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The Prisoner of Zenda

Original film poster
Directed byJohn Cromwell
W.S. Van Dyke (uncredited)
Produced byDavid O. Selznick
Written byAnthony Hope (novel)
Edward E. John Cromwell may refer to John Cromwell (director (1887-1979 American film director John P Woodbridge Strong "Woody" Van Dyke Jr ( March 21, 1889 &ndash February 5, 1943 was an American motion picture director David O Selznick, born David Selznick ( May 10, 1902 &ndash June 22, 1965) was one of the iconic Hollywood producers Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, better known as Anthony Hope (9 February 1863 – 8 July 1933 was an English novelist and playwright Rose
Wells Root
John L. Balderston (screenplay)
Donald Ogden Stewart (additional dialogue)
Ben Hecht (uncredited)
Sidney Howard (uncredited)
StarringRonald Colman
Madeleine Carroll
C. Aubrey Smith
Raymond Massey
Mary Astor
David Niven
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Music byAlfred Newman
CinematographyJames Wong Howe
Bert Glennon
Editing byJames E. John L Balderston ( October 22, 1889 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania - March 8, 1954 Los Angeles California) was an American Donald Ogden Stewart ( November 30, 1894 &ndash August 2, 1980) was an American author and screenwriter Ben Hecht (pronounced hekt) ( February 28, 1894 &ndash April 18, 1964) was an American screenwriter director producer playwright Sidney Howard ( June 26, 1891 &ndash August 23, 1939) was an American Playwright and Screenwriter who became the first Ronald Colman ( February 9 1891 &ndash May 19 1958) was an English Academy Award and Golden Globe -winning actor Madeleine Carroll ( February 26, 1906 &ndash October 2, 1987) was a British actress, immensely popular in the 1930s Raymond Hart Massey ( August 30 1896 &ndash July 29 1983) was a Canadian -born American actor Mary Astor ( May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an Academy Award -winning American Actress. James David Graham Niven (1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983 was an English Academy Award -winning Actor probably best known for his role as the punctuality-obsessed Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr, KBE, DSC ( December 9, 1909 &ndash May 7, 2000) was an American Actor Alfred Newman ( March 17, 1900 &ndash February 17, 1970) was a major American Composer of music for Films James Wong Howe, ASC (Chinese 黃宗霑 Pinyin: Huáng Zōngzhān ( August 28, 1899 - July 12, 1976) is considered one of Newcom
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date(s)September 2, 1937
Running time101 minutes
LanguageEnglish
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

The Prisoner of Zenda is a 1937 black-and-white adventure film based on the Anthony Hope 1894 novel of the same name and the 1896 play. This article is about the film studio Previously it was affiliated with a cinema chain bearing its name now owned by Regal Entertainment Group. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1937 ( MCMXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States The year 1937 in film involved some significant events Events April 16 - Way Out West premieres in Black-and-white is a number of Monochrome forms in Visual arts. Adventure Film is a Film genre. History The adventure film reached its peak of popularity in 1930s and Sir Anthony Hope Hawkins, better known as Anthony Hope (9 February 1863 – 8 July 1933 was an English novelist and playwright The Prisoner of Zenda is an Adventure novel by Anthony Hope, published in 1894. Of the many film adaptations, this is considered by many to be the definitive version. [1]

It starred Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., with a supporting cast including C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, Mary Astor and David Niven. Ronald Colman ( February 9 1891 &ndash May 19 1958) was an English Academy Award and Golden Globe -winning actor Madeleine Carroll ( February 26, 1906 &ndash October 2, 1987) was a British actress, immensely popular in the 1930s Douglas Elton Fairbanks Jr, KBE, DSC ( December 9, 1909 &ndash May 7, 2000) was an American Actor Raymond Hart Massey ( August 30 1896 &ndash July 29 1983) was a Canadian -born American actor Mary Astor ( May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an Academy Award -winning American Actress. James David Graham Niven (1 March 1910 – 29 July 1983 was an English Academy Award -winning Actor probably best known for his role as the punctuality-obsessed It was directed by John Cromwell, produced by David O. Selznick for Selznick International Pictures, and distributed by United Artists. Elwood Dager John Cromwell ( December 23, 1887 – September 26, 1979) was an American Film director, Actor David O Selznick, born David Selznick ( May 10, 1902 &ndash June 22, 1965) was one of the iconic Hollywood producers Selznick International Pictures was a Hollywood motion picture studio This article is about the film studio Previously it was affiliated with a cinema chain bearing its name now owned by Regal Entertainment Group. The screenplay was written by John L. Balderston, adapted by Wells Root from the novel, with dramatisation by Edward E. See also Pre-production Screenwriting A screenplay or script is a written plan authored by a Screenwriter, for a Film or Television John L Balderston ( October 22, 1889 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania - March 8, 1954 Los Angeles California) was an American Rose; Donald Ogden Stewart was responsible for additional dialogue, and Ben Hecht and Sidney Howard made uncredited contributions. Donald Ogden Stewart ( November 30, 1894 &ndash August 2, 1980) was an American author and screenwriter Ben Hecht (pronounced hekt) ( February 28, 1894 &ndash April 18, 1964) was an American screenwriter director producer playwright Sidney Howard ( June 26, 1891 &ndash August 23, 1939) was an American Playwright and Screenwriter who became the first

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Art Direction and Original Music Score. "The Oscar" redirects here for the film see The Oscar (film. The Academy Awards are the oldest awards ceremony for achievements in motion pictures. The Academy Award for Original Music Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically In 1991, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in its National Film Registry. The Library of Congress is the De facto National library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress The National Film Registry is the registry of Films selected by the United States National Film Preservation Board for preservation in the Library of

Contents

Plot summary

English gentleman Rudolf Rassendyll (Ronald Colman) takes a fishing vacation in a small, middle European country (never named in the film, but identified as Ruritania in the novel). Mitteleuropa (Central/Middle Europe is a German term equal to Central Europe. Ruritania is a Fictional country in Central Europe which forms the setting for three books by Anthony Hope: The Prisoner of Zenda While there, he is annoyed by the odd way he is treated by the natives. He eventually finds out why: he looks exactly like the soon-to-be-crowned king, Rudolf V (Colman again), who happens to be his distant relative. A look-alike is a living person who closely resembles another living person

Rassendyll soon meets the irresponsible Rudolf and his loyal underlings, Colonel Zapt (C. Aubrey Smith) and Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim (David Niven) while fishing. The royal is astounded by the resemblance and takes a great liking to the Englishman. They celebrate their acquaintance by drinking late into the night. The next morning brings dire news. Rudolf has been drugged into unconsciousness at the order of his half-brother, Duke Michael (Raymond Massey). If Rudolf cannot appear at his coronation, Michael can try to claim the throne for himself.

Zapt convinces Rassendyll to impersonate Rudolf and go through with the ceremony. A political decoy is a person employed to Impersonate a Politician, in order to draw attention away from the real person or to take risks on their behalf There he meets Rudolf's betrothed, Princess Flavia (Madeleine Carroll). She had always detested Rudolf, but now finds him greatly changed, for the better in her opinion. As they spend time together, they begin to fall in love.

With the coronation successfully accomplished, Rassendyll, Zapt and von Tarlenheim return to where they had left Rudolf, only to find he has been kidnapped by Rupert of Hentzau (Douglas Fairbanks Jr. ), Michael's charmingly amoral henchman. The Englishman is forced to continue the impersonation while Zapt tries to locate Rudolf.

Help arrives from an unexpected source. Antoinette de Mauban (Mary Astor), Michael's jealous French mistress, does not want him to become king, because to do so, he would have to marry his cousin Flavia. A cousin couple is a pair of Cousins who are involved in a romantic or Sexual relationship She reveals that the king is being held captive in Michael's castle near Zenda and promises to help rescue him. Since Rudolf would be killed at the first sign of an attack, she proposes that one man swim the moat, find the king and hold off his would-be assassins while loyal troops storm the castle. Rassendyll decides that he must be that man, over the strenuous objections of Zapt.

Their carefully-laid plans go awry however. Michael finds Rupert trying to seduce de Mauban that very night and is killed for his trouble. His heartbroken mistress blurts out enough to alert Rupert to the danger. He and Rassendyll engage in a prolonged duel, until Zapt and his men break in. Rupert then decides that discretion is indeed the better part of valor and flees.

Rudolf is restored to his throne. Rassendyll tries to persuade Flavia to leave with him, but her devotion to duty is too great and their parting is bittersweet.

Cast

Production

This production was "one of the last great gatherings of the Hollywood English" before World War II. Mary Astor ( May 3, 1906 – September 25, 1987) was an Academy Award -winning American Actress. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including [3] Selznick was partly inspired to take on the project because of the abdication of Edward VIII, and exploited this angle in his marketing of the film. The Edward VIII abdication crisis occurred in the British Empire in 1936 when the desire of King-Emperor Edward VIII to marry his mistress Wallis [3]

It was considered a difficult shoot. [3] Director John Cromwell was unhappy with his male leads, as he suspected that Colman did not know his lines, and was concerned with Fairbanks' and Niven's late nights on the town. George Cukor directed a few scenes of the film when Cromwell grew frustrated with his actors. George Dewey Cukor ( July 7, 1899 – January 24, 1983) was an Academy Award -winning American Film director. Woody Van Dyke was brought in to re-shoot some of the fencing scenes, which are one of the highlights of the film, along with the costume design. Woodbridge Strong "Woody" Van Dyke Jr ( March 21, 1889 &ndash February 5, 1943 was an American motion picture director Fencing is the art of armed Combat involving Cutting, Stabbing, or slapping bludgeoning Weapons directly manipulated by hand Costume design is the Design of the appearance of the characters in a Theater or cinema performance [4]

The script's roots in the 1896 stage version are readily apparent; there is little attempt to open up the story. The emphasis is very much on romance and adventure, rather than on the political thriller aspects of the novel. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE-ROMEOS*************** Adventure Film is a Film genre. History The adventure film reached its peak of popularity in 1930s and A political thriller is a thriller that is set against the backdrop of political power struggle

A prologue and an epilogue were shot, but never used. The prologue has Rassendyll recounting his adventures in his club. A gentlemen's club is a members-only private Club of a type originally set up by and for English Upper class men In the epilogue, he receives a letter from von Tarlenheim and a rose, informing him that Flavia has died.

Reception

Leslie Halliwell puts it at #590 of all the films ever made, saying that the "splendid schoolboy adventure story" of the late Victorian novel is "perfectly transferred to the screen",[5] and quotes a 1971 comment by John Cutts that the film becomes more "fascinating and beguiling" as time goes by. Leslie Robert James Halliwell ( 23 February, 1929 – 21 January, 1989) was a British Motion picture Historian Victorian literature is the literature produced during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901 and corresponds to the Victorian era. Halliwell's Film Guide 2008 calls it "one of the most entertaining films to come out of Hollywood". [6]

Reinterpretations

Many other adaptations of the novel have been produced on stage and (especially) screen. The Prisoner of Zenda is an Adventure novel by Anthony Hope, published in 1894. This 1937 version is the most highly regarded, and has influenced other works, including science fiction and television. What follows is a short list of those homages with a clear debt to this film, which sits within a long tradition of using political decoys in fiction. For medieval usage see Homage (medieval and Commendation ceremony, or Homage (disambiguation Homage (from the French A political decoy is a person employed to Impersonate a Politician, in order to draw attention away from the real person or to take risks on their behalf

Colman, Smith and Fairbanks reprised their roles for a 1939 episode of Lux Radio Theatre, with Colman's wife Benita Hume playing Princess Flavia. Lux Radio Theater, one of the genuine classic radio Anthology series (NBC Blue Network (1934-1935 CBS (1935-1954 NBC Benita Hume ( 14 October, 1906 &ndash 1 November, 1967) was an English film actress born in London.

The 1952 film is virtually a shot-by-shot remake, reusing the same shooting script, dialogue, and film score. The Prisoner of Zenda is a 1952 film version of the classic novel of the same name by Anthony Hope and a remake of the famous 1937 film A comparison of the two films reveals that settings and camera angles, in most cases, are the same. Halliwell judges it "no match for the happy inspiration of the original". [6]

Two episodes of the spoof spy television series Get Smart, "The King Lives?" and "To Sire With Love, Parts 1 and 2", parodied the 1937 movie version, with Don Adams imitating Coleman's distinctive voice. A television program (US television programme (UK or television show (U Get Smart is an American comedy television series that satirized the secret agent genre Don Adams (born Donald James Yarmy; April 13 1923 &ndash September 25 2005 was an American Actor, Comedian, Game show

References in popular culture

In an episode of the television series Northern Exposure, a character dubbed the film into Tlingit, a Native American language. Northern Exposure is a Dramedy series. It was created by Brand - Falsey Productions which was recognized with a rare pair of consecutive Not to be confused with the Turkic Telengit people The Tlingit (ˈklɪŋkɪt in English also /-gɪt/ or Tlinkit /ˈtlɪŋkɪt/ which

Notes

  1. ^ VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever 2008, Visible Ink Press 978-0787689810
  2. ^ The Brits in Hollywood Sheridan Morley p. 162
  3. ^ a b c The Brits in Hollywood Sheridan Morley, Robson Books 2006, p. Sheridan Morley (5 December 1941 − 16 February 2007 was an English author biographer critic director actor and broadcaster 161, ISBN 978-1861058072
  4. ^ "robust sword play" is singled out for praise in VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever 2008, Visible Ink Press 978-0787689810
  5. ^ Halliwell's Top 1000, John Walker, HarperCollins Entertainment ISBN 978-0007260805
  6. ^ a b Halliwell's Film Guide 2008, David Gritten, HarperCollins Entertainment ISBN 978-0007260805

External links

Turner Classic Movies ( TCM) is a cable television channel featuring commercial -free classic movies mostly from the Turner Entertainment and Warner
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