We love The Three Musketeers here at Angels, how could we not? It’s colourful cast of characters – some fictional and some genuine historical figures – coupled with its period setting makes it a goldmine for costume ideas. And we’re immensely proud of having supplied many of the costumes seen onscreen in the new BBC TV series.
So what makes the musketeers’ timeless struggle against the odds to protect their country so appealing? Well, it could be just that; it’s a familiar story we all know, but always an engaging one and, back when it was written, it was a lot more original.
There’s certainly something appealing about stepping up to be a hero, especially when you’re part of a kick-ass team like the musketeers. It is easy to see why D’artagnan would want to join Athos, Aramis and Porthos on their mission to protect France.
When first released, the serial became an instant hit and readers would return again and again for the next instalment. Their motto, “All for one and one for all” became so famous that people quote it without knowing where it came from. The serial’s success led to two more stories in what would become a trilogy about D’artagnan. The second book, Twenty Years After, reunites the four musketeers, as they are now known, during the English Civil War, and the trilogy concludes with The Vicomte of Bragelonne, set ten years later.
With the BBC’s series one of The Musketeers nearly finished, you may soon start to wonder were you’re going to get your next Musketeer fix from. Well, never fear, there have been plenty of movies, cartoons and parodies of The Three Musketeers created over the years. For your consideration, here are our five favourite adaptations:
5. DOGTANIAN AND THE THREE MUSKEHOUNDS (1981)
This holds a special place in my heart because it was my personal introduction to the world of the musketeers. Take one classic novel, turn all the characters into anthropomorphisms of dogs and, well that’s pretty much it. But it had one hell of a theme song.
