The Fifth Musketeer ** (1979, Sylvia Kristel, Ursula Andress, Beau Bridges, José Ferrer, Lloyd Bridges, Alan Hale Jr, Rex Harrison, Olivia de Havilland, Cornel Wilde, Ian McShane, Helmut Dantine) – Classic Movie Review 8905

Director Ken Annakin assembles a friendly all-star cast for the 1979 adventure The Fifth Musketeer [Behind the Iron Mask], his spectacular-looking, but turgidly scripted remake of Alexandre Dumas Père’s classic novel The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later, often filmed under the title of its final section, The Man in the Iron Mask. Written by David Ambrose, it is also a direct remake of the 1939 classic The Man in the Iron Mask, crediting its screenplay along with the Dumas novel as its source material.

Beau Bridges (as both wicked French King Louis XIV and his twin brother Philippe of Gascony, whom he incarcerates in the Bastille prison in an iron mask) and Euro sex symbols Sylvia Kristel (as Maria Theresa) and Ursula Andress (as Louise de la Vallière) lead the interesting roster of talent.

But even more welcome are underused veterans Rex Harrison (as Colbert), ‘special guest star’ Olivia de Havilland (as Queen Anne, the Queen Mother), and Cornel Wilde (as D’Artagnan) as well as José Ferrer (Athos), Lloyd Bridges (Aramis) and Alan Hale Jr (Porthos) as the ageing musketeers. The Fifth Musketeer is prettily photographed in picturesque Austria by Jack Cardiff and directed by Annakin with just enough dash, but, despite the script problems, it is mainly the actors who save the day.

Also in the cast are Ian McShane as Fouquet, Helmut Dantine as the Spanish Ambassador and Bernard Bresslaw.

The US release, running 104 minutes, was cut from the original overseas version running 116 minutes.

It was shot at  Wien Film Studios, Sievering, Vienna, and on various Austrian historic locations. The production secured the use of many of the most picturesque castles, palaces and verdant forests in and around Vienna. Schonbrunn Palace stands in for the Louvre and Fontainbleau, as well as the King’s bedchamber, Maria Theresa’s bedroom-anteroom, and the Royal Dining Room.

The Fifth Musketeer [Behind the Iron Mask] is directed by Ken Annakin, runs 104 minutes or 116 minutes, is made by S&T-Film Berlin, Sascha Filmverleih (Wien), is released by Columbia Pictures (1979) (US), is written by David Ambrose, based on the earlier 1939 screenplay by George Bruce, is shot in Eastmancolor by Jack Cardiff, is produced by Heinz Lazek (executive producer), Ted Richmond (executive producer), Peter W Skwara and Manfred Thurau, and scored by Riz Ortolani, with Production Design by Elliot Scott.

Alan Hale Jr played Porthos in the 1952 Lady in the Iron Mask and his father Alan Hale Sr played Porthos in the 1939 classic The Man in the Iron Mask.

Alan Hale Jr plays the son of Porthos and Cornel Wilde plays D’Artagnan’s son in the Hollywood sequel to The Three Musketeers, At Sword’s Point (1952).

The movie followed The Three Musketeers (1973) and The Four Musketeers: Milady’s Revenge (1974).

Peter Diamond instructed and trained 40 swordsmen extras for the jousts, chosen out of 237 fencers tested.

Costume designer Tony Pueo created more than 1,600 costumes for the movie.

The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later is the third and last of The D’Artagnan Romances, following The Three Musketeers and Twenty Years After.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8905

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