The Man in the Iron Mask (1977)

Simply Perfect

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

A fantastic sword-fight TV-movie from the famous Alexander Dumas's novel. This great movie remind me to four years before Richard Lester Three Musketeers pictures not only for the presence of Richard Chamberalin. Lester movies had a more ironic and unconventional tone but the same cure for the customs and locations, here the director is talented Mike Newell (Dance with a Stranger, Donnie Brasco) that it was more careful not to betray the spirit of the novel. Together with fidelity to the novel, another aspect that make the movie truly agreeable and he approaches again to Lester movies was the rich cast. After the co-starring role as Aramis in The Three and The Four Musketeers, now brilliant Richard Chamberlain was the main character and he proved himself to be a fine actor because he plays very well two different roles: King Louis XIV and his long lost twin brother, Phillippe. It's Richard Chamberlain who carries the entire movie and he was astoundingly charming in his screen costume, oh my God that unbelievably handsome man....I confess not hardly I saw fine Richard to enter in scenes I fell in love lost of he, He was more sexy and seductive than Musketeers protagonist Michael York and also than Leo Di Caprio that impersonates the same character in the movie of 1998. There are others connections with Lester movies in the central characters and in the actors...Patrick McGoohan (Escape from Alcatraz) was delicious as villain Fouquet and remind me to Charlton Heston Richelieu for the same elegance. The wonderful Jenny Agutter as the movie heroine Louise de la Vallière was simply most beautiful; she formed with Richard a beautifulst couple on the screen; Agutter remind me to Musketeers heroine beyond compare Raquel Welch as Constance for her fine physiognomy, fabulous hair natural but amazing in both, for the simple but elegant costume and because both have been partners on screen of Michael York (Agutter in Logan's Run, Welch in The Three Musketters). Vivine Merchant in her last apparition as Queen Maria Theresa remand me to wicked Faye Dunaway as Milady in The Four Muscketeers in spite of the diversity of the two personages: Merchant was older but was and elegant queen while Dunaway under the gorgeous courtesan dress was a coarse whore, thief and murderess; watching the movie it's not possible not think to she because Merchant wears the same costume dressed from Dunaway in the final dance in The Three Musketeers and both have the same blonde wigs and similar make-up. Others the performances are strong all around (Holm, Jourdan, Richardson, Bruce as in The Musketeers are Reed, Lee, Chaplin and Finlay).

While watching this film it's hard at times to remember this was only meant to be a TV production. This must be the most lavish and successful television movie made in the 70's that I have seen. I saw it first time as a child and was much fascinated. Now almost two decades later I still love to see it again on DVD. Here Alexandre Dumas' classic story has received an equally classic adaption.Richard Chamberlain in the double role of the royal twin brothers has often been compared favorable to Errol Flynn and I quite agree. It's not just the mustache but the swashbuckling and charisma also, not forgetting that he is a truly fine actor. Here it shows especially well because the whole cast is absolutely loaded with talent and presence; Ralph Richardson, Ian Holm, Louis Jourdan, Jenny Agutter and one of my favorite British actors, Patrick McGoohan as the most sinister minister. Mike Newell's directing combined with obviously a very healthy budget, handsome shooting and locations has worked wonders. The film does not only look wonderful, it also have a wonderful feeling in it. As a piece of classic romantic adventure stories in film from the last three decades I consider this one of the best.

This is an epic retelling about the durable Alexandre Dumas's novel and is set in 17th century French court where appears two twins brothers (Richard Chamberlain playing a double role) , separated at birth , one nasty become in Louis XIV of France married to Mª Teresa of Spain (Vivien Merchant) and the other Phillippe who is unjustly imprisoned in the Bastilla . Both of whom are sons of the Queen mother , Anna of Austria (Brenda Bruce) . Later on , Phillippe is jailed in an island and hidden his identity wearing an iron mask but his existence threatens the reigning . But D'Artagnan (Louis Jourdan) and the Prime Minister named Colbert (Ralph Richardson) scheme a plan to free Phillippe clashing against a malicious Fouquet (Patrick McGooham) , the Louis XIV's favorite.It's an excellent rendition from the immortal novel with quite budget , though is made for television . The picture contains rousing action , intrigue , exciting swordplay , romantic adventure , mayhem and results to be pretty entertaining . Marvelous casting with a magnificent Richard Chamberlain as a suffering inmate turning valiant swashbuckler and a selfish King . He gives a charming acting and manages to use his fists , swords and to do some acrobatics . Exceptional cinematography by the classic cameraman Freddie Young who has a distinguished and long career crowned with three Oscars for David Lean's films . Spectacular and evocative musical score by Allyn Ferguson . Lush production design by John Stoll is well reflected on the luxurious interiors and exteriors filmed in England and French palaces (Fointeneblau , Versalles , among others) . The motion picture was well realized by Mike Newell . This classy story is previous and subsequently remade in several versions , firstly is shot with Douglas Fairbanks (mute rendition , 1929) and the first sound (1939) retelling was made by James Whale with Louis Hayward and Joan Bennet . A French adaptation (1962) by Henry Decoin with Jean Marais , Jean Rochefort , Claudina Auger , Sylva Koscina . A 1998 recounting by William Richert with Edward Albert , Dana Barron , Timothy Bottoms , Meg Foster , James Gammon . And finally in 1998 , the most recent and lavish adaptation of the classic story by Randall Wallace with Leonardo DiCaprio , Jeremy Irons , Gerard Depardieu , John Malkovich . This is the better adaptation for TV of the classy and will appeal to the costume genre fans

Richard Chamberlain had already proved himself a fine actor before starring in this TV production of "The Man in the Iron Mask," but here he truly gives the performance of a lifetime. Performances, I should say, because he plays two different (VERY different) roles: King Louis XIV and his long lost twin brother, Phillippe.Louis is a spoiled, infantile (his courtiers know perfectly well to deliberately lose at croquet lest they "risk another tantrum") and often cruel man, who lives in splendor while his subjects starve. He treats his long-suffering wife like garbage, openly flirting with and carrying on other women, and at one point he even viciously rips her wig off in public after calling her a "mountain of sallow flesh." Not surprisingly, no one likes Louis all that much; even his mother is hard pressed to say anything nice about him.Meanwhile, Phillippe, totally unaware of his relation to Louis, is mysteriously kidnapped from his cozy home and thrown into the Bastille. But it's not what you think -- his kidnappers are the ageing Three Musketeers, who, fed up with their "water lily" of a ruler, have a plan to oust him and replace him with his identical twin, Phillippe. (Though Phillippe was born first and is therefore the rightful king, they insist that he rule as Louis XIV because of France's instability.) The Bastille was a "safe place" to stash Phillippe, or so they thought; at least two people, upon accidentally seeing Phillippe, are struck by his resemblance to Louis. One of them reports to Fouquet, the king's closest adviser. Upon verifying Phillippe's identity, Fouquet breaks the news to Louis, who, quite rightly fearing usurpation, hatches a cruel plan: imprisoning Phillippe for life in a run down castle in a distant part of France. But even that isn't enough: "No one must look upon his face," Louis tells Fouquet. Hence the iron mask, which is locked upon poor Phillippe in a gut-wrenching sequence.The rest of the movie is about the Three Musketeers rescuing Phillippe, telling him the truth, and proceeding ahead with their plans. Meanwhile, Phillippe falls in love with Louise, a pretty lady of the court who the king is also unsuccessfully trying to romance (and as it turns out, Fouquet likewise tried to romance, and when she spurned his advances, he had her father thrown in the Bastille), and there's plenty of wonderfully intricate plotting.While the performances are strong all around (except for maybe Jenny Agutter as Louise), it's Richard Chamberlain who carries the entire movie. Phillippe starts out an ordinary person, but his grotesque mistreatment starts to make him almost savage. Not surprisingly, the desire for revenge burns white-hot inside him, and he finally gets to realize it at the end. He also has a remarkable moment when, after having assumed Louis XIV's identity, he meets his mother for the first time: he is so emotional that he can barely get the words out, yet manages to cover it by telling her how beautiful she looks. The queen mother, who of course doesn't know his true identity, beams and says, "My Louis?" as if wondering that maybe now she can finally truly love her son.Meanwhile, his turn as Louis is admirably restrained. Most actors would not be able to resist chewing the scenery while playing such a vile, decadent character, but Chamberlain instead gives a nuanced, surprisingly subtle performance. Louis is thoroughly despicable, and Chamberlain is clearly having fun playing such a juicy villain, but he doesn't go over the top.Patrick McGoohan also shines as the clever, vain, heartless Fouquet. He often speaks in a type of growl that reminds me of Jeremy Irons, and his refined sadism is chilling to watch. It makes it all the more satisfying that, in the end, Fouquet is deceived by a simple seamster -- and that he himself is the one who seals his own fate by incorrectly naming Louis as the pretender.