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IMDb > The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)

The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)

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User Rating: 4.4/10 (299 votes)
Photos (see all 4 | slideshow)

Overview

Director:
Richard Quine
Writers:
Anthony Hope (novel)
Dick Clement (writer) ...
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Release Date:
17 August 1979 (USA) more
Genre:
Adventure | Comedy more
Plot:
Anthony Hope's classic tale gets a decidedly 'un-classic' treatment at the hands of Peter Sellers. Following the story somewhat... more | add synopsis
User Comments:
Not as bad as some people say - but should have been tons better! more

Cast

 (Cast overview, first billed only)

Peter Sellers ... Rudolf IV / Rudolf V / Syd Frewin
Lynne Frederick ... Princess Flavia
Lionel Jeffries ... General Sapt
Elke Sommer ... The Countess
Gregory Sierra ... The Count
Jeremy Kemp ... Duke Michael
Catherine Schell ... Antoinette
Simon Williams ... Fritz
Stuart Wilson ... Rupert of Hentzau
Norman Rossington ... Bruno
John Laurie ... Archbishop
Graham Stark ... Erik
Michael Balfour ... Luger
Arthur Howard ... Deacon

Ian Abercrombie ... Johann
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Additional Details

Runtime:
108 min | Canada:93 min (Ontario)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)
Certification:
Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-12 | USA:PG
MOVIEmeter: ?
^ 7% since last week why?

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
John Cleese signed on after EMI pulled out of Life of Brian (1979) and it looked like the film would be canceled. more
Movie Connections:
Spoofs The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) more

FAQ

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4 out of 4 people found the following comment useful:-
Not as bad as some people say - but should have been tons better!, 8 July 2005
6/10
Author: egleg_loombucket from United Kingdom

This is a very lavish looking, picturesque romp that should have been a sure fire hit. "Porridge" scriptwriters Dick Clement and Ian Le Frenais were the men responsible for turning the classic Anthony Hope into a comedy, which shouldn't have been too difficult bearing in mind the ridiculous scenario linked to the main story. However, this scenario is all they went for, and any characterisation or satirical touches are abandoned and a lot of cartoonish setups such as Gregory Sierra's role and also other segments such as the explosive bowls game and the early scene in the restaurant replace any serious comedy. Therefore, in his dwindling health and sorrowful state, Sellers looks a bit out of place amongst the diving into the water routines and the jumping of a tall castle stints. It is very similar to his Fu Manchu experience two years later (when he also played two roles) in that he's still putting the work in but to little effect. The film is a reminder of his earlier years and really backfires as a poor man's Pink Panther. However, he still proves that he can act (which is a lot more than most actors these days) despite the poor material and backed by a host of regular artists such as Catherine Schell, Elke Sommer (both stars of Pink Pantherfs), Graham Stark, John Laurie, Jeremy Kemp (who had starred in Sellers' The Blockhouse in 1972) - it should have been better considering the quality of Sellers' other films at the time, but it does fall very flat.

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Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
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