The Three Musketeers Film Review

This version of the Three Musketeers stars Don Ameche and the Ritz Brothers. A bonus to anyone who can name the three Ritz Brothers without looking it up. That's right - Harry, Al and Jimmy. They were never as famous as the Marx Brothers but from the early 1930s to the mid-1940s they were very popular in film, stage and as a nightclub act. Their act consisted of songs, dances and comedy - a lot of craziness. Pretty much forgotten now and honestly after this film I can understand why. The main problem for me is that they all look alike and do nothing to distinguish one from the other. I get the feeling I could watch all their movies and still not be able to tell one from the other. And the comedy is amiable enough but not that funny to me. Others might disagree. That was the age of comedy groups though - where did comedy groups go? The end of vaudeville killed them I think. Vaudeville gave them the opportunity to hone their act over years - now that is impossible.

The movie unexpectedly follows the basic story of the Three Musketeers with songs and comedy added - so a musical comedy adventure story. It sort of works because the film is kept short at 73 minutes before your patience runs out. It is directed by the Director of All Seasons - Alan Dwan who has over 400 credits to his name - he was a favorite of Douglas Fairbanks and directed him as D'Artagnan in the Man in the Iron Mask in 1929. Now he gets Don Ameche. Ameche isn't bad as the character - his swordplay looks fine and he has a good singing voice. He comes from Gascon to join the King's Musketeers singing Voila as he rides his horse. In no time he has challenged Porthos (Russell Hicks), Aramis (John King) and Athos (Douglass Dumbrille) to duels and tells them to meet him at a tavern. Where the three Musketeers get drunk and fall asleep. The Ritz Brothers are cooks there and put on the Musketeer's uniforms to get some girls.

D'Artagnan shows up, tries to duel with them and then the Cardinal's Guards intrude and they all take them on - D'Artagnan thinking they are real Musketeers. After that the film follows the legend - the Queen (Gloria Stuart) is in love with the English Duke of Buckingham and gives him a broach to remember her by. Cardinal Richelieu discovers this from John Carradine and tries to out the Queen. It is up to our boys to get the broach that Milady De Winter (Binnie Barnes) has stolen. Hijinks and songs to follow but a nice smattering of sword fighting as well. If I had just laughed a bit more - or at all - I would have rated this higher. The Song of the Musketeers is pretty catchy. The real three Musketeers never show up again - poor Hicks, King and Dumbrille.