The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers
(aka The Singing Musketeer)
20th Century-Fox, 1939, B/W, 73 minutes, ***
Released February, 1939

A rousing, musical take on Alexandre Dumas' classic starring Don Ameche as D'Artagnan, the brave young adventurer who joins forces with the swashbuckling Musketeers (played by the Ritz Brothers) to protect King Louis XIII from scheming Cardinal Richelieu. Lionel Atwill, Binnie Barnes, John Carradine also star. Songs include "My Lady" and "Song of the Musketeers."

The film begins with the statement, "Once upon a time, (to be exact, 314 years ago), a young Gascon, with a stout heart and a song on his lips set forth for Paris to enlist in the service of his King."

In Charge of Production: Darryl F. Zanuck
Associate Producer: Raymond Griffith
Directed by: Allan Dwan
Screen Play by: M. M. Musselman, William A. Drake and Sam Hellman
Music and Lyrics by: Samuel Pokrass and Walter Bullock
Special Material by: Sid Kuller and Ray Golden
A Musical Comedy Version of The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas
Musical Direction: David Buttolph
Art Direction: Bernard Herzbrun, David Hall
Set Decorations: Thomas Little
Costumes: Royer
Sound: George Leverett, Roger Heman
Photography: Peverell Marley
Film Editor: Jack Dennis

Cast: Don Ameche [D'Artagnan], The Ritz Brothers [Three Lackeys], Binnie Barnes [Milady De Winter], Gloria Stuart [Queen], Pauline Moore [Lady Constance], Joseph Schildkraut [King], John Carradine [Naveau], Lionel Atwill [De Rochefort], Miles Mander [Cardinal Richelieu], Douglas Dumbrille [Athos], John King [Aramis], Russell Hicks [Porthos], Gregory Gaye [Vitray], Lester Matthews [Duke of Buckingham], Egon Brecher [Landlord], Moroni Olsen [Bailiff], Georges Renavent [Captain Fageon], Montague Shaw [Ship Captain], Jean Perry, Fredrik Vogeding [Guards]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra behind titles); [0:01] Voila (sung by Don Ameche); [0:04] Voila (reprised by Don Ameche); [0:06] Plucking Song (sung by the Ritz Brothers); [0:19] Song of the Musketeers (sung by Don Ameche and the Ritz Brothers); [0:31] My Lady (sung by Don Ameche to Pauline Moore); [0:34] Song of the Musketeers (sung by Don Ameche and the Ritz Brothers); [0:36] Voila (reprised by Don Ameche); [0:54] My Lady (sung Pauline Moore and Don Ameche); [0:56] Doin' the Nimble Cymbal (instrumental played by Orchestra with the Ritz Brothers on cymbals); [1:11] Song of the Musketeers (sung and marched by Don Ameche, the Ritz Brothers and Chorus)