The Three Musketeers (1921)

Intro.
A friend of mine introduced me to the Weinberg Center in Frederick, Maryland about a year ago.  Although it's a bit of a drive, I never regret visiting.  The Weinberg shows different kinds of performances - plays and singalongs and concerts - but its specialty is film.  The crowning touch to the majestically restored theater is the Wurlitzer concert organ.  According to the Center's website, the organ was purchased in 1926 for $19,000 and today is the only operational movie organ still in its original installation.  The Weinberg has a Silent Film series which features the massive organ and the talents of organist Ray Brubacher.  Even if you aren't a history geek, it's still impressive when the lights dim and the floor of the stage opens.  Up rises the organ, glowing with golden lights, as the organist plays a triumphant song.  It's truly breathtaking.  It's also a beautiful reminder of what movies used to be - an unforgettable experience.    

Overview
The film featured last night was the 1921 version of The Three Musketeers, featuring Douglas Fairbanks.  And featuring is correct - he is credited as actor, writer and producer.  Right from the opening chords, the film was captivating.  The basic plot followed Dumas' story fairly well: a young man (D'Artagnan, played by Fairbanks) out to seek his fortune wants to join the King's Musketeers.  In doing so, he falls for a beautiful seamstress to the Queen who is smack in the middle of royal intrigue.  The palace scenes, while beautifully decorated, were a bit slow and at times, overly dramatic - the Queen is suspected of having an affair with a British duke, and although she is trying to discourage the duke's affections, the Cardinal is determined to show her as unfaithful before the King.  It didn't drag too much through because of the quick cuts back to the story line involving D'Artagnan, which has many comedic scenes as well as terrific duels.  In the end, the Queen of France is saved, order is restored, and D'Artagnan becomes a Musketeer.

Highlights
I'd never seen a Douglas Fairbanks film before and was quite impressed that he did all his own stunts.  There were some great ones in this film too, particularly the duel in the grocer's shop where he's jumping from counter to counter as he fights.  It was obvious to see why such films were hits of their time and how Fairbanks became a star.

Reflection and Recommendation
As I mentioned earlier, seeing this film in a restored theater with a beautiful organ was a grand experience.  I could almost imagine being a moviegoer in 1921 at the time of the film's release.  The thick carpeting and crystal chandeliers made it even more glorious.  As the film itself reads on the opening story card, although set 300 years earlier, the story remains timeless and could have happened yesterday or happen again tomorrow.  Truly, great films are timeless.  We can watch and celebrate them at any time and be transported back to the days when the story was set or even when the film was made.  Part of the magic is the lost art of imagination - silent movies can be boring or difficult if you aren't willing to use your imagination, to put yourself into the story, to absorb it and figure out the missing dialogue.  I had an interesting discussion with a friend awhile back about how today's films leave nothing to the imagination.  We've gotten lazy as audiences.  I want films that make you think, that make you interpret the missing scenes.  You learn just as much about story lines from what isn't shown as you do from what is.  But that's a topic for another time.

Finally, I would like to recommend this film if you haven't seen many silent pictures.  It's a great example of the historical swashbuckling adventures, and a nice introduction to Douglas Fairbanks.  Just be prepared that it does run a good two hours.  It also leads me to an idea for a future review.  As I sat there enjoying the film, I couldn't help but think that D'Artagnan's character had certain quirks and charms that reminded me of Gene Kelly.  I had heard in an interview that Gene had wanted to do a version of the Three Musketeers for a long time before finally getting the part of D'Artagnan.  I just added the film to my Netflix list and am eagerly waiting to see him as the dashing swordsman.  Like Fairbanks, Gene did his own stunts and shared the same charisma.  Sitting in the theater last night, I felt like I could see where his desire had come from - Gene Kelly would've been 9 years old when the Fairbanks film appeared - and at that age, imagination is boundless.  I imagined that Kelly was probably awestruck as I was.  Maybe it was the theater, or the organ, or the film, or a combination, but I felt like I had finally caught a glimpse of the glamour that once was old Hollywood. 

Read more about Fairbanks and the others at IMdB, and check out the Weinberg's site here.