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How Alexandre Dumas's novels have been adapted in performing arts

The influence of The Three Musketeers, The Man in the Iron Mask and The Count of Monte Cristo on film, theatre and music

monochrome illustration, portrait of Alexandre Dumas who sits with his arms crossed at a desk with books and papers
by
Susanna Capannini (opens in new window) (PHOTOCONSORTIUM)

Alexandre Dumas is one of the most prolific and widely known French authors: his works span many different genres and have been translated into numerous languages. Their influence in today’s society and culture is undeniable. This blog will look at how Dumas's literary works have been adapted into film, theatre and other performing arts.

Background

Alexandre Dumas was born in Saint-Domingue (present-day Haiti), the son of a French nobleman in the military and Marie-Cessette Dumas, a Black African enslaved woman. Her provenance and her ancestors are still uncertain - in the 20th century, it was hypothesised that she could have been of Yoruba or Dahomeyan origins.

black and white illustration, portrait of Alexander Dumas

Despite his success as a writer, throughout his life, Dumas faced discrimination and racism due to his ancestry. This influenced some of his work: the short novel Georges is one of the rare works by Dumas concerning matters of enslavement, racism, abolitionism and colonisation as its central theme. Many of these also appear in The Count of Monte Cristo.

black and white cover page of the novel Georges

The Three Musketeers

The Three Musketeers is probably the most famous and influential work by Dumas. Leadership, loyalty, friendship, romance, class and power are some of the many topics featured in the novel. Since its release in 1844, it has become an iconic piece of literature that has inspired many people for centuries.

black and white photograph, three actors performing on stage, each actor has one arm outstretched and holding hands

The brave and dynamic character D’artagnan has been interpreted by many actors in movies, theatre plays and more.

There have been many adaptations of The Three Musketeers since its first film version in 1909. I tre moschettieri by Mario Caserini was an Italian production, with many other film adaptations directed by Italians. For instance, D’Artagnan contro i tre moschettieri in 1964 was directed by Fulvio Tului and starred Fernando Lamas.

black and white photograph of an actor in costume, he holds a sword and stands on a ladder

Versions are not limited to cinema and theatre: singer-songwriter Citizen Cope has published a song titled D’Artagnan’s Theme, with an obvious reference to the character in the title.

The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later is the third and last novel concerning the character of D’Artagnan. Critic R. L. Stevenson argues that 'in the character of D'Artagnan... we must look for the spirit of morality, which is one of the main joys of its perusal, and sets it high above more popular rivals'. The novel was published between 1848 and 1850.

cover page of novel Le Vicomte de Bragelonne

The Man in the Iron Mask

Inspired by an unknown convict of four different prisons in France during the later 12th century, the story of The Man in the Iron Mask is another iconic piece of literature by Dumas that has been represented in many performances.

Philosopher Voltaire wrote that the prisoner in the iron mask might have actually been the illegitimate child of Anne of Austria and Cardinal Mazarin and therefore Luigi XIV’s half-brother. The whole novel is based on this supposition.

The story has been adapted in many movies in the 20th century. The first poster dates back to 1895 demonstrates how influential the novel has been throughout the decades, with a Hollywood production in the 1920s.

colour poster featuring an illustration of a man wearing a mask and woman who are standing in a prison cell
colour film poster featuring an illustration of a man and woman embracing, the same man holding a sword and text describing the film and its star Douglas Fairbanks

The Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo is one of Dumas's few works that deals with themes like discrimination and racism.

In the 19th century, European economy and life depended on global trade, leading people with different backgrounds to mix their cultures and to come in contact with each other. The characters’ relationships with the East, and with other foreign places like Monte Cristo, demonstrate that 'otherness' was a central part of European life and society, a matter that Dumas was affected by and faced directly in his life because of his heritage.

The Count of Monte Cristo has been adapted into many films, television shows and even a musical, highlighting its importance in popular culture as well as literature in Europe – not just France.

colour film poster, three people stand together, a man on the right holds his arm out to a man on the left who holds a dagger, a woman stands between them holding her hands together
cover page of a drama text for 'El Conde de Monte-Cristo'

Alexandre Dumas' works continue to inspire writers and artists to this day, and his influence on literature and popular culture is a testament to his lasting legacy, inspiring individuals of all backgrounds and reminding us of the importance of diversity and inclusion not just in literature, but in our society as a whole.

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