The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

John Cromwell
(more)

Writers:

Anthony Hope (novel)
John L. Balderston (screenplay)
(more)

Release Date:

3 September 1937 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

The most thrilling swordfight ever filmed...

Plot:

An Englishman on a Ruritarian holiday must impersonate the king when the rightful monarch, a distant cousin, is drugged and kidnapped.

Plot Keywords:

King | Princess | Swashbuckler | Coronation | Waltz

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win

Cast

Ronald Colman	...	Major Rudolf Rassendyll / The Prisoner of Zenda
Madeleine Carroll	...	Princess Flavia
C. Aubrey Smith	...	Colonel Zapt
Raymond Massey	...	Black Michael
Mary Astor	...	Antoinette de Mauban
David Niven	...	Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.	...	Rupert of Hentzau
Montagu Love	...	Detchard
Philip Sleeman	...	Albert von Lauengram (a conspirator)
Eleanor Wesselhoeft	...	Frau Holf - Cook
Florence Roberts	...	Duenna (scenes deleted)
Torben Meyer	...	Max - Butler
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arthur Byron	...	(scenes deleted)
Francis Ford	...	(scenes deleted)
Margaret Tallichet	...	(scenes deleted)
Wilhelm von Brincken	...	Krafstein
Evelyn Beresford	...	Lady Topham (uncredited)
Spencer Charters	...	Railroad Porter (uncredited)
D'Arcy Corrigan	...	Traveler (uncredited)
Alexander D'Arcy	...	De Gautet (uncredited)
Ralph Faulkner	...	Bersonin (uncredited)
Byron Foulger	...	Johann (uncredited)
Charles K. French	...	Bishop (uncredited)
Otto Fries	...	Luggage officer (uncredited)
Lawrence Grant	...	Marshal Strakencz (uncredited)
Charles Halton	...	Passport Officer (uncredited)
Lillian Harmer	...	Traveler (uncredited)
Boyd Irwin	...	Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Emmett King	...	Lord High Chamberlain (uncredited)
Howard Lang	...	Josef (uncredited)
Ian Maclaren	...	Cardinal (uncredited)
Alexander Pollard	...	Court Officer (uncredited)
Russ Powell	...	Traveler (uncredited)
Henry Roquemore	...	Man with female traveler (uncredited)
Al Shean	...	Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Leslie Sketchley	...	Guard at lodge (uncredited)
Pat Somerset	...	Guard at lodge (uncredited)
Ben Webster	...	Lord Topham (uncredited)

Directed by
John Cromwell
W.S. Van Dyke		(uncredited)

Writing credits
Anthony Hope		(novel "The Prisoner of Zenda")
John L. Balderston		(screenplay)
Edward E. Rose		(dramatization) (as Edward Rose)
Wells Root		(adaptation)
Donald Ogden Stewart		(additional dialogue)
Ben Hecht		uncredited and
Sidney Howard		uncredited

Produced by
David O. Selznick	....	producer

Original Music by
Alfred Newman

Cinematography by
James Wong Howe
Bert Glennon		(uncredited)

Film Editing by
James E. Newcom

Art Direction by
Lyle R. Wheeler		(as Lyle Wheeler)

Costume Design by
Ernest Dryden		(as Ernst Dryden)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Fred Spencer	....	assistant director (as Frederick A. Spencer)
George Cukor	....	director, added scenes (uncredited)
W.S. Van Dyke	....	director, fencing sequences (uncredited)

Art Department
Casey Roberts	....	interior decorator

Sound Department
Oscar Lagerstrom	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Jack Cosgrove	....	special effects
John M. Nickolaus	....	special effects (uncredited)
Harry Redmond Jr.	....	special effects (uncredited)

Stunts
Fred Cavens	....	fencing stunts
Ralph Faulkner	....	fencing double (uncredited)
Jean Heremans	....	fencing master (uncredited)
Dick Simmons	....	stunt double: Ronald Colman (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Hal C. Kern	....	supervising editor

Other crew
Ivar Enhörning	....	technical advisor (as Colonel Ivar Enhorning)
Prince Sigvard Bernadotte	....	technical advisor
William H. Wright	....	assistant to producer
Russell Birdwell	....	publicity chief (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Selznick International Pictures

Distributors

• United Artists (1937) (USA) (theatrical)
• United Artists (1941) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1990) (USA) (VHS)
• ClassicLine (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Junes Planning (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Turner Entertainment (TV)

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved (PCA #3356) | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Selznick International Pictures

Trivia:

As a publicity stunt, publicity chief Russell Birdwell flew from Zenda, Ontario, Canada (named for the fictional kingdom) along with 12 residents, to the New York world premiere. He also had the mayor of Los Angeles start a fencing tournament.

Goofs:

Continuity: Princess Flavia gives Rassendyll a red rose in the garden. As it lies on a book a little while later, it is white.

Quotes:

Princess Flavia: In my heart there is no King, no crown - only you!

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)

Soundtrack:

On the Beautiful Blue Danube, Op.314

A summary of the best movie of all time!

The Prisoner of Zenda, based somewhat obviously on Shakespeare's The Tempest, is a film that has something for everyone. There's action, adventure, romance, suspense, and swashbuckling. It's a historical film, and over the years hasn't really aged, so it remains fantastic 62 years later. The cast is first rate, especially because the male leads-Ronald Colman, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., and David Niven-are so handsome and talented, mainly Doug. In the best role of his career, he wields swords, cigarettes, and sticks with an airy sensuality and was deprived of a much-deserved Oscar nomination. The sets and costumes are so magnificently detailed, that you'll wish it was in color. And the script is perfect, with some very witty lines. And the musical score is excellent. Anyone who wants to see a movie with all the basic ingredients for 110 minutes of sheer entertainment should seek this one out.