Trois mousquetaires: La vengeance de Milady, Les (1961)

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Spoilers I recently purchased the dubbed in English version of this 1961 production known in the United States as Vengeance of The Three Musketeers from Movies Unlimited and I was so glad I did. It is the story of the latter part of the Dumas novel which it follows quite well with a few exceptions. Everyone turned in fine performances and Gerard Barray in my opinion is the closest in physical type to D'Artagnan and one of best. The sets and costumes are authentic. Director Bernard Borderie did a fine job with this production. The Athos character is much like the Athos character in the book but in this version instead of the executioner executing Milady. Athos takes justice on Milady himself runs her through with his sword after she fatally stabs Constance (Milady murdered Constance in the same manner in the 1929 sequel to the 1921 version and in the MGM 1948 version,in the novel Milady poisons Constance) and attempted murder of D'Artagnan. D'Artagnan is abducted by the Cardinal's Men along with Constance but is released and seduced later by Milady de Winter. D'Artagnan was also abducted in the 1935,1939 and 1993 versions. In the novel Constance alone is abducted. This version retained the storyline of Milady seducing Felton into killing the Duke of Buckingham. In a departure from the novel D'Artagnan kills Rochefort and this was used in many Musketeer films 1929,1973,1993 and 1999 versions. In Dumas novel D'Artagnan and Rochefort become friends at the end of the novel but Rochefort and D'Artagnan become enemies once again in the Twenty Years After and D'Artagnan finishes him off. Milady's fleur de lis brand is on her upper back near the shoulder not on her shoulder. The Actor playing Cardinal Richelieu is well cast. He actually looks a lot like the paintings of the real Cardinal Richelieu. The Actor in the role of de Rochefort is the closest portrayal to character in the book only much more villainous.This is a fairly faithful adaptation that follows the complete novel and it is a keeper for any true Musketeer fan. If anyone should want to buy it definitely buy this with Part 1 known here in the United States as The Fighting Musketeers. I strongly recommend this 2 part Franco-Italian dubbed in English production. Other recommended complete adaptations are the Richard Lester films,the 1978 Russian production,1966 BBC Production,1948 MGM version a 1999 stage play to video production and the 2005 French-Canadian production D'Artagnan et les trois mousquetaires.