Alas, this is more interesting than enjoyable.
The script is rather muddled, and, despite a high-quality cast, the acting is ... well, to be polite, lacking.
Some of those good ol' country boys just do not make very convincing Arabs. (But they sure are good cowboys.)
John Wayne is today usually billed as the star, but he was listed fourth in the credits and was still relatively new in Hollywood at the time of the release. Even then he was showing the charm that would make him a star.
A tighter script and better directing should have made this a classic serial, but they are missing.
Still, this is one to see if only for the historical value.
Let me warn you: The DVD sold by the apparently dishonest and dishonorable Digiview company is more advertising for the company's other wares than a good presentation of this serial. There are only four of the 12 chapters, and I think the company is guilty of theft and fraud.
The picture seems to be ninth or tenth generation, and the sound is equally bad.
I urge everyone not to buy any product from Digiview.
(((This is an added note: After reading my comments here, a person wrote me that Digiview usually provides a buyer with value for the money. I was told "The Three Musketeers" is not typical fare from the company. I will leave my comment, above, but am happy to make this notation that Digiview, http://www.digiviewus.com, apparently is a company to buy from.)))
This is a long overdue update: Digiview does indeed include the complete serial. All the chapters are there. They are there in TWO DISCS, but the jerky retailer from whom I bought my copy had only the first disc. Quite by accident, from another jerky retailer, I found the second disc, so I now have the complete serial.
I hope readers and Digiview will accept my apology and my correction.
The script is rather muddled, and, despite a high-quality cast, the acting is ... well, to be polite, lacking.
Some of those good ol' country boys just do not make very convincing Arabs. (But they sure are good cowboys.)
John Wayne is today usually billed as the star, but he was listed fourth in the credits and was still relatively new in Hollywood at the time of the release. Even then he was showing the charm that would make him a star.
A tighter script and better directing should have made this a classic serial, but they are missing.
Still, this is one to see if only for the historical value.
Let me warn you: The DVD sold by the apparently dishonest and dishonorable Digiview company is more advertising for the company's other wares than a good presentation of this serial. There are only four of the 12 chapters, and I think the company is guilty of theft and fraud.
The picture seems to be ninth or tenth generation, and the sound is equally bad.
I urge everyone not to buy any product from Digiview.
(((This is an added note: After reading my comments here, a person wrote me that Digiview usually provides a buyer with value for the money. I was told "The Three Musketeers" is not typical fare from the company. I will leave my comment, above, but am happy to make this notation that Digiview, http://www.digiviewus.com, apparently is a company to buy from.)))
This is a long overdue update: Digiview does indeed include the complete serial. All the chapters are there. They are there in TWO DISCS, but the jerky retailer from whom I bought my copy had only the first disc. Quite by accident, from another jerky retailer, I found the second disc, so I now have the complete serial.
I hope readers and Digiview will accept my apology and my correction.