The Three Musketeers (1986 film)

The Three Musketeers
250px Screenshot from the opening title of the film
Directed by	Geoff Collins
Produced by	Tim Brooke-Hunt
Written by	Keith Dewhurst, Alexandre Dumas, père (original author)
Starring	Ivar Kants (d'Artagnan) Noel Ferrier (Cardinal Richelieu) Kate Fitzpatrick (Milady)
Music by	Sharon Calcraft
Edited by	Peter Jennings, Caroline Neave
Distributed by	NuTech Digital
Release dates	1986 (Australia)
Running time	49 minutes
Country	Australia
Language	English

The Three Musketeers is a 1986 Australian made-for-television animated adventure film from Burbank Films Australia. The film is based on Alexandre Dumas, père's classic French novel, The Three Musketeers, first published in 1844, and was adapted by Keith Dewhurst. It was produced by Tim Brooke-Hunt and featured original music by Sharon Calcraft.

Although chronologically the story is followed in Burbank's The Man in the Iron Mask, the latter film was released a year before The Three Musketeers. The copyright for this film is now owned by Pulse Distribution and Entertainment and administered by digital rights management firm NuTech Digital. It is available from NuTech Digital's label DVD Ltd.

Plot

In France during the mid-17th century, Cardinal Richelieu receives a visit from the despicably charming young woman, Milady de Winter. Milady brings the Cardinal information regarding the notorious affair between the queen of France and the English Duke of Buckingham. Outside their window, the queen's seamstress, Constance Bonacieux, stands watching the conversation between the two characters, when she is attacked by Rochefort, one of the Cardinal's loyal men. She is rescued by the young musketeer d'Artagnan and taken away to his abode, where Constance briefly explains her troubles and asks for d'Artagnan's help.

Cardinal Richelieu, wanting to convince King Louis XIII that his wife, the queen, is unfaithful to him and in love with the Duke of Buckingham, suggests that he should ask his wife to wear the diamonds he had given her for an upcoming ball. The queen, shocked and dismayed, confesses to Constance that she had sent the diamonds to the Duke of Buckingham, and her confidant goes to d'Artagnan for help. With the help of his companions, three of the finest musketeers in France, Athos, Porthos and Aramis, d'Artagnan makes his way to England to seek the Duke himself, so that he may recover the diamonds and restore the queen's honor.

Still, when all problems seem overcome, the English Duke of Buckingham plans to invade France, remove King Louis XIII and marry the queen; on the other hand, Cardinal Richelieu and Milady want revenge on d'Artagnan and Buckingham. Milady orders Rochefort to kidnap Constance Bonacieux, and when d'Artagnan learns this he sets off to rescue her. Milady is captured by Buckingham, and orders Felton to guard her. Felton falls in love with Milady; she seduces him and asks him to murder the Duke, which he does. Though she believes herself safe at a convent, Constance receives a visit from her supposed benefactor, Milady de Winter, who poisons her; d'Artagnan arrives at the scene and she dies in his arms. Together with Athos, Porthos and Aramis, d'Artagnan corners Milady and she is captured and sentenced to die for her crimes; Milady is then revealed to be Athos' own wife. The villains defeated and the country's honor restored, the four companions return to their homeland mourning the lives lost but cheering for their triumphs.

See also

• The Three Musketeers
• Alexandre Dumas, père
• Burbank Films Australia
• List of films in the public domain

External links

• The Three Musketeers at IMDb
• The Three Musketeers at AllMovie
• The Three Musketeers at the Big Cartoon DataBase