In 2011, I announced I was trying to see every film released in 1939. This new series chronicles films released in 1939 as I watch them. As we start out this blog feature, this section may become more concrete as I search for a common thread that runs throughout each film of the year. Right now, that’s difficult.

1939 film:
The Three Musketeers (1939)

Release date:
Feb. 17, 1939

Cast:
Don Ameche, The Ritz Brothers, Binnie Barnes, Gloria Stuart, Pauline Moore, Joseph Schildkraut, John Carradine, Lionel Atwill, Miles Mander, Douglass Dumbrille, John “Dusty” King, Russell Hicks, Gregory Gaye, Lester Matthews, Egon Brecher, Moroni Olsen, Georges Renavent, C. Montague Shaw

Studio:
20th Century Fox

Director:
Allan Dwan

Plot:
In a musical comedy adaptation of “Three Musketeers,” D’Artagnan of Gascony (Ameche) is headed to Paris to become a Musketeer. On the way, he meets three Musketeers, Athos (Dumbrille), Aramis (King), and Porthos (Hicks), who insult him. When D’Artagnan arrives in Paris, he’s prepared to fight them. After Athos, Aramis and Porthos have passed out from drinking, and D’Artagnan mistakes three lackeys (the Ritz Brothers) for the Musketeers. After taking a room, D’Artagnan meets Lady Constance (Moore) who accompanies the Queen (Stuart) to meet her lover. D’Artagnan and Constance get caught up in intrigue.

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