The Man in the Iron Mask (1977) (TV)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Mike Newell

Writers:

William Bast (screenplay)
Alexandre Dumas père (novel)

Release Date:

17 January 1977 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure

Plot:

The story of Louis XIV of France and his attempts to keep his identical twin brother Philippe imprisoned away from sight and knowledge of the public...

Plot Keywords:

Musketeer | Foreign Language Adaptation | Swashbuckler | Iron Mask | Based On Novel

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys.

Cast

Richard Chamberlain	...	King Louis XIV / Philippe
Patrick McGoohan	...	Fouquet
Louis Jourdan	...	D'Artagnan
Jenny Agutter	...	Louise de la Vallière
Ian Holm	...	Duval
Ralph Richardson	...	Colbert de Voliere
Vivien Merchant	...	Queen Maria Theresa
Brenda Bruce	...	Queen Anne of Austria
Esmond Knight	...	Armand
Godfrey Quigley	...	Baisemeaux
Emrys James	...	Percerin
Denis Lawson	...	Claude
Ann Zelda	...	Henriette (as Anne Zelda)
Hugh Fraser	...	Montfleury
Stacy Davis	...	Blacksmith

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

UK:PG | Iceland:L | Germany:12

Company:

ITC Entertainment

Trivia:

First film of Denis Lawson.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At about 35:50 min, when Colbert is at the tailor's to check the dress for the king, in the moment when the dress is brought into the room, you can see an electrical switch near the door frame as well as a cable running along the frame.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Fifth Musketeer (1979)

New version of the Dumas's novel with a handsome Richard Chamberlain in a dual role

This is an epic retelling about the durable Alexandre Dumas's novel and is set in 17th century French court where a twins brothers (Richard Chamberlain playing a double role),separated at birth,one nasty become in Louis XIV of France married with Mª Teresa of Spain(Vivien Merchant) and the other Phillippe is unjustly imprisoned in the Bastilla.Both are sons of the Queen mother Anna of Austria(Brenda Bruce).Later Phillippe is jailed in an island and is hidden his identity wearing an iron mask but his existence threatens the reigning.But D'Artagnan(Louis Jordan) and the 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 is pretty entertaining. Marvelous casting with a magnificent Richard Chamberlain as a suffering inmate turning to valiant swashbuckler and a selfish king.Exceptional cinematography by the classic Freddie Young with a distinguished and long career crowned with three Oscars by David Lean films.Spectacular 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 is well realized by Mike Newell.This classy story is subsequently remade several versions,firstly is shot with Douglas Fairbanks( mute rendition,1929),by James Whale(1939)with Louis Hayward and Joan Bennet,finally in 1998 by Randall Wallace with Leonardo DiCaprio.This is the better adaptation for TV of the classy and will like to the costume genre fans