A Tao of God
Signup to receive Modest Proposals
Subscribe Unsubscribe

 

Richard Lester's Musketeers
A Commentary
By Patrick McCray, MFA

I just got the new boxed set of the Richard Lester MUSKETEERS movies, and it is utterly fantastic. Spielberg and Lucas didn't create the modern-day adventure movie. Richard Lester did beginning in 1974 and 1975 with the two Musketeer movies. These films have not aged a day. In pace, in humor, in editing, in sexuality, these movies are remarkably contemporary. No, they are more than contemporary. Contemporary directors could learn a lot about filmmaking from Lester. It really made me want to see CROSSED SWORDS and ROYAL FLASH, both period, swashbuckling comedy/adventures also written by George MacDonald Fraser.

The great thing about these films is that the humor comes about naturally, from the personalities of the characters. It just proves that good slapstick can be literate and accessible and genuinely funny and exciting, all at the same time. Buster Keaton knew it, and it's nice to see that Jackie Chan knows it, too. But between those two stars are these great cinematic achievements. They are simply perfectly assembled films, who do for their genre what CASABLANCA did for the romantic thriller. I found myself frequently laughing with them alone at home, and I almost never laugh at a movie I see by myself.

Also, there's that all-star cast. I am still convinced that a good cast doesn't need to be too expensive or painfully young or simply impossible to assemble. There are plenty of great actors who need work. Producers just need to think with imagination, and get beyond MTV. God bless George Lucas and Peter Jackson for hinging their sagas on Christopher Lee.

Best of all, Lester retained the capacity to make his story consistently
surprising. Just when you thought Athos was all brute strength, he
becomes the focus of a poignant love story. Just when you thought the
damsel in distress was due for a romantic rescue, Lester complicates
things in an unforgettable, unforseen way.

Last thing: the Salkinds spent tons of money on authentic costumes and sets and locations. No CGI hokum or soundstage skinflinttery here. Sometimes it takes money to make money, and it's nice to see a lot of it up where it belongs: on screen. This world is visually real, lush, and imaginative.

What a rare opportunity: perfect adventure films, sans postmodern apologies.

© Ron McCray 2002 - 2004