The Prisoner of Swing (1938)

Musical satire based on Anthony Hope's Ruritanian novel "The Prisoner of Zenda" in which a commoner takes the place of a lookalike king.

Director:

Roy Mack

Writers:

Eddie Forman, Cyrus Wood

Stars:

Hal Le Roy, Eddie Foy Jr., June Allyson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Hal Le Roy	...	Rudolph, King of Sulvania / Mr. Razzenstill
Eddie Foy Jr.	...	Dantsau
June Allyson	...	Princess
Al Fields	...	Colonel
Percy Helton	...	Messenger
Bruce Evans
Ruth Dryden	...	Antoinette
The Debutantes	...	Palace Singers (as Lester Cole Singers)
Gae Foster Girls	...	Palace Dancers (as The Gae Foster Girls)

Storyline

Mr. Razzenstill, a saxophonist and dancer who specializes in swing music, comes to the kingdom of Sulvania looking for a job. Unbeknownst to him, he looks exactly like King Rudolph. At a ball to celebrate his upcoming coronation, Rudolph declares that swing music will be outlawed once he is crowned. The king is kidnapped by swing music lovers, and the look-alike takes the king's place.

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Plot Keywords:

king | swing music | satire | look alike | fictitious country | 

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Genres:

Short | Adventure | Comedy | Musical

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1938 (USA)

Also Known As:

Broadway Brevities: The Prisoner of Swing

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros

Technical Specs

Runtime:

22 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Vitaphone production reels B108-B109.

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Quotes

Rudolph, King of Sulvania: Pardon me, my good woman. I'm here for the saxophone season. Can you tell me if there's any swinging going on here?

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Connections

Spoofs The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

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Soundtracks

"Ain't We Got Fun"
(uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting
Played during the knife throwing scene

User Reviews

Swinging on a Star

Hal Le Roy in a dual role - he's a swinging saxophonist Mr. Razzenstill on his way to the country of Sulvania. There, he discovers he is a distant cousin to the country's Prince Rudolph. The prince hates Swing music, and declares that, after his coronation, the music will be banned. Swing lovers swap the identical Le Roys - and, Rudolph is thrown in his dungeon. Will he escape?

The film is far too dependent on the films it spoofs ("The Prisoner of Zenda"). Given that, you can't follow the story; for example, why does Razzenstill decide to try and rescue Rudolph? June Allyson is the princess who seems to fall in love with the other man; it's an interesting, but unresolved, subplot. "The Prisoner of Swing" highlight is Le Roy's expert tap dancing performance following the scene with Ms. Allyson.

** The Prisoner of Swing (6/11/38) Roy Mack ~ Hal Le Roy, June Allyson, Eddie Foy Jr.