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ShangLuda Admirable film.

Dynamixor The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

IndustriousAngel There's no shortage a Musketeers adaptions; this one is a success even if there are some shortcomings. What does work: The overall plot is made very clear, and during confrontations the costumes serve to distinguish the players - so it's easy to follow, even for children. There are some good outdoor shots, and most of the interior sets serve their purpose, too. As to acting, Gene Kelly brings his roguish charms and athletics to d'Artagnan, and he also carries himself well after tragedy strikes. Lana Turner as Charlotte de Winter is equally good, overacting just like warranted by the broad melodram and exhaling just the right amount of menace.What does not work so good: The other actors pale a bit besides the starring duo, especially Vincent Price as Richelieu is not very menacing, nor do we believe in his intellectual schemer. The music is very in-your-face (just my opinion, of course) and rarely lets the actors work their magic. But the biggest problem is the pace: We hurry from key scene to key scene without a chance to catch some breath, it's so jumpy the plot is in constant danger of getting whiplash syndrome. And said key scenes are also often extremely short - d'Artagnan marries Constance in 5 seconds and gets widowed in 20.Despite those shortcomings, a hearty recommendation - it's a fun adaption with not a single boring moment.

SimonJack This MGM lavish production of "The Three Musketeers" rivals the very best of the swashbucklers. Others have noted the traditional three heroes of this genre – Douglas Fairbanks, Errol Flynn and Tyrone Power. They starred in many of the best of this film genre, playing Zorro, Robin Hood and a host of pirates and cavaliers. A couple of other top swashbucklers come to mind, mainly for the two films they excelled in – Stewart Granger in "Scaramouche" (1952) and Ronald Colman in "The Prisoner of Zenda" (1937). I mention all of these because the name Gene Kelly doesn't as readily come to mind when thinking of swordplay with lots of acrobatics. But this film firmly plants him in "The Three Musketeers" as among the best of the genre. As other viewers have commented, this movie shines on all levels. It's especially excellent for its great color, for an excellent screenplay adaptation, and for a huge cast of talented performers who delight and entertain in their roles. I think three roles stand out. Lana Turner seems to exude evil in her portrayal. A masterful job, indeed. Vincent Price had a much smaller part, but no one could better portray the sinister, conniving, scheming and crooked Richelieu. One word comes to mind for this part as played by Price – dastardly. The third, of course, is Gene Kelly in the starring role as D'Artagnan. What he may have lacked in suave appearance compared to Errol Flynn and Ty Power, he more than made up for in his sheer athletic and acrobatic abilities. All the great swashbuckler actors had good moves and sword play, but Kelly's performance here outshines them all. The word that comes to mind for the swiftness, deftness and agility in his moves is "smooth." He made it look effortless. And no other movie I can think of had any better sword play than this one. Kelly excelled at that as well. Throw in a good amount of humor with such an affable character and we have a perfect D'Artagnan.It all adds up to one immense piece of entertainment and fun. This great film's suitable for the whole family.

Julia Arsenault (ja_kitty_71) I love a swashbuckling adventure, now and then. And also I as said many times, I love a literary film too. Especially if the film is based on a book that I have like The Three Musketeers and I had read the abridged version. There had been many film adaptations based on the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, and like I said before, I am not one take sides on which is better. So I would say I love this film starring Gene Kelly as the hero D'Artagnan and a young Vincent Price (in his 30s) as Richelieu. The impressive supporting cast features a young Angela Lansbury as Queen Anne, June Allyson as Constance D'Artagnan's love interest, and Lana Turner at the height of her achingly alluring beauty as the evil Lady de Winter...De Winter's like a Black Widow. And I also love the 1993 film version with Chris O'Donnell,Kiefer Sutherland and Tim Curry.A scene I love in the film, is when D'Artagnan was peeking in on Constance, it was funny. When I had read the book, I had found a few things quite different from the film. In the book, Constance is the landlord's wife not God-daughter...O.M.G! another man's wife! hmmm...I kind of like God-daughter better. Also in the book, Constance didn't go to England to be safe from Richelieu, but in a convent. And one more thing: Milady didn't stab Constance, she poisoned her.

dglink Adaptations of classic literature were a staple of Hollywood's Golden Age. Of the many versions of Alexandre Dumas's novel, "The Three Musketeers," the 1948 MGM version falls somewhere in the middle in terms of quality. Certainly, Gene Kelly has the athletic ability and balletic skills for a fine D'Artagnan. He swashbuckles, fences, and swings from balcony to roof with the finesse of a Fairbanks. Kelly's blinding white grin and upbeat demeanor work well within this lightweight adaptation, which favors star power and action over drama and artistry. Unfortunately, the stars do not sparkle with equal brilliance. Van Heflin, Gig Young, and Robert Coote as the three musketeers are not as colorful as Kelly, and the villains easily outshine them. The immaculately coiffed and stunningly garbed Lana Turner is a gorgeous and maleficent Countess de Winter, and Vincent Price foreshadows his diabolical later roles as the scheming Richelieu. However, the film's tone is as uneven as the performances. At times tongue in cheek, at other times somber or romantic, "The Three Musketeers" is best when swords are crossed and the personal dramas are overplayed with a wink.Physically, the movie is everything an A picture of the 1940's could be. The sumptuous sets are pure MGM back lot. The buildings are freshly painted, the windows have been washed, and the roofs are neatly thatched. The costumes are vintage MGM warehouse. The gowns have been cleaned and pressed, the feathers are just plucked, and the jewels gleam under the studio lights. The gardens bloom with flowers, the lawns are newly mowed, and the furniture polished and reupholstered. The glossy color cinematography captures the color and sheen and completes a fantasy 18th century world that only existed in the imagination of Louis B. Mayer.Beyond its physical attributes, the film's star power is undeniable. Besides those mentioned, June Allyson, Angela Lansbury, Keenan Wynn, and Frank Morgan are on hand. With more stars than there were in heaven to choose from, the MGM cast of contract players is a movie lovers dream. Despite the few quibbles, "The Three Musketeers" generally moves. The action scenes are good, especially the sword fights, and some viewers may be intrigued enough to pick up the novel to read, which is probably reason enough to justify this version.