IMDb > The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)

The Prisoner of Zenda (1952) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   1,185 votes
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Director:
Richard Thorpe
Writers (WGA):
John L. Balderston (screenplay) and
Noel Langley (screenplay) ...
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Contact:
View company contact information for The Prisoner of Zenda on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
14 November 1952 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure more
Plot:
An Englishman vacationing in a Ruritarian kingdom is recruited to impersonate his cousin, the soon-to-be-crowned king when the monarch is drugged and kidnapped. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
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User Comments:
Average Technicolor remake of a 1937 classic...the fight scenes are a big improvement here... more (31 total)

Cast

  (Complete credited cast)
Stewart Granger ... Rudolf Rassendyll / King Rudolf V

Deborah Kerr ... Princess Flavia
Louis Calhern ... Col. Zapt
Jane Greer ... Antoinette de Mauban
Lewis Stone ... The Cardinal
Robert Douglas ... Michael, Duke of Strelsau
Robert Coote ... Fritz von Tarlenheim
Peter Brocco ... Johann
Francis Pierlot ... Josef

James Mason ... Rupert of Hentzau
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Additional Details

Parents Guide:
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Runtime:
96 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
USA:Approved (certificate #15979) | Australia:PG | Finland:K-12 | Sweden:Btl | UK:U
Company:
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The original New York production of The Prisoner of Zenda opened at the Lyceum Theater on September 4, 1895. more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: In the opening shot of the movie, showing a train labeled "The Orient Express," there are a couple of very, very tall, California-type palm trees in the background. more
Quotes:
King Rudolf V: I propose a toast.
Man: Here here!
Fritz von Tarlenheim: Another toast!
King Rudolf V: A toast to... have we anybody left?
Rudolf Rassendyll: Your brother Michael, perhaps?
King Rudolf V: We drink to Michael in vinegar, my friend, not in good wine.
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Movie Connections:
Remake of The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) more

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User Comments

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7 out of 10 people found the following comment useful.
Average Technicolor remake of a 1937 classic...the fight scenes are a big improvement here..., 25 October 2006
6/10
Author: Peter Andres from Petersburg, Vasaria

The 1937 film version, produced by David Selznick and starring Ronald Colman as Rudolf Rassendyll/King Rudolf V, Madeline Carroll as Princess Flavia, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as the villainous Rupert of Hentzau, is an escapist fantasy adventure classic in many respects. It's one of my all-time favorite stories and one of my favorite films to enjoy whenever I'm bored. Besides, the film inspired me to create written adventures of my own imaginary European country as a high school student.

Many years later the MGM studios decided to produce a Technicolor remake of the 1937 film. In few elements, such as in the production values and action scenes, it's an improvement. In most elements it's not.

Here we have a scene-for-scene remake that's virtually identical (even in the camera angles, dialog, and stirring music score by Alfred Newman) to the 1937 film except for the casting. And the casting is the weakest flaw here. Apart from Jane Greer in the Mary Astor role, we have Stewart Granger who has the required athleticism but lacks Ronald Colman's urbane panache in order to act regal. Deborah Kerr's Princess Flavia is a one-dimensional character here. The love scenes and chemistry between Granger and Kerr seems forced and unconvincing. The suave James Mason lacks Douglas Fairbank's young, devilish charm as Rupert of Hentzau, which made Fairbanks so enjoyable to watch in the 1937 version. The supporting characters, Colonel Zapt (Louis Calhern) and Fritz (Robert Coote), are reduced to mere puppets here and lack the buddy charm that C. Aubrey Smith and David Niven contained in the 1937 version.

Even worse, MGM contract director Richard Thorpe captained the film. Being an average director who always relied on shooting as few takes as possible and caring little for artistic temperament or actors' performances, his vast film work was only average and mostly unsatisfactory. He was never one of my favorite classic film directors.

However, it is the magnificent Technicolor production design, as well as the improved final duel between Rassendyll and Rupert, that makes the remake worth watching. Thanks to the bright lighting required for shooting in Technicolor, the night scenes are easier to watch this time. Even better, the exciting final duel is much more elaborately and imaginatively staged this time, while the two opponents in the 1937 version only looked as if they were fencing someone off-camera in close-ups and relying on stunt men in their long shots. Next to THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940), and THE SEA HAWK (1940), this one ranks as one of my favorite film duels. However, despite the extravagant settings, the period look goes a little too far...the men smoke ladies' cigarettes and in two scenes Granger wears the most effeminate fur overcoat I've ever seen!

A beautiful Technicolor production and an awesome duel scene within...but after watching this version it's like you've just ate a slice of French silk chocolate pie, which is rich and filling but lacks the substance and nutritional value of a healthier dark chocolate bar.

Stick to the 1937 version, please.

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What a lovely way... shalmayan-1
Remakes and Homages -- Dave, The Great Race, and... Jacqueline? jrpelt
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THE REMAKE GAME! thomaschipperfield
DVD Release--March 6, 2007 dnscal
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