The Four Musketeers 4K 1974

THE THREE MUSKETEERS and THE FOUR MUSKETEERS: MILADY'S REVENGE were shot back-to-back by Richard Lester and I think this is the better film of the two. There's less of the goofy slapstick here, with more focus on a better storyline and more in-depth character work. Michael York has gone from a dumb rookie to a slightly-less-dumb newcomer to the Musketeers and is all the better for it.

The entire cast return for a story that somehow feels fresher and more dangerous, with the stakes raised considerably. Plus, we don't have to go through all of that long-winded character introduction, so we can just get on with the political machinations of the story. The main stars do well in action-oriented roles, but it's supporting players like Christopher Lee and Faye Dunaway who really shine as the villains of the piece. The ending in particular is a ruthless surprise, but it's not quite over as the cast would reunite for one final time in 1989's RETURN OF THE MUSKETEERS.