 Prisoner of Zenda (1937)Starring: Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll, Mary Astor, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Raymond Massey
Directed by: John Cromwell
Produced by: David O. Selznick
This swashbuckling adventure, based on the 19th-century novel by Anthony J. Hope Hawkins, stars Ronald Colman in a dual role as dead ringers Rudolph Rassendyll, an English commoner, and Rudolf V, the crown prince of Ruritania. Rudolf V is drugged prior to his coronation by Black Michael (Raymond Massey), a schemer with designs on the throne.
Rudolf's entourage persuades Rassendyll to double for the king but Black Michael, having found out about the substitution, kidnaps the true monarch and hides him away inside the impenetrable fortress of Zenda. Rassendyll passes through the coronation with flying colors, but the real king must be found before his wedding date--and before Rassendyll and Princess Flavia (Madeleine Carroll) fall head over heels in love.
Produced by mastermind David O. Selznick and generally considered director John Cromwell's greatest work, the film handles everything from roiling fight scenes to romantic interludes with supreme deftness while the photography and art direction is sublime. Led by the suave Colman, the all-star cast (Mary Astor, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., David Niven, C. Aubrey Smith) stands as one of the finest ever assembled. THE PRISONER OF ZENDA is one of the true highlights of Hollywood's golden era.
MPAA Rating: Not Rated.
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