MovieChat Forums > The Four Musketeers (1975) Discussion > A possible theory to the missing Executi...

A possible theory to the missing Execution scene

posted 13 years ago by angmc43
10 replies | jump to latest

If you remember watching THE FOUR MUSKETEERS on TV or VHS before 1997, you probably viewed it on a crappy print with even crappier pan-and-scan (remember how the opening credit scene would constantly pan-and-scan to catch the credits appearing left and right?). This also removed Milady's execution sequence.

Interestingly, Michael Hardwick's novelization of THE FOUR MUSKETEERS omits the execution as well. It adds onto the scene of Athos stopping 'Nun' Milady at gunpoint. Athos shoots her dead.

Recently, hearing Ilya Salkind's commentary on SUPERMAN II, he talks about THE FOUR MUSKETEERS. And he provides a key to this omission. It seems Richard Lester did not intend to film the execution sequence, feeling it was too gruesome. His omission intent must have been standard enough for Hardwick to write the novelization in his vein.

Ilya claims he pressed Lester to film the execution scene (which he portrayed in long distance). They showed two prints to preview audiences, one with the execution, the other without it. Audiences were more approving to the former.

Yes, this is Ilya Salkind we are talking about, but the evidence here seems solid.

For awhile, there had been some copyright issues about releasing the two films. Could the print that appeared on VHS and television be a bootleg of the preview print that excised the Execution scene? Probably.

[–] messick_us 13 years ago

I remember seeing the " Three " and " Four " when they originally played in 1974 and 1975. The execution scene was there. When HBO ran it in 1976, the scene was intact. After that though, a lot of television prints omitted the scene. I didn't see the scene restored again til AMC ran it in the late 90's. Since then, every version I have seen has the execution scene. Both parts played around " Easter/Spring " break in the area where I was living at the time( Hampton, Virginia ). My friend and I LOVED part one, and couldn't wait for the second part the next year. The movie brings back a lot of fond memories.

[–] angmc43 13 years ago

I didn't see the films until the Family Channel showed them in January 1996. Their print of FOUR did not include the execution scene (and THREE excluded the preview- if not the music- playing the credits early). This continued when it was broadcast on ENCORE that spring. For a while, I was under the belief that the Execution scene was never filmed!
Then one day on ENCORE in Winter 1997, I came upon a remastered print that pan-and-scanned the right way, letterboxed the credit scenes, and- in the case of FOUR- restored the execution scene! Eventually FOUR came on AMC and then THREE followed in late 1998, even airing a widescreen version that I recorded.

[–] keyspoet 9 years ago

Sorry, but I remember too, and they did NOT come out in 1974 and 1975, but in 1973 and 1974, respectively.

The fact that this is commonly stated inaccurately in print does not make it so. I was fourteen when The Three Musketeers came out, and my then-best friend and I fell in love with the film, and saw it in the theatre on at least fifteen different occasions that summer - the summer of 1973.

The version I saw of the Four Musketeers, in 1974, included the execution scene, as did every screening I've seen since. I've never seen the version where it was removed.

[–] AutoexecBatman 9 years ago

They came out in 1973 and 1974 throughout most of Europe, but were not released in the United States until 1974 and 1975, respectively.

[–] lngbrnchlady 12 years ago

In the 'tv' versions of the film, the execution scene was often deleted, although I do remember watching it when it originally aired and therefore kept looking for it whenever it was aired. However, in the DVD releases, it has been there. This is perhaps my favorite (both) film of all time. I have the soundtrack memorized and almost can't watch it with anyone because I will be the annoying person who quotes every line as the film rolls.

[–] wristwatchraver-1 12 years ago

I am too young to have seen if first time around. But I always watched it when it was on TV. I am a particular fan of swashbuckling films . I don't ever remember the execution scene being cut out of the ones I watched. this was around midday. The flash of the axe and the sound of the chop that was all there was to it.

[–] cookiela2001 12 years ago

I have no idea why this scene would be deleted for television. You can barely see what's happening across the river! (Though, now I'm wondering if I've only seen edited versions!)

Isn't it all just a blurry long shot?
.

[–] Blueghost 10 years ago

I have to say that I've never seen the film without the execution, but I keep hearing about it being censored.

[–] dannieboy20906 9 years ago

Somebody actually novelized the screenplay? That strikes me as bizarre. This movie, together with "The Three Musketeers" make the most complete and accurate representation of the original novel by Alexander Dumas that I have seen. Granted Dumas allowed the story itself to serve as humor with the obvious plot of several devoted servants to the crown of France fighting among themselves for their own agendas, rather than including a lot of 'slapstick.' Of course, slapstick comedy is difficult to display in a written format. Still, a novelization, especially one that changes a crucial scene from the book and movie, that actually sold is bizarre.

I need to revise my assessment of the general public again, downward, of course.

The best diplomat I know is a fully charged phaser bank.

[–] BenignPillows 8 years ago

Yes, why novelize the adaptation of a famous novel?? Very strange.

I've never seen the version without the execution either. (That is the sentencing, Milady appealing and d'Artagnan making moves to help her, and a very blurry long shot of the act itself - which is very true to the book, actually, so I doubt there is more.) We taped it from TV in the early 90s, pretty sure it was uncensored.

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"The best fairytale is one where you believe the people" -Irvin Kershner