Films

The Three Musketeers (MGM 1948)

A poster for 1948's "The Three Musketeers" (1948).

Lana's thoughts on The Three Musketeers:

...Back home, when I read the script for The Three Musketeers, I found that Lady de Winter was not a starring role. Surprised that my agents had signed me for it, I went straight to Mr. Mayer and refused the part. With Bob (Topping, her third husband) in my future I felt strong, since I wouldn't have to depend on that weekly paycheck from the studio. We fenced a little. The wily Mr. Mayer said that the studio  couldn't force me to honor the commitment, but that I would have to cover preproduction costs of several hundred thousand dollars.

"Sorry," I said bravely, "I still won't do that script."

I soon found out that when your agents are empowered to make a deal for you, it's the same as doing it yourself. So, now for the first time, the studio suspended me. There were meeting and negotiations; they rewrote the script to give me more to do, and I finally agreed to make the picture.

Am I glad I did! I enjoyed the filming enormously. George Sidney flavored the story with humor and comic swordplay. He had Gene Kelly leaping all over the place. It was my first picture in Technicolor and my first chance to play a really villainous lady. At the end I was beheaded...

Production Dates: January 25, 1948-May 5, 1948

Release Date: October 20, 1948.

Credited Cast and Crew:

Lana Turner, Gene Kelly, June Allyson, Van Heflin

Directed by: George Sidney

Writing Credits: Alexandre Dumas (novel), Robert Ardrey (screenplay)

Produced by: Pandro S. Berman

Original Music by: Herbert Stothart

Non-Original Music by: Tchaikovsky

Cinematography by: Robert H. Planck

Synopsis: Sword fighting and swashbuckling, MGM style.

My Review: A tough one. All of the elements were there to make this a wonderful film that was going to keep me on the edge of my seat, yet I left the film feeling empty. In one respect, you have a cast of incredible performers, who easily could have carried the film on their own, without each other. You have Lana (beautifully gowned and coiffed as the evil Lady De Winter), Gene Kelly, Frank Morgan, Van Heflin and more. They all give stand out performances, which is why it is such a shame that they are all trapped by a talky, overlong and padded out script (how much sword fighting can one take?!). The characters (with the exception of Van Heflin's Athos) are all incredibly one dimensional and the audience isn't given much background as to why they are the way they are. Just why IS Lady De Winter so evil? Perhaps the screen writers could have explored that a little bit more

So in short, the parts are better than the whole, with Van Heflin stealing the show from his costars.

Your Review: What are YOUR thoughts on this film? Contact me at Liza@lanaturneronline.com

Highlights and Trivia

*Cinematographer Robert Planck was nominated for an Oscar for his outstanding work on this film.

*Lana's fifth big moneymaker in a row.

*Based on the book The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas.

*Lana's first color picture.

*Lana's last film for two years.

*Lana was miffed at the fact that she had to "play second fiddle" to Gene Kelly.

Purchase The Three Musketeers:

VHS

 

Photo Gallery

Milday looking striking in red for 1948's "The Three Musketeers".    Lana shows Vincent Price that looks really CAN kill in 1948's "The Three Musketeers".    An unused wardrobe test shot for "The Three Musketeers" (1948). Lou Valentino Collection    Lana and Vincent Price in "The Three Musketeers", 1948.    Lady De Winter plots her next move in 1948's "The Three Musketeers". Photo Source: Isifa.Com    Lana relaxing on the set of "The Three Musketeers" in 1948. Take Note of two things: A) Lana has a white mark on her wrist where she must have been wearing a bracelet while tanning and B) She's wearing platform sandals (with white sox yet! Lana what were you thinking?) with high platforms, probably to give her height.    A candid camera catches Lana off guard during filming of "The Three Musketeers" in 1948.    Lana humors Vincent Price in 1948's "The Three Musketeers".

For Lana, these are very serious matters in 1948's "The Three Musketeers".    Lana and Gene Kelly autographed this photo of themselves in "The Three Musketeers" in 1948.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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