AllMovie

This 1974 adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo is good fun, thanks in part to the dash and derring-do of Richard Chamberlain in the title role as one of literature's most resourceful heroes. Thin and fit, Chamberlain suggests adventure and romance the moment he steps off his ship in the opening scene while his sweetheart, Mercedes, a young and captivating Kate Nelligan, waits to embrace him. From that moment on, the film moves briskly forward as it presents the plot that has entertained millions of readers and moviegoers since the elder Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) published The Count of Monte Cristo in 1845. The villains are all played by seasoned actors who know how to raise treachery to high art: Donald Pleasance (Danglars), Tony Curtis (Mondego), and Louis Jourdan (Villefort). Each actor is wonderfully malicious, and it's nothing short of catharsis to see them get their comeuppance. Of the three, Pleasance, an old hand at movie villainy, provides the best show as he attempts to squirm out of one of the count's clever schemes. Director David Greene's two-hour film is not without flaws, however. In particular, the mixture of accents is annoying. Chamberlain and Curtis have American accents, Pleasance and Howard British accents, and Jourdan and other cast members French accents. But they are all supposed to be French. Also, the film takes liberties with the plot, altering some parts of it, eliminating other parts. But then again, so what? The movie has plenty of swash and buckle, including sword fights and duels, and a goodly measure of intrigue and romance. In addition, the costumes and scenery evoke the ambience of the Napoleonic era. Chamberlain earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Dantes.