tricked into thinking this movie was to be part of The Three Musketeers (1973). They won their case in court, but did not receive as much money as they would have if they were paid separately for both movies.

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Goofs

Although the artillery pieces used by the rebel (Protestant) garrison at La Rochelle, hidden behind gabions, appear to be more authentic, the loyalist (Catholic) besieging forces appear to have batteries of guns that could not possibly date from 1628, when the garrison surrendered, as these have barrels, and indeed wheels, that are far too slender, and would appear to be replicas of pieces dating from the early 19th century. Both sides also fire projectiles that explode on contact, which wasn't the case. At this point in history, artillery pieces fires solid shot only, not even canister.

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Quotes

Swiss Officer: Warm work, gentlemen. And where were the Musketeers?
Aramis: At our prayers, sir, like good Christians!
Swiss Officer: Ha! By God, sir, so was I! And with good reason. That bastion was buzzing like a beehive.
Athos: And yet you did not stay for breakfast, sir.
Swiss Officer: Neither would you.
Athos: Hmm. Will you bet on that? I'll wager you, better more I will wager you the finest dinner on this camp that my friends and I will have breakfast on that bastion, now.
Swiss Officer: [laughs] Done. Done! Do you hear that, Spengler? You and I will eat that big dinner...
[...]

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Alternate Versions

There exists at least two versions of the ending to this film. The rather curious difference is that in one the narration is spoken by Richard Chamberlain, in the other it is done by Frank Finlay!

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Connections

Referenced in A Place in Time (1977)

User Reviews

"By my order, and for the good of the state, the bearer has done what has been done."

Athos, Porthos, Aramis and D'Artagnan are back; or more precisely, are still here; for the second half of the Dumas novel. As I'm sure most fans know, this was meant to be part of the complete Three Musketeers, before the Salkinds split it into two films. This led to much litigation and the creation of the "Salkind clause" in movie contracts.

Spoliers-The film takes up where the first part left off; D'Artagnan and the Musketeers have saved the Queen from embarassment and confounded the evil Cardinal Richelieu. D'Artagnan is now a full fledged Musketeer (although, in the novel, he was still just a guardsman).

Now the Cardinal hatches a new plot to persuade the Duke of Buckingham from joining the protestant Huguenot rebels at the city of La Rochelle. Milady is sent to persuade him to change his mind or kill him. Although Buckingham imprisons her, he underestimates the power of her charms. The Duke meets a tragic end and Milady returns to France to seek her revenge on D'Artagnan.

Meanwhile, D'Artagnan rescues his mistress Constance and places her in safekeeping. He learns the true identity of Milady and the mystery behind Athos' melancholy.

The Musketeers are sent to fight at La Rochelle and uncover the Cardinal's plot to kill Buckingham. Although the other Musketeers care little, D'Artagnan owes a debt to Buckingham and tries to stop the plot.

D'Artagnan pays a terrible price for his efforts, but emerges as a lieutenant of the Musketeers. He has taken his place as the leader of the group, but will find little solace in his promotion.

As with the first film, the performances are spot on. Everything is the same, as it was filmed at the same time. It is best viewed as a whole with the Three Musketeers.