The Man in the Iron Mask

Dumas' classic about good and evil twin brothers: the imprisoned man in the hideous iron mask and his foppish, elegant twin brother, King Louis XIV of France. The man encased in the mask is Philippe, assumed dead, twin to the king who, though the rightful heir to the throne, was spirited into obscurity from birth for political motives. His destiny is to assume the throne in place of his brother, Louis, who is manipulated by Fouquet. Captain of musketeers, D'Artagnan and Colbert, the King's minister for home affairs, plan to restore the wilting fortunes of the throne by substituting Philippe for the King. The plan succeeds and Phillippe assumes the throne while his brother is condemned to encasement in the mask of iron.