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IMDbPro

The Prisoner of Zenda

  • 19791979
  • PGPG
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
Peter Sellers and Elke Sommer in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
AdventureComedy
In order to save King Rudolph of Ruritania from assassins and murderous usurpers, the kingdom hires a look-a-like London cabby to impersonate the Monarch.In order to save King Rudolph of Ruritania from assassins and murderous usurpers, the kingdom hires a look-a-like London cabby to impersonate the Monarch.In order to save King Rudolph of Ruritania from assassins and murderous usurpers, the kingdom hires a look-a-like London cabby to impersonate the Monarch.
IMDb RATING
5.1/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
    • Richard Quine
  • Writers
    • Dick Clement(screenplay)
    • Ian La Frenais(screenplay)
    • Anthony Hope(novel "The Prisoner of Zenda")
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Lynne Frederick
    • Lionel Jeffries
    • Richard Quine
  • Writers
    • Dick Clement(screenplay)
    • Ian La Frenais(screenplay)
    • Anthony Hope(novel "The Prisoner of Zenda")
  • Stars
    • Peter Sellers
    • Lynne Frederick
    • Lionel Jeffries
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 23User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos20

    The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Peter Sellers and Lynne Frederick in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Lynne Frederick and Elke Sommer in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Peter Sellers and Lynne Frederick in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Peter Sellers and Elke Sommer in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Peter Sellers and Elke Sommer in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Peter Sellers in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Peter Sellers in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Peter Sellers in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Lynne Frederick in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)
    Lynne Frederick in The Prisoner of Zenda (1979)

    Top cast

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    Peter Sellers
    Peter Sellers
    • Rudolf IV…
    Lynne Frederick
    Lynne Frederick
    • Princess Flavia
    Lionel Jeffries
    Lionel Jeffries
    • General Sapt
    Elke Sommer
    Elke Sommer
    • The Countess
    Gregory Sierra
    Gregory Sierra
    • The Count
    Jeremy Kemp
    Jeremy Kemp
    • Duke Michael
    Catherine Schell
    Catherine Schell
    • Antoinette
    Simon Williams
    Simon Williams
    • Fritz
    Stuart Wilson
    Stuart Wilson
    • Rupert of Hentzau
    Norman Rossington
    Norman Rossington
    • Bruno
    John Laurie
    John Laurie
    • Archbishop
    Graham Stark
    Graham Stark
    • Erik
    Michael Balfour
    Michael Balfour
    • Luger
    Arthur Howard
    • Deacon
    Ian Abercrombie
    Ian Abercrombie
    • Johann
    Michael Segal
    Michael Segal
    • Conductor
    Harry Wüstenhagen
    Harry Wüstenhagen
    Erik Cord
        • Richard Quine
      • Writers
        • Dick Clement(screenplay)
        • Ian La Frenais(screenplay)
        • Anthony Hope(novel "The Prisoner of Zenda")
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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      Storyline

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      Did you know

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      • Trivia
        This movie was made and released about eighty-five years after Anthony Hope's novel "The Prisoner of Zenda" was first published in 1894.
      • Goofs
        As Peter Sellers and his entourage approach the city in this Ruritarian romantic adventure, a tank truck and two Volkswagens can be seen on the horizon.
      • Quotes

        Rudolf IV: Michael, why do you hate me so?

        Duke Michael: Because you are conceited, arrogant, spineless, selfish, shallow, pity, pompous and pitiful!

        Rudolf IV: But apart from that?

      • Connections
        Featured in Sneak Previews: The Promise, The Prisoner of Zenda, Saint Jack, Alien, Battlestar Galactica, The Brood, The Passage (1979)

      User reviews23

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      5/10
      First comedic version of Anthony Hope's swashbuckling story of two identical men who swich places
      An amusing parody about the commoner forced to impersonate a beleaguered and weak king . This The prisoner of Zenda¨ (1979) by Richard Quine boasts a good cast with Peter Sellers , Lionel Jeffries , Elke Sommer , Lynn Frederick , among others . This is a story of royal romance , humor with tongue-in-cheek , as well as breathless and flashing sword play . This is a fun swashbuckler concerning an innocent cabbie , Rudolf V's identical double , in a small European country , as he results to be the exact doppleganger of its king and gets involved in a murder plot . In order to save King Rudolph of Ruritania from assassins and murderous usurpers , the kingdom aristocrats hire a look-a-like London man to impersonate the Monarch . Sellers stars in the double role of Prince Rudolph of Ruritania and a cockney cab driver named Syd (Peter Sellers) when the Prince is jailed by his nasty brother (Jeremy Kemp) to take the throne .Is the cabbie the King or is the King the cabbie ? Confusion reigns in Ruritania.

      His is a slight and budgeted enough retelling about the durable Anthony Hope's novel with all-star-cast . Stars Sellers who plays the nobleman forced to impersonate a king in a mythical European country , as he's asked to risk his life and impersonate the would-be king when his relative is kidnapped before his impending coronation , a situation that rises to some moments from which filmmaker Richard Quine manages to extract intrigue , humor and tension enough . A warm and comical movie despite the lack of critical acclaim , it is packed with derring-do , suspense , a sensitive love story , action , drama and thrilling as well as dazzling swordplay . And , of course, lots of gags and sketches , some of them funny but in the movie lacks a real freshness , including grotesque situations and above all , it especially contains catching touches of humor and irony . Resulting to be an entertaining and zany swashbuckling with lavish production financed by Walter Mirish , glamorous gowns , lively musical score by Henry Mancini , brilliant photography by Arthur Ibbetson and luxurious settings . Sellers is not too fun as the foppish king , but nice as the London cabby who steps into his shoes . In spite of it , Sellers gives a hilarious acting , but inferior than other previous classic roles by playing a look-alike communer who stands in for the endagered king of Ruritania . The fifth of six movie versions of Anthony Hope's famous adventure that failed at box office at its day . This is a flashy Technicolor remake of the notorious and better 1937 Ronald Colman and 1952 Stewart Granger retellings . As the tale carries its excitement with thrills , noisy action , swashbuckling , hilarious scenes , an attractive romance and anything else . Cast and support cast are frankly excellent , such as Jeremy Kemp who's stylishly over-the-top as the main villain, the jealous brother , Stuart Wilson whose Rupert of Hentzau is a well-modulated spoof of Douglas Fairbanks Jr , as well as Lionel Jeffries ; furthermore , three gorgeous actresses as Elke Sommer , Catherine Schell and the early deceased Lynne Frederick who in real-life married Peter Sellers .

      There are several versions about this classy story , these are the following ones : ¨The prisoner of Zenda¨(1922) by Rex Ingram with Lewis Stone , Alice Terry , Robert Edeson , Stuart Holmes , Ramon Novarro . ¨The Prisoner of Zenda¨ (1937) by John Cromwell with Ronald Colman as Major Rudolf Rassendyll / The Prisoner of Zenda , Madeleine Carroll as Princess Flavia , C. Aubrey Smith , Raymond Massey . ¨Prisoner of Zenda ¨(1952) with Stewart Granger , James Mason, Louis Calhern, Robert Coote , Janet Leigh.
      helpful•1
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      • ma-cortes
      • Sep 10, 2022

      Details

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      • Release date
        • August 17, 1979 (United States)
        • United States
        • English
      • Also known as
      • Filming locations
        • Vienna, Austria
      • Production company
        • Universal Pictures
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Box office

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      See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • 1 hour 48 minutes

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