Every generation gets the cinematic version of The Three Musketeers that it deserves. (An aside: The “every generation/deserves” paraphrase has been used so often, according to Google, that I should feel vaguely ashamed of myself.) Mine got Michael York, Oliver Reed, Richard Chamberlain and the guy-that-nobody remembers playing Porthos. Also Charlton Heston as Richelieu, Faye Dunaway as Milady, and Raquel Welch as Constance. Plus, Geraldine Chaplin and the actor from Young Winston. Simon Ward?
Insomnia gave me a chance to catch up with my generation’s musketeers early this morning. I winced at parts — it is sillier than I recalled, with an ananchronistic ribaldry and too much slapstick, and Raquel Welch is beyond miscast. But Michael York and Oliver Reed were, I think, rather perfect. Can a generation that knows Michael York as a) Basil Exposition and b) Larry David’s partner in the restaurant business, begin to see how appealing he was, once upona time, with that broken nose? Okay, truthfully, I can name only three movies he was in — Three Musketeers (and its semi-sequel, Four Musketeers); Caberet; and Logan’s Run, which I count as one guilty pleasure, one genuine pleasure and one camp pleasure. Yes, I’m keeping it to three, because there was supposed to be only one Musketeer film, but it became so unwieldy it was chopped in two, which explains the rather unfinished feeling to the first one. Also, it explains how the trailer for the next one could be tacked to the end credits for this one.
Still, I’ve seen the Gene Kelly and June Allyson version, and I’d rather watch The Dancing Cavalier*. And I’ve seen the — forgive me, I was taking some preteen girls to the movies, it was not my idea — the one with Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and what’s-his-name from Scent of a Woman, and I don’t think it’s generational loyalty to say however much my Three Musketeers may blow, this one really blows. (An aside: I also loved the television version of The Man in the Iron Mask.)
Who will star in the next Three Musketeers? What other classic works keep getting reworked, and what are the results? (James Bond comes to mind, and Great Expectations, but there must be more.) What beloved movie from your teens would cheer you up in an insomniac funk? FWIW, I’d love to see Young Winston again.
*And if you don’t know The Dancing Cavalier, please brush up, as there’s a joke in the next Tess novel that rather depends on it.
Yes, this is the old TMP, free of tour bloggage, although I’ll note that WTDK has remained on the Booksense list, hanging in at #13. Also, now that I am home and writing again – 5,400 words in two days – I have time to become obsessed with new websites such as <a href=” http://icanhascheezburger.com/2007/04/24/halp-5/”>this</a>.
guess what I am putting on NEXT with Netflix
I keep trying to credit Undercover Black Man, a blog run by David Mills, for the kitty link, but it keeps going awry.
I think Michael York was pretty sexy in Logan’s Run(as I remember it). I recently saw the Timothy Dalton Jane Eyre- having previously only seen the Orson Welles version. The Dalton version was actually quite a few BBC TV episodes and Timothy Dalton(a James Bond himself) is a very different Mr. Rochester(“Not handsome”- quite the opposite). Dalton is more emotional(he seemed over the top to me sometimes) and more obviously charmed with Jane before he declares himself. It does have a lot of more of the book than the Welles version but even with 11 episodes they were not true to the story. I learned there is a Ciaran Hinds version so I need to see that.
Bedtime Story – with Brando and David Niven- remade as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Steve Martin and Michael Caine. I love both Martin and Caine but the original is just a lot better.
I don’t know that I’d call it a classic, but I’ve seen the remake of The Parent Trap on TV several times. Hayley Mills grew up much more gracefully than the new star (whose name is escaping me and I’m supposed to be working, so won’t check)
<a href=”http://undercoverblackman.blogspot.com/”>This</a> is the link I’ve been struggling with.
Parent Trap
Isn’t is Lindsay Lohan?
Points to Doris Ann — The Dancing Cavalier is the film in Singing in the Rain. Points to Andrea — Lindsay Lohan is in the remake of The Parent Trap.
Points to me, I finally got the link up to Undercover Black Man.
Dirty Dancing always cheers me up…and next week, they release it on DVD for seriously the fourth time (at least). And guess who will buy it again? *sigh*
Also Heathers, Big (also out next week in a two-disc special edition–and I’m buying that too!) and various other 80s movies, both cheesy and not. I also like reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
And I liked my generation’s Three Musketeers (Kiefer and the rest, although to be fair, I haven’t seen it since it came out in theaters, so it could totally blow and I wouldn’t realize it).
Generational loyalty is a fine and admirable quality. (But, seriously, Kelly, the boomers win this one. This, and Social Security, which we’re planning to bankrupt. Sorry about that.)
I know I never get tired of the “Gidget” movies or the original Parent Trap. If they are on I HAVE to watch them. It would be sacreligious not to.
One weekend Bianca and I rented all the Gidget and all of the Annette and Frankie beach movies (they were her favorites)and we compared them. Gidget won hands down. I also think that todays leading men are too “pretty” compared to the Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas, Erroll Flynn types, from the 40′s/50′s and then the Michael Caine, Sean Connery, Paul Newman types from the 60′s/70′s.
Although it was a total travesty that Jean Hagen was the only one from SINGING IN THE RAIN nominated for an Oscar, she was pretty freakin’ brilliant as Lina “Yes! Yes! Yes! No no NOOOOOO!” Lamont.
I also haven’t seen any of the other versions. And again, I haven’t seen “my” version in over a decade.
Don’t worry about Social Security–I’m already resigned to dying penniless. And it’s not your fault. It’s the DVD companies for putting out Dirty Dancing every three years with new extras.
Oh, I should watch Singing in the Rain tomorrow. I love that movie.
Funny, that’s the third “Singin’ In the Rain” reference I’ve seen/heard today.
And I’d say every generation also gets the Robin Hood they deserve. Thank God we can all enjoy the Errol Flynn one. I actually say the Costner one in downtown Baltimore, which made it infinitely more entertaining than it would’ve been on its own.
I’ll even go further (and more obscure) and say the same for “Christmas in Connecticut.” The Barbra Stanwyck version? Delightful. The Dyan Cannon and Kris Kristofferson version (directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger)? Excruciating.
And because I forgot to comment the other day, how is the Declan Hughes? It’s sitting on my desk, waiting for me…
What about Robin Hood- Men in Tights? No one deserved that. The saving grace of the Costner one was Alan Rickman as the Sheriff
If you want to see how far we have come, there are two versions of the movie Imitation of Life, one made in 1934, the other one in the 60s. I don’t think it could be done again. (Interesting links, both of them).
Michael York managed to hold his own in the “Murder on the Orient Express” version that I adore (as much as I too adore this film. He was acting with some of the best and he still managed to impress me. while there were times that the camp could have been cut back a wee tad (good ol wee tad, how IS he?) I have been known to watch it JUST for the sword scene in the tavern. the BEST damn swordfight choreography ever – gods. (and i won’t want the “updated) because well, WHY? but then, remakes really tire me. there’s YET another “new” Invasion of the body Snatcheers” and the (sorry to her fans) over-rated Nicole Kidman is reportedly remaking yet ANOTHER pointless remake, “how to Marry a Millionaire”. Oh, yeah, we need that. It’s so much easier than paying writers for new stuff.
Alan Rickman’s sheriff was SO verging on camp (or over the line, I’m not sure)but his “and cancel Christmas” line just did me in.
But honey, my most recent tee shirt purchase is one found on cafe press and it is (as my grandmother would say) “gawjus”. and it reads “I am a shimmering, glowing star in the cinema firmament.” Beat THAT.
Andi “I ain’t PEEPLE!” Shechter
Far From Heaven attempted a Sirk-like film. I wanted to like it, expected to like it, in fact, but found it baffling.
I can’t help quoting my old favorite, Ruth McKenney: “I suppose it is the onset of mean old age, but the movies seemed better in 1938. Of course this was before Freud hit Hollywood; you could sit through an entire MGM super-feature without a single nightmare (decor by Dali) and n obody had a neurosis. Sadism was not yet considered box office; corpses expired decently off the set, with only medium moans, and villains did not publicly giggle or otherwise lick their chops, as they kicked poor old crippled ladies down the stairs. Charles Boyer was still being suave; Fred Astaire danced around ina fine, cheerful, unsymbolic sort of way; Bob Hope played oppoiste a penguin, not Jane Russell; Groucho Marx leered; Humphrey Bogart was an obscure, sinister gangster; and the best motion picture ever made (Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times, it goes without saying) was still showing in the smaller houses off Broadway.”
One of the many brilliant things about Singin’ in the Rain is how they keep Lina’s voice under wraps, especially in the retrospective of Don’s career. (“Dignity, always dignity,” is one of our household mottos.)
Loved Michael York and that version of Three Musketeers. Faye Dunaway was fabulous in it.
Movies from my teens I can watch over and over again: Jaws and Young Frankenstein.
I’m still reeling from Andi’s news that Nicole Kidman is remaking How to Marry a Millionaire. In the Lauren Bacall role? I see her more in the Marilyn Monroe role. Betty Grable was sort of a throwaway. Lindsay Lohan perhaps?
Nobody likes a know-it-all, but IIRC it started as “The Dueling Cavalier,” a silent, and then was hastily “upgraded” to “The Singing Cavalier,” with the microphone sprouting fom plants and Lina’s decolletage.
And after that they got to sing, “Good Morning, Good Morning,” my single favorite song in a Hollywood musical.
sorry, Karen, I don’t know (and don’t care) – they are referring to Monroe in the news, so I assume it’s that role – but whatever, since I never watched that one either. But I’m seriously mean about remakes and deathly tired of the boredom factor. A different version is one thing, but a remake another. Which is why I am hoping to go see the musical of “Young Frankenstein” when it premiers here. (as hard as that will be without Marty and Madeleine)
Laura? That’s a standard chez roscoe as well. But what Stu and I want to know is – can you get your teeth to glint like his? We still can’t figure out how that works.
“Oh Pierre you shouldn’t have come!”
I have to say this: James Darren, Moon Doggie…WOW
and btw, I think that ICanHazCheezburger site is an absolute riot….
Laura, it’s very nice of you to resume your blog as being whatever, thanks…
My favorite of the type of movie which fits how this thread was begun is The Count of Monte Cristo, 2002 starring James Caviezel and Richard Harris. I’ve always been a sucker for the action stories and these sorts of things are what I read as well as mystery growing up. I loved Dumas and anyone else I could get my hands on.
Some of the movies have been silly and some of the remakes were very silly such as the one with Charlie Sheen and that lot. But the silliness was not too off putting so it was watchable, Oliver Platt was fun and Tim Curry was a hoot as Cardinal Richelieu.
Robin Hood was also a favorite with Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone. Not too many of those that follwed were very good although I thought Robin Hood Men In Tights was funny. Robin and Marian with Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn was nice because of them but not a great movie on it’s own.
I’m of the mind that they used Richard Chamberlin for just about anything that was going on in movies so it was kind of hard to take him seriously in these types of roles especially after Dr. Kildaire. He was just weird as that guy who became the forerunner of Catholic priests who lusted after young girls in The Thornbirds.
For me Basil Rahtbone will always be Sherlock Holmes. But I think Jeremy Brett was credible in the TV series for PBS.
This doesn’t even touch all of the sci fi.
Sly
I always thought it would have made more sense to be called “The Singing Cavalier”! More related to the coming of sound and all. But no, in fact, after Cosmo’s suggestion of “The Dueling Mammy” was rejected, the film was retitled “The Dancing Cavalier”.
Must have transposed it in my head!
Never doubt Laura….
<em>And after that they got to sing, “Good Morning, Good Morning,” my single favorite song in a Hollywood musical. </em>
Although technically not appropriate (since the original refers to 1am), this is what I sing to my almost-3 year old to wake him up in the morning.
He, on the other hand, prefers to sing, “Make ‘em laugh! Make ‘em laugh!” and run into walls.
Just sneaking in here to note — I’m #29, as of May 6th. That’s six weeks in the top 30. I might run into a few walls my own self.
Love both those images, Rachel.
I used to walk my one-year-old daughter endless miles in the stroller while bellowing “Summertime” at the top of my lungs. Of course, if I had known half the people in town I do now, I would never have been so eager to embarrass myself.
And: Congrats, Laura!!
Oh no — ALWAYS doubt Laura. This is just the kind of error I make all the time.
>>ALWAYS doubt Laura.
*belief system shatters*
The Onion AV Club (www.avclub.com) has a nice review of WTDK today.
Went to the dentist this morning and she walked in carrying a Luna bar. I’d never heard of them before your recent post. So she gave it to me, and told me where to buy more if I like them, and she’s going to buy WTDK to read in the evenings at the continuing ed thingy she’s going to this weekend. And “Look ma, no fillings!” today anyway.
WooHoo! Be sure to wear a helmet.