September 5 - The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)

This is a movie with a scene that happens today – September 5. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

THE MAN IN THE IRON MASK (1998)

King Louis XIV of France summons Aramis, formerly one of the famed Three Musketeers, and now a priest, to a meeting. The King asks Aramis to find the secret leader of the Jesuits in France and kill him. The Jesuits have been critical of the king’s wars that are causing starvation and riots in France. Aramis agrees. Raoul, the son of Athos, another of the Three Musketeers, intends to propose to Christine, but she catches the King’s eye and Raoul is sent to the front, where he is killed. Athos swears vengeance. After Louis provides for medical aid to Christine’s mother and sister, she becomes his mistress. Aramis, Porthos, Athos and D’Artagnan meet in secret, where Aramis reveals he’s the secret leader of the Jesuits and proposes to depose the king. D’Artagnan, now head of the royal musketeers, refuses to join this plot. The other three visit an island prison, rescuing an inmate who wears an iron mask, disguising his escape by convincing the jailers he is dead. The prisoner looks just like the king. Aramis reveals that on September 5, 1638 [54:58 to 55:07] the  French Queen, Anne of Austria had twins, Louis, who is now the King and Philippe, the Man in the Iron Mask. The twin’s father, Louis XIII had Philippe hidden away and later Louis XIV orders him to wear the iron mask. Philippe agrees to replace his brother. When Christine confesses to Louis that she still loves Raoul and not him, he throws her out.  During a fancy court masque, the three musketeers make the switch. However, Phillipe’s unusually kind actions alert D’Artagnan, so he confronts them and captures Phillipe, while the three musketeers escape. Phillipe says he prefers death to the mask, so Louis orders it put back on. Christine kills herself in despair. The Three Musketeers enter the Bastille to free Philippe, but Louis follows D’Artagnan, who is helping them and blocks their escape route.  Philippe offers to give himself up for their lives, but D’Artagnan reveals he is actually the twins father and won’t let him. The five men charge the King’s troops, who fire blindly and so not one of the three musketeers is killed or seriously hurt. Louis tries to stab Philippe, but instead kills D’Artagnan who jumps between them. Lt. Andre, D’Artagnan’s subordinate is so enraged at his death that he aids the others in switching Louis and Philippe again.  Louis, now wearing the mask is sent off to prison and later exile. Philippe rules as king, with Aramis, Athos and Porthos as his advisors.

A fairly decent swashbuckler. Plenty of action and a decent plot. DiCaprio does a good job of creating two different characters in this film.

Love and Louis XIV: The Women in the Life of the Sun King by Antonia Fraser (Nan A. Talese, New York, 2006) at page 3 gives his birth date

Producer - Randall Wallace and Russell Smith

Director - Randall Wallace

Screenplay - Randall Wallace

Runtime – 2 hours 12 minutes

Released – March 13, 1998

Starring –

Leonardo DiCaprio as Louis XIV/Philippe

Jeremy Irons as Aramis

John Malkovich as Athos

Gabriel Byrne as D'Artagnan

Gérard Depardieu as Porthos

Anne Parillaud as Queen Mother Anne of Austria

Judith Godrèche as Christine Bellefort

Peter Sarsgaard as Raoul

Edward Atterton as Lieutenant Andre

Hugh Laurie as Pierre, Advisor to King Louis XIV

David Lowe as Advisor to King Louis XIV