Based on Alexandre Dumas's novel, 'The Vicomte of Bragellone', which is often filmed under the title of its final section, 'The Man in the Iron Mask'. This version features José Ferrer as Aramis. A later version (as The Man in the Iron Mask (1998)), featured Gérard Depardieu as Porthos. Ferrer and Depardieu have also both played Cyrano de Bergerac. Appropriately, in Edmond Rostand original play, the character D'Artagnan offers his compliments to Cyrano's poetic abilities after a duel.