Rochefort?
Didn't he die in "The Four Musketeers?" How is he back?
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MovieChat Forums > The Return of the Musketeers (1989) Discussion > Rochefort?
Try to ignore the Hollywood versions of The Three Musketeers when you see this movie...they will only confuse you. Rochefort was an opponent of D'Artagnan in The Three Musketeers, but he was not a malevolent figure. In fact, at the end of the book he bacame friends with D'Artagnan. He was not the pathetic treacherous villain as shown in the 1990s movie. Anyway, Rochefort definitely survived the book and makes a reappearance in 20 Years After, in which he receives help from D'Artagnan.
shareIt was intended, in The Four Musketeers, to have Rochefort as one of the primary enemies. The reason for this was to have a climactic duel at the end of the film. Also, the creators of the film seem to combine the characters of the Comte de Vardes and Rochefort in order to reduce the character count (as was done with the four servants reduced to one). In The Four Musketeers, Cardinal Richelieu implies that Rochefort was killed, but he never specifically states this. The producers saw this as an oppoutunity to bring back Christopher Lee to allow for more continuity between the first two stories and the third. Rochefort says to Justine de Winter that he was severely injured at the end of the previous movie.
shareit's been ages since I saw this film and the four musketeers but wasn't he stabbed through the heart? How the hell did he survive that?
Also has does he die in the Return of the Musketeers?
I'm pretty sure his death isn't actually shown dying in 'The Four Musketeers'. In this movie he does mention that he was lying on the floor of the cathedral bleeding his life out when Milady deWinter was killed. So presumably he managed to crawl away and was saved.
In this movie, he is last seen when the ship he is on explodes in the English Channel. Again, we don't see a body and Justine managed to survive the explosion so maybe Rochefort did as well (although he was much closer to the blast than she was).
In the fight between Rochfort and d'artagnan in the convent, after Constance had be murdered, Rochfort is killed, sword goes right through him. It maybe a loose referance to a minor scene in 3 where Rochfort stabs D'Artagnan but he survives. It is more likely to do with the fact that, Christopher Lee was/is a big star and he was popular as the bad guy in the first two films. In the book and in certain other adaptations Rochfort is only secondary as a villian, but having him played by a star like Christopher Lee he had to have more screen time
shareIn the book, there are several characters who survive what should have been fatal wounds.
shareListen, you will recall that he and D'Artangnian (spelling approximate) have this ferocious sword fight inside the church. Each man enjoyed the advantage numerous times throughout the struggle. Suddenly D'Artangnian makes on last thrust and his sword pierces the Rochefort's chest, pinning him, upright on a book stand. He's presumably dead, Dead, DEAD!!!
Logically, there's just no way he could survive, especially given the state of medical "science" in the 18th century. You're right, I agree.
HOWEVER.... as you may very well agree.... Hollywood has a way of reviving, bringing back, certain characters to "life" without so much as a word of explanation. Does the name Bobby Ewing ring any bells?? In fact, the more obvious the previous circumstances of death a character endures, and a sword thru the heart certainly qualifies, the less they offer ANY reason, beause NOONE with two brain cells in their skulls will buy it. Sooooo, Rochefort returns and the late Mr. Lee was able to pay his bills. These Musketeers movies would not have been the same without him, don't you think?
Martn Z.
It is true that Rochefort's wound would have been critical but 17th century medical records show that many people survived life threatening wounds caused by rapiers and musket balls. As a matter of fact the real Cyrano de Bergerac survived a rapier thrust straight through his neck. It is conceivable that the thin rapier blade missed Rochefort's heart and he survived. The also, many assume that being stabbed in the chest qualifies a heart wound. The heart is actually situated very close to the center of the chest near the sternum which provides a nice shield to a sword thrust. Since Rochefort was injured in a convent, it is likely that the doctor of the convent almost immediately arrived and tended to his wounds.
That being said, it is still highly unlikely that Rochefort was originally meant to survive his duel. However, I like to view his part in the film as a plus to an otherwise mediocre follow up. While the film was enjoyable it lacked the energy and magic that made the first two brilliant. Mr. Lee's performance illustrates how far the character's of the previous films have fallen. The once powerful right arm of Cardinal Richelieu has been reduced to a weak, drunken old man.
All For One, and One For All.
Christopher Lee just doesn't stay dead.
shareWhile he apparently took a rapier blade through the lungs, such wounds are not always fatal, even back in the "good old days". I'd not want to bet on his chances of living back in those days, but (unlike a sabre) a rapier does not do significant damage around the wound.
Left to be bound up in its own blood, such a wound could heal. And, that's apparently what happened in this instance.
It is true that Rochefort's wound would have been critical but 17th century medical records show that many people survived life threatening wounds caused by rapiers and musket balls. As a matter of fact the real Cyrano de Bergerac survived a rapier thrust straight through his neck. It is conceivable that the thin rapier blade missed Rochefort's heart and he survived.
Also see The Dubious Quick Kill 1& 2:
http://www.classicalfencing.com/articles/bloody.php
http://www.classicalfencing.com/articles/kill2.php
He would have suffered a lung-wound: dangerous but survivable, even in 17C. Infection would have been the main risk. And the nuns are on hand to cart him off to their infirmary for nursing.