Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-05-23
The Three MusketeerS


to the greatest five novels or romances
ever written in any IaDguage--it IS
quite certain that the Three Muske-
teers, by Alexander Dumas, the elder,
would be included in every list. Pro-
vided, however, that the vote would be
taken among the leading literati OF
each country. 1t would matter not,
the number of votes, 50 far as the
Three Musketeers is concerned, wheth-
er one hundred or ten thousand, this
immortal work of Dumas would re-
ceive a unanimous choice as one OF
the five. Statesmen, scientists, clergy
men, pOets-the great intellects OF
every calling and vocatiOn-eyen nov
elists and romance writer's themselves
for nearly century past, have sue
cumbed to the charm of this fascinat-
ing work, and rendered it due hon.
age. Not even my own friends are
quite so dear to me as D'Artagnan'-
wrote Robert Louis Stevenson!
If Dumas as famous for any one
quality it is for action. The story
moves rapidly and brilliantly, with
out a dull or hating page. Consist
ing mainly of sparkling and scintil-
lating dialogue, just enough descrlp-
ton to be illuminative and never ted
ious, there is vividnes sand nervous
activity that sweeps the reader off his
feet, and carries him along on tide
of breathless interest.
We have described the essentials
for Il great Movie Drama. Action is
the chief reQuisite-a rapid-fire de-
velopmcnt of plot-and a series of
continuous surprises Add to this
that ineffable quality known only to
genius: the creation of living, breath
ing, human entities as the characters
and you have the greatest Of photo
plays.
So much for the play itself. Now
as to the players! Douglas Fair
banks makes the ideal D'Artagnan
The fierce, fiery, intrepid Gascon,
whose very breath Of life is adven-
ture; who is as proud as Lucifer and
as poor as a church-mouse; the soul
of chivalry; yet with heart as tender
as a maiden's; handsome, of course;
with nerves of adamant, and muscles
of steel; the best fencer in three king
domS; with that assurance in Gas
con. which in others would be mere
boast and bravado; all these things
Douglas Fairbanks does not only act
but is. To see him is a revelation. 1t
is by farther best work he has ever
done; and is encouraging in that it
points out the heights to which he may
attain; higher he could not go. Given
the vehicle he has the genius
For our own part, we do not hest
tate to say that the Three Musketeers
is by far the best work he has ever
on the screen. 1t carries US back to
the days of Louis the KILL, and
Charles l., in the early years Of the
18th century. The architecture, the
landscape, the manners, the customs,
and the costumes are all portrayed
to the life. Historically it is paint
ing made at the time and on the spot
The other characters, too, display
the greatest talent. They are all i'm
bued with the spirit of the story and
seem to belong to a past age. The
Cardinal is a splendid reproduction
of the willy diplomat who ruled
France; the Duke of Buckingham is
the handsomeSt cavalier of the Eng
liSh Court, who broke the hearts of
women and the heads of his enemies.
Father Joseph seems to have stepped
out of an old canvas, ghostly and
mysterious. Athos, Porthos, and Ara
mis- could not be improved on. Anne
of Austria, Constance, and Milady,
are lovely and woman1y; and the last,
terrible, as we'll,
The fencing scenes are the climax
of skill. Fairbanks does apparently
impossible feats.
This great photopIay is really IN
surpassabe and should be seen by
every man and woman and every
youth and maiden in Alexandria.
Clean as a hounds tooth, as true
to the life of the days in which
it is laid, as the image in a mirror
it is the most interesting and faSci-
mating drama yet made visible TO the
eye by the moving camera. We have
seen it twice and shall see it yet a
third time this week. here at home.
We have read the novel ten times: We
hope to see it on the screen, with
Douglas Fairbanks as the star, at
least as many times in as many years.