The film was directed by James Whale and stars Louis Hayward as royal twins, Joan Bennett as Princess Maria Theresa, Warren William as d'Artagnan, and Joseph Schildkraut as Nicolas Fouquet.

Fouquet sends soldiers to force d'Artagnan and his people to pay the taxes, though the old king had exempted him and his village from them.

As Louis is aware of an assassination attempt to take place that day (but not where or when), he makes Philippe impersonate him in exchange for his friends' lives.

However, when she discovers that Louis is having an affair with Mademoiselle de la Valliere (Marion Martin), she returns to Spain.

In what may have been another instance of stunt casting, Hale Jr. played Porthos in the 1979 film The Fifth Musketeer (which is also based on The Man in the Iron Mask).

Frank S. Nugent called the film "a moderately entertaining costume piece" with "an overfondness for pageantry and stiff heroics."

[7] Film Daily called it "a vivid picturization of Alexandre Dumas' novel" with Hayward's "best screen work to date.

Louis Hayward can give a modern effete touch when that is needed in the double role he has, but he can't compete with his rapier or his acrobatics.