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'The Three Musketeers' (1973)/'The Four Musketeers' (1974) Criterion Collection 4K UHD Blu-Ray Review

Alexandre Dumas's immortal tale of adventure and camaraderie received perhaps the finest of its numerous screen adaptations with this two-part swashbuckling spectacular from A Hard Day's Night director Richard Lester. Featuring Michael York, Oliver Reed, Frank Finlay, and Richard Chamberlain as the swaggering swordsmen, who thrust and parry their way through courtly intrigue in seventeenth-century France, The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers are also graced with an all-star supporting cast that includes Raquel Welch, Faye Dunaway, Geraldine Chaplin, and Charlton Heston. Lester's exuberant epic breathes new life into an oft-told classic through its boisterous slapstick invention, its meticulous attention to period detail, and a sense of pure, unbridled bravado that is thrilling to behold. The Three Musketeers – Richard Lester's spirited adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's timeless novel immediately distinguished itself from previous film versions with its irresistible lightheartedness. It follows the brash, young wannabe musketeer d'Artagnan (Michael York) as he travels from the French countryside to Paris and befriends Athos (Oliver Reed), Porthos (Frank Finlay), and Aramis (Richard Chamberlain), famed swordsmen whom he must help to stop the conniving Cardinal Richelieu (Charlton Heston) and his plot to undermine the king. The Three Musketeers sweeps viewers away with its exquisite sets and costumes, chivalric romance, and breathless duels punctuated by the ingenious physical comedy that was Lester's trademark. The Four Musketeers – It may be 'all for one and one for all,' but it took director Richard Lester two films to contain the sweeping spectacle of Alexandre Dumas's swashbuckling adventure. This sequel—shot simultaneously with The Three Musketeers, since they were originally conceived as a single film—dials down the comic high jinks that distinguished the first installment in favor of a more somber tone, as our heroes are drawn into a deadly revenge plot orchestrated by the seductive Milady de Winter (a deliciously wicked Faye Dunaway). Upping the psychological stakes and deepening our sense of the characters, The Four Musketeers brings this beloved tale of honor and friendship to a close with a rousing emotional flourish. For thoughts on The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers: Two Films by Richard Lester, please check out my thoughts on No Streaming Required: Video Quality The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers come to 4K UHD Blu-Ray in their original 1.85:1 aspect ratio with a 4K restoration conducted by StudioCanal from the 35mm Original Camera Negatives. Each film is housed on individual discs for a consistent viewing experience across the two parts of the story. The presentations are as close to perfection as you could dream up, as the new transfers look impeccable. There are no major instances of print damage, and overall clarity and detail are out of this world. The aesthetic remains the same across both parts of the epic story with the lavish production design and opulent costumes rendered with ideal texture in 4K UHD. The picture also showcases the environments and facial features with a delicate, tactile touch. These 4K UHD Blu-Ray discs are presented in Dolby Vision for a brilliant example of the benefits of high dynamic range. Colors are bold and favorably saturated in a visually dazzling manner. The color grade takes on a natural appearance with nothing leaning overly warm or cool. Skin tones are lifelike and consistent with subtle facial features easily noticeable in close-ups, especially in regards to makeup. Highlights are never overcooked in any setting, and black levels hold up very well with nothing in the way of crush. There do not appear to be any issues with digital noise due to compression limitations or other such nuisances, thanks to the thoughtful allocation of disc space. This new collection is an incredible treat for fans of these films. Audio Quality The 4K UHD Blu-Ray set comes with remastered LPCM 1.0 tracks for each of these films in the original English with optional English SDH subtitles. The wonderful scores from Michel Legrand and Lalo Schifrin emanate with moving clarity and fidelity, as no weak moments are observed. Dialogue comes through crisp and clear with most of the ensemble sporting stately British accents. There are no major signs of distortion or shortcomings as competing moments avoid clipping important information. There was previously an issue with incorrect pitch on the StudioCanal release overseas that appears to be corrected on this release. Environmental sounds such as the sounds of sword fighting or rain are cleanly rendered alongside everything else. The Criterion Collection has given this collection a stellar audio presentation by all metrics. Special Features The Criterion 4K UHD Blu-Ray of The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers: Two Films by Richard Lester includes a booklet featuring the essay 'En Garde For Joy!' by author Stephanie Zacharek in which she delves into the career of Richard Lester, the history of this text on screen, and much more that is very illuminating. The on-disc special features are as follows: The Three Musketeers The Saga of the Musketeers, Part One: A 23-minute beginning to a documentary directed by David Gregory in 2002 that features interviews with the cast and creative team including producer Ilya Salkind, actors Michael York and Charlton Heston, and countless more. There are discussions about the decision to go back to the original source material to make a picture less sanitized, the casting of the ensemble, the direction of Richard Lester, and more. Two For One, Part One: The 30-minute beginning of a new four-part documentary created by critic David Cairns that explores the pre-production of this series through a visual essay style and audio interviews with key creative figures. Two For One, Part Two: The 43-minute continuation of the new documentary that continues to explore the production of the film in Spain, Lester's directing style to maintain authenticity, working with large swaths of extras, and more. The Making of The Three Musketeers: A seven-minute promotional piece from 1973 that gives you a glimpse at the production. Trailer (3:01) The Four Musketeers The Saga of the Musketeers, Part Two: A 25-minute conclusion to a documentary directed by David Gregory in 2002 that features interviews with the previously-named interview subjects and more. There are discussions about the stunt work, the injuries sustained, memories of the ensemble, the success of the film, and more. Two For One, Part Three: The 42-minute third entry of a new four-part documentary created by critic David Cairns that continues to examine the production of the film including the set design, the costumes, money issues, the cinematography, and more. Two For One, Part Four: The 26-minute conclusion of the new documentary that transitions to the post-production of the film including the tense editing process, the dubbing of many jokes into the background dialogue, the decision to make a sequel, and more. Trailer (3:01) Final Thoughts The Three Musketeers and The Four Musketeers are a pair of swashbuckling films that tackle the classic material with respect while also injecting a sense of levity into the experience. The ensemble is stacked to the brim with amazing actors putting forth memorable performances that only grow in estimation over the two installments. The direction of Richard Lester may be a bit too slapstick for some, yet there is a clear sense of vision, scale, and brutality in the combat as you witness the story unfold in grand fashion. You will have a lot of fun with these films. The Criterion Collection has released a 4K UHD Blu-Ray set that features the films with a wonderful A/V presentation and a fine assortment of special features. If you are a fan of this timeless story, you should spend some time with these films. Recommended The Three Musketeers / The Four Musketeers: Two Films by Richard Lester will be available to purchase on Blu-Ray and 4K UHD Blu-Ray on May 27, 2025. Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the 4K UHD Blu-Ray. Disclaimer: The Criterion Collection has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.