Director George Sidney’s 1948 movie casts Gene Kelly who proves inspired casting as an incredibly acrobatic D’Artagnan in MGM’s exceptionally plush, colourful and joyful version of the Alexandre Dumas père adventure classic tale, set in 17th century France.

D’Artagnan and his Musketeer comrades Athos (Van Heflin), Porthos (Gig Young) and Aramis (Robert Coote) set out to thwart the plans of the French royal Prime Minister Cardinal Richelieu to usurp King Louis XIII (Frank Morgan)’s power.

There are lots of cheerfully wayward performances – especially from lovely Lana Turner as Milady De Winter, Vincent Price as Richelieu and Angela Lansbury as the French Queen Anne – but they all fit in beautifully to the brightly coloured scheme of things.

The spoofy tone of screen-writer R...