The Prisoner of Zenda main backdrop
The Prisoner of Zenda main poster

The Prisoner of Zenda

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7.5/10 • 49

1937-09-031h 41m

RomanceAdventureDrama

The most thrilling swordfight ever filmed...

An Englishman who resembles the king of a small European nation gets mixed up in palace intrigue when his look-alike is kidnapped.

Directors
John Cromwell
Writters
Edward E. Rose, Sidney Howard, Ben Hecht
Editors
Edward E. Rose, James E. Newcom

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Ronald Colman

    Ronald Colman

    Major Rudolf Rassendyll / The Prisoner of Zenda

  2. Madeleine Carroll

    Madeleine Carroll

    Princess Flavia

  3. Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

    Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

    Rupert of Hentzau

  4. Mary Astor

    Mary Astor

    Antoinette de Mauban

  5. C. Aubrey Smith

    C. Aubrey Smith

    Colonel Zapt

  6. David Niven

    David Niven

    Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim

  7. Raymond Massey

    Raymond Massey

    Black Michael

  8. Montagu Love

    Montagu Love

    Detchard

  9. Philip Sleeman

    Philip Sleeman

    Albert von Lauengram

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Jun 20, 2022

7/10

Ronald Colman probably wishes he'd chosen another fishing venue as his "Maj. Rassendyll" arrives in the tiny kingdom of Ruritania just as it's king is about to be crowned. He might have suspected something when his border greeting seemed a bit formal, but a wander in the woods puts him face to face with the King - his doppelgänger if ever there was one. He is invited back to the hunting lodge for a glass or two and next thing he is rudely woken in the morning by the king's aide "Zapt" (Sir C. Aubrey Smith) and informed that the wine was drugged and nothing is going to wake the king anytime soon. Unless they are to allow his evil half-brother "Michael" (Raymond Massey) to ascend in his place then "Rudolph" is going to have to be a body double for the ceremony. With nerves wracking, he manages to get through the day but then they discover that the real king has now been kidnapped by his sibling and his own ruthless henchman "Rupert of Henzau" (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) and the race is on to extricate the prisoner of Zenda and restore him to his throne. Just to add to the complications, the imposter is expected to court his soon-to-be bride the "Princess Flavia" (Madeleine Carroll) who has previously had little but disdain for her regal cousin. Once they've met, she doesn't have quite the same indifferent feelings about his stunt-double, nor he her, so with a bit of unwanted romance creeping into the plot poor old "Zapt" and his sidekick "Von Tarlenheim" (David Niven) have to walk quite a tightrope as they try to sort out this mess. Colman is on good form here as the honourable soldier and the rakish king and Fairbanks works well too as the devious baddie adept at the swordplay and some entertaining acrobatics. The last ten minutes concludes this enjoyable adventure quite excitingly with a bit of mischief and a deadly trap door... Great fun.

Media

  • The Prisoner of Zenda poster
  • The Prisoner of Zenda poster
  • The Prisoner of Zenda poster
  • The Prisoner of Zenda poster
  • The Prisoner of Zenda poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
based on novel or bookkingdomkidnappingcoronationcastlevillainorient expressheir to the thronemistaken identitytreasonroyaltyunrequited lovekingswashbucklersword duelidentity swappower struggletrain travelfictitious countrydraw bridgemonarchevil brotherplanned coup1890snoble sacrificemoat