The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)
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33% of critics liked it
(36 reviews) -
60% of users liked it
(296,945 ratings)
Oscar-nominated Randall Wallace (Braveheart) made his directorial debut with this adaptation of the 1848 classic by Alexandre Dumas (1802-70), featuring Leonardo DiCaprio in a dual role. Years have passed since the Three Musketeers, Aramis (Jeremy Irons), Athos (John Malkovich), and Porthos (Gerard… More Oscar-nominated Randall Wallace (Braveheart) made his directorial debut with this adaptation of the 1848 classic by Alexandre Dumas (1802-70), featuring Leonardo DiCaprio in a dual role. Years have passed since the Three Musketeers, Aramis (Jeremy Irons), Athos (John Malkovich), and Porthos (Gerard Depardieu) fought together with their friend D'Artagnan (Gabriel Byrne). The arrogant, tyrannical King Louis XIV (Leonardo DiCaprio) desires the beautiful Christine (Judith Godreche), so he orders her suitor Raoul (Peter Sarsgaard), the son of Athos, off to face death at the front. He also sends Aramis to kill the leader of a Jesuit rebellion. Louis is unaware that his loyal protector and informant, D'Artagnan, is the secret lover of his mother, Queen Anne (Anne Parillaud). Louis' younger twin brother, Philippe (also DiCaprio) is the man in the iron mask, imprisoned for the past six years. Arthos and Porthos plan to free Philippe, abduct Louis and replace him by putting Philippe on the throne. French location scenes include the Chateau de Fontainbleau. Previous adaptations: Allan Dwan's The Iron Mask (1929) with Douglas Fairbanks, the 1939 James Whale version with Louis Hayward, Patricia Medina in Lady in the Iron Mask (1952), Henri Decoin's Le Masque de Fer (1962), Mike Newell's 1976 TV movie with Richard Chamberlain, and Ken Annakin's The Fifth Musketeer (1978, aka Behind the Iron Mask) with Beau Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Sylvia Kristel, Ursula Andress, Cornel Wilde, Jose Ferrer, Rex Harrison, and Olivia de Havilland. A second film titled The Man in the Iron Mask was released in 1998, a low-budget effort from director William Richert. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Randall Wallace
- Written By
- Randall Wallace
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure
- In Theaters
- Mar 13, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Common Sense Media
Slow-moving swashbuckler is better for teens and up.
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Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The Man in the Iron Mask needed more of a jaunty twinkle, more wolfish grins, less thinking and more doing.
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Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Leonardo DiCaprio times two. What more could you want? Perhaps more thrilling swash and buckle.
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Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...this version of The Man in the Iron Mask owes more to Star Wars than Star Wars owes to Dumas.
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Jeffrey Westhoff, Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)
Though a fine actor, DiCaprio is no Errol Flynn. With his choirboy face and chess-club physique, he is scarcely fit to play swashbuckling hero or villain.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Leonardo DiCaprio
as Louis XIV, Philippe
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Jeremy Irons
as Aramis
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John Malkovich
as Athos
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Gérard Depardieu
as Porthos
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Gabriel Byrne
as D'Artagnan
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Anne Parillaud
as Queen Anne
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Judith Godrèche
as Christine
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Edward Atterton
as Lieutenant Andre
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Peter Sarsgaard
as Raoul
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Hugh Laurie
as King's Advisor
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Laura Fraser
as Bedroom Beauty
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David Lowe
as King's Advisor



