The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 film)
| The Prisoner of Zenda | |
|---|---|
| File:143500~The-Prisoner-of-Zenda-Posters.jpg Original film poster | |
| Directed by | John Cromwell W.S. Van Dyke (uncredited) |
| Written by | Anthony Hope (novel) Edward E. Rose Wells Root John L. Balderston (screenplay) Donald Ogden Stewart Ben Hecht (uncredited) Sidney Howard (uncredited) |
| Produced by | David O. Selznick |
| Starring | Ronald Colman Madeleine Carroll Raymond Massey David Niven Mary Astor Douglas Fairbanks Jr. |
| Cinematography | James Wong Howe Bert Glennon |
| Edited by | James E. Newcom |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |  2 September 1937 |
Running time | 101 min. |
| Language | English |
The Prisoner of Zenda is a 1937 black-and-white adventure film adaptation of the Anthony Hope novel of the same name starring Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. with C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, Mary Astor and David Niven.
It was made by Selznick International Pictures and distributed by United Artists. It was directed by John Cromwell and produced by David O. Selznick. The screenplay was by John L. Balderston, adapted by Wells Root from the Hope novel and the dramatisation by Edward E. Rose, with additional dialogue by Donald Ogden Stewart and uncredited contributions by Ben Hecht and Sidney Howard. The music score was composed by Alfred Newman and the cinematography is credited to James Wong Howe and Bert Glennon. Lyle R. Wheeler was responsible for the art direction, and Ernest Dryden the costume design.
It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Best Music, Score.
The film was deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.
Plot summary
English gentleman Rudolf Rassendyll (Ronald Colman) takes a fishing vacation in a small, middle European country (never named in the film, but identified as Ruritania in the novel). While there, he is annoyed by the odd way he is treated by the natives. He eventually finds out why: he looks exactly like the soon-to-be-crowned king, Rudolf V (Colman again), who happens to be his distant relative.
Rassendyll soon meets the irresponsible Rudolf and his loyal underlings, Colonel Zapt (C. Aubrey Smith) and Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim (David Niven) while fishing. The nobleman is astounded by the resemblance and takes a great liking to the Englishman. They celebrate their acquaintance by drinking late into the night. The next morning brings dire news. Rudolf has been drugged into unconsciousness at the order of his half-brother, Duke Michael (Raymond Massey). If Rudolf cannot appear at his coronation, Michael can try to claim the throne for himself.
Zapt convinces Rassendyll to impersonate Rudolf and go through with the ceremony. There he meets Rudolf's betrothed, Princess Flavia (Madeleine Carroll). She had always detested Rudolf, but now finds him greatly changed, for the better in her opinion. As they spend time together, they begin to fall in love.
With the crowning successfully accomplished, Rassendyll, Zapt and von Tarlenheim return to where they had left Rudolf, only to find he has been kidnapped by Rupert of Hentzau (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.), Michael's charmingly amoral henchman. The Englishman is forced to continue the impersonation while Zapt tries to locate Rudolf.
Help arrives from an unexpected source. Antoinette de Mauban (Mary Astor), Michael's jealous French mistress, does not want him to become king, because to do so, he would have to marry Flavia. She reveals that the king is being held captive in Michael's castle near Zenda and promises to help rescue him. Since Rudolf would be killed at the first sign of an attack, she proposes that one man swim the moat, find the king and hold off his would-be assassins while loyal troops storm the castle. Rassendyll decides that man must be him, over the strenuous objections of Zapt.
Their carefully-laid plans go awry however. Michael finds Rupert trying to seduce de Mauban that very night and is killed for his trouble. His heartbroken mistress blurts out enough to alert Rupert to the danger. He and Rassendyll engage in a prolonged duel, until Zapt and his men break in. Rupert then decides that discretion is indeed the better part of valor and flees.
Rudolf is restored to his throne. Rassendyll tries to persuade Flavia to leave with him, but her devotion to duty is too great and their parting is bittersweet.
Other versions
The play which forms the basis of this film version opened in London on January 1896, with C. Aubrey Smith (Zapt in the film) playing the roles of Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf. The play opened on Broadway on September 1895 and was revived in 1896 with James K. Hackett in the main role.
The story formed the basis of three silent films, the earliest of which, in 1913, starred James K. Hackett. The 1915 version starred Henry Ainley and the 1922 version starred Lewis Stone. Several later versions of the story were made, including a number of television adaptations.
Colman, Smith and Fairbanks reprised their roles for a 1939 episode of Lux Radio Theatre, starring Colman's wife Benita Hume as Princess Flavia.
A virtual shot-for-shot remake of the 1937 film was made in 1952 with Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, and James Mason.
In an episode of the television series Northern Exposure, a character re-dubbed the film into Tlingit, a Native American language.
Production
The script's basis in the 1895 stage version is readily apparent; there is little attempt to open up the story. The emphasis is very much on romance and adventure, rather than on the political thriller aspects of the novel.
Director John Cromwell was unhappy with his male leads, as he suspected that Colman did not know his lines, and was concerned with Fairbanks' and Niven's late nights on the town. George Cukor directed a few scenes of the film when Cromwell grew frustrated with his actors. Woody Van Dyke was brought in to re-shoot some of the fencing scenes.
A prologue and an epilogue were shot, but never used. The prologue has Rassendyll recounting his adventures in his club. In the epilogue, he receives a letter from von Tarlenheim and a rose, informing him that Flavia has died.
Cast
- Ronald Colman as Major Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf V
- Madeleine Carroll as Princess Flavia
- Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Rupert of Hentzau. Fairbanks Jr. initially wanted to play Rudolf, but when the role went to Colman, his father, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. persuaded him that it would be more challenging to play the villain. Aubrey Smith also encouraged this move, declaring, "I have played every part in this drama except Lady Flavia, and I can tell you that nobody ever damaged their career by playing Rupert of Hentzau."
- Raymond Massey as Duke Michael
- C. Aubrey Smith as Colonel Zapt
- David Niven as Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim. Massey and Niven died on the same day: July 29,1983.
- Mary Astor as Antoinette de Mauban