Harry Langdon (an American soldier, unaccounted for), Harry Langdon (King Strudel of Bomania), Natalie Kingston (the queen), Vernon Dent (Mustache), Frank Whitson (General von Snootzer).
Director: HARRY EDWARDS. Screenplay: Arthur Ripley, Frank Capra. Titles: A. H. Giebler. Photography: William Williams. Film editor: William Hornbeck. Special photography: Ernie Crockett. Production supervisor: John A. Waldron. Producer: Mack Sennett.
Copyright 28 April 1926 by Pathé Exchange, Inc. 30 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: After making his escape from a German POW camp on Armistice Day, an American soldier finds himself in Bomania. As it happens, he is an exact double for the king, a notorious tippler, who is kidnapped by revolutionaries.
COMMENT: A delightful spoof on The Prisoner of Zenda with Harry Langdon (of all people!) as both prisoner and impersonator. (Is this the only time in Langdon's silent career that he played a character role? He does it rather well too, proving that his range was actually wider than that of a mere baby-faced comic). However, despite the special photography credit, there are no scenes with both Langdons on screen at once. But you can't have everything!
True, I thought that some of the early humor with the exploding dynamite misfired but once we get into the Zenda plot, the comedy really picks up. I love the scene where Langdon minces in behind the courtiers and wonders what's going on. A parade or something? The extended eating joke is also played out most amusingly ("Do they ring a bell or blow a whistle for lunch?") and I really enjoyed his beautifully timed tussle with the suit of armor.
Langdon's glorious swan-dive from the throne into the arms of his palace attendants and the admirably zig-zag way he wanders off for the royal nap, keep us hoping for a return match which, alas, doesn't transpire, but there are three wonderful compensations for Strudel's absence. One, of course, is baby-faced Langdon himself. Two is Vernon Dent as the instigator of the ring-in. And three is the lovely Natalie Kingston as the queen who decides she loves to be insulted after all! (AVAILABLE on DVD through Grapevine: 7/10).
Director: HARRY EDWARDS. Screenplay: Arthur Ripley, Frank Capra. Titles: A. H. Giebler. Photography: William Williams. Film editor: William Hornbeck. Special photography: Ernie Crockett. Production supervisor: John A. Waldron. Producer: Mack Sennett.
Copyright 28 April 1926 by Pathé Exchange, Inc. 30 minutes.
SYNOPSIS: After making his escape from a German POW camp on Armistice Day, an American soldier finds himself in Bomania. As it happens, he is an exact double for the king, a notorious tippler, who is kidnapped by revolutionaries.
COMMENT: A delightful spoof on The Prisoner of Zenda with Harry Langdon (of all people!) as both prisoner and impersonator. (Is this the only time in Langdon's silent career that he played a character role? He does it rather well too, proving that his range was actually wider than that of a mere baby-faced comic). However, despite the special photography credit, there are no scenes with both Langdons on screen at once. But you can't have everything!
True, I thought that some of the early humor with the exploding dynamite misfired but once we get into the Zenda plot, the comedy really picks up. I love the scene where Langdon minces in behind the courtiers and wonders what's going on. A parade or something? The extended eating joke is also played out most amusingly ("Do they ring a bell or blow a whistle for lunch?") and I really enjoyed his beautifully timed tussle with the suit of armor.
Langdon's glorious swan-dive from the throne into the arms of his palace attendants and the admirably zig-zag way he wanders off for the royal nap, keep us hoping for a return match which, alas, doesn't transpire, but there are three wonderful compensations for Strudel's absence. One, of course, is baby-faced Langdon himself. Two is Vernon Dent as the instigator of the ring-in. And three is the lovely Natalie Kingston as the queen who decides she loves to be insulted after all! (AVAILABLE on DVD through Grapevine: 7/10).