Watch The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers is a swashbuckling adventure film from 1921, directed by Fred Niblo and starring the legendary silent film actor Douglas Fairbanks in the lead role of D'Artagnan. Based on Alexandre Dumas' classic novel of the same name, the film tells the story of a young Gascon nobleman who travels to Paris to become a musketeer and ends up embroiled in a dangerous plot to overthrow the king.

The film opens with a young and impetuous D'Artagnan leaving his home in Gascony to travel to Paris and join the ranks of the musketeers. Along the way, he gets into a series of duels with various adversaries, including three of the musketeers themselves, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, whom he eventually befriends. Together, the four men embark on a series of daring escapades, including rescuing the queen from the clutches of the evil Duke of Buckingham, and uncovering a plot by Cardinal Richelieu to destroy the king and take over France.

The film is filled with thrilling swordfights and stunts, all of which are performed by Fairbanks himself, who was known for his athleticism and acrobatic feats. From riding on a carriage's roof to scaling walls and leaping over rooftops, Fairbanks brings an unmatched energy and physicality to the role of D'Artagnan, making him a charismatic and likable hero.

The supporting cast is also strong, with Nigel De Brulier delivering a towering and menacing performance as Cardinal Richelieu, the film's main antagonist. George Siegmann plays the Duke of Buckingham with a suave charm that makes him both alluring and dangerous, while Eugene Pallette provides comic relief as the drunken musketeer, Planchet.

The film is notable for its lavish sets and costumes, which recreate the splendor and opulence of 17th-century France with great attention to detail. From the sumptuous palace interiors to the bustling streets of Paris, the film immerses the viewer in a richly realized world of intrigue and adventure.

Overall, The Three Musketeers is a classic adventure film that still holds up well today, almost a century after its initial release. Fairbanks' charismatic performance and the film's thrilling action sequences make it a must-see for fans of the genre, and its enduring popularity has inspired countless adaptations and reimaginings over the years.

The Three Musketeers is a 1921 action movie with a runtime of 2 hours. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9.