The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

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 | Sword Wound

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:

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. initially wanted the double role for himself and actually tested for it. He was devastated when it was awarded to Ronald Colman. Instead he was offered the part of "Rupert of Hentzau" and, according to David O. Selznick, "Nobody else stood a chance!" His father, Douglas Fairbanks convinced his son that it was a blessing in disguise, as it was the best part in the piece, and advised him on billing and costume.

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:

Referenced in A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Soundtrack:

Artist's Life, Op.316

You can't improve on perfection

Ronald Colman shines in the dual role of the dissipated Crown Prince Rudolph and the "simple Englishman", Rudolph Rassendyl. The crown prince's predilection for the bottle recalls Colman's earlier portrayal of the dark side of Sydney Carton from A Tale of Two Cities. In contrast, Rassendyll's reluctant gallantry and abiding integrity and honor epitomize the qualities for which matinée idol Colman had become known during his famous film career.

His scenes with the incandescent Madeleine Carroll are especially felicitous, both visually and aurally. The poignant, penultimate scene of the film left this reviewer with a wistful sense of regret that The Prisoner of Zenda was to be their only cinematic collaboration.

Raymond Massey was never better as the ambitious Duke Michael. The expressionistic qualities of his facial contortions make his lines almost superfluous.

The rakish Count Rupert, played by Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., represents the archetypal rogue. His perennial smile, abiding charm, and sardonic wit make him a curious composite of Don Juan and Mephistopheles. Like Massey, I have never seen the underrated son of the silent screen's most dashing hero in better form.

The film's remaining actors acquit themselves more than adequately. Mary Astor is the lovely Antoinette, Duke Michael's devoted, yet unfairly, neglected paramour. Her consistently dark raiment and shadowy movements are perhaps reflective of her lover's illegitimate origins, while at the same time belying her kind heart. Visually this is contrasted with the always radiant Princess Flavia.

The two royal bodyguards, Colonel Zapt and Captain von Tarlenheim, are a case study, to my mind, as to why films like The Prisoner of Zenda are consistently superior to today's mediocre fare. Although relatively lesser roles, they are capable of, and on more than one occasion, do dominate a given scene; moreover, in their own way they are as fully developed as any of the principals. The abiding sense of honor and loyalty expressed by C. Aubrey Smith's Colonel Zapt is so profoundly felt and reflective of a long-vanished ethos, that one laughs to think of any contemporary actor making such utterances. The paradox would be striking!

As for Zapt's protégé, Captain von Tarlenheim, given the camera's fondness for the handsome young star, it will come as no surprise to learn that this role was reputedly David Niven's first acting breakthrough. His gift for dry English understatement is the occasion for one especially humorous scene-stealing moment that I will generously leave to the curious viewer to enjoy for himself.

With such an outstanding, marquee cast that lives up to its advanced billing and then some, it is not difficult to understand why this film was such a rousing success when it premiered in 1937; so successful, in fact, that it was copied verbatim by MGM 15 years later after it purchased the rights from Selznick. With no slight intended to Stewart Granger et al., you cannot improve on perfection.