Movie Monday Review: The Prisoner of Zenda

Princess Marta and the “King” Rassendyll

The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

Starring: Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll, C. Aubrey Smith, David Niven, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., and Raymond Massey, Mary Astor.

Summary

Englishman, Rudolf Rassendyll (Ronald Colman), comes to Ruritania to fish and enjoy a vacation. Upon arrival, he is hounded by people who simply stare at him. Finally finding peace and quiet, he falls asleep in the woods, only to be awakened by two gentlemen. The older, Colonel Zapt (C. Aubrey Smith) questions him strongly. The younger, Fritz von Tarlenheim (David Niven), is very curious. Soon, the King of Ruritania appears and, to the surprise of Rassendyll, looks just like him! They soon discover that, due to some hanky-panky that occurred hundreds of years ago, they are cousins and look extraordinarily alike.

The King meets Rassendyll

The King invites Rassendyll to his hunting cabin and soon they spend the evening drinking, the King drinking much more than the rest. Known as a weak King, one who could out-drink anyone, the King’s enemies hope to take advantage of this. Colonel Zapt is strongly against this, insisting that the King must be in good condition for the morrow at his coronation. The King slaps Zapt, who leaves. A new bottle is brought out and King drinks it, soon however, passes out drugged.

Michael with Antoinette

The next morning, Colonel Zapt and Tralenheim wake up Rassendyll to tell him of the situation. If the King is not at the coronation, his evil half-brother will attempt to throw the public against the King and then be crowned himself. Rassendyll looks enough like the King, he could take his place for a day and save the kingdom. At first Rassendyll is against it, he couldn’t possibly act like a king. However, he soon agrees, and after shaving his beard and hiding the true King, they leave for the coronation.

Advice from Zapt and Tarlanheim

Meanwhile, Michael (Raymond Massey) is making plans to set up his own coronation, believing his brother to be drugged and out of the way. The lovely Antoinette de Mauban (Mary Astor) cannot understand why Michael would be this way. If he became king, he would never be able to marry her, which is her ultimate wish. She cannot marry her true love, if he is king. When Rupert of Hentzau (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) appears, he tells Antoinette the truth: that Michael’s main wish is to become king and that he cares nothing for her. He tries to convince her that he is the only man not afraid of Michael and would be able to help her make Michael jealous of the two of them. She hates Rupert, who loves her.

Antoinette with Rupert

Despite many plans, the coronation continues on. Michael cannot understand it and sends Rupert to Zenda to investigate. After the coronation, the beautiful Princess Marta (Madeleine Carroll) is presented to the “King” as his betrothed. Beautiful as ever, she has always hated the King, but notices that he has changed. Colonel Zapt says this is good, it will put the King in good graces with her.

Kissing “his” betrothed

Late that night, Colonel Zapt sneaks Rassendyll out and they return to Zenda to make the switch with the King. When they arrive, they find the King missing with a note saying he has been kidnapped. Colonel Zapt convinces Rassendyll that it’s his duty to stay on, although Rassendyll claims it’s not, as he is an Englishman.

Convincing Rassendyll

At Michael’s estate, Rupert informs him that the King has been kidnapped and that there is indeed a “twin”. Michael cannot believe it, but now starts thinking about how to get rid of both of them and sends Rupert out to talk with Rassendyll.

Attempting something

Rupert fails in his attempt to kill Rassendyll due to Antoinette foiling him. She tells Rassendyll that if he will come rescue the King, being held in Michael’s castle, and not harm him, she will assist Rassendyll, who agrees to the plan. Soon plans are made with Zapt and Tarlanheim to make rescue and collect an “army”. Antoinette warns them that if alarm is aroused, they will kill the King immediately.

The man she loves!

Sneaking into the castle, Rassendyll makes his way to the dungeon. Rupert appears, however, and notices that Antoinette’s door is open. He goes into try to win her heart. Rassendyll continues on his way, but soon the guards raise alarm and Michael is alerted. He finds Rupert with Antoinette and a fight ensues, ending with Rupert killing Michael. In her sorrow, Antoinette starts to tell all and Rupert immediately goes for the dungeon. Finding Rassendyll, they exchange playful banter, with Rupert concluding:

“I never could get the hang of fighting with furniture. How did you learn it?”

and soon are sword to sword. Rassendyll knows he must open the drawbridge to let Zapt and Tarlanheim in with their men. Making his way up, he finally opens the drawbridge, making way for the troops. Rupert makes a last attempt and stabs Rassendyll in the arm and makes his exit, saying, it’s too hot for him. He escapes through the moat.

With the King rescued, Rassendyll must now leave to keep the secret for the King. Princess Marta is heartbroken, but insists on seeing Rassendyll. He asks her to go with him to England, but she knows her duty and refuses. He goes, brokenhearted, but sure that he has done the right thing for Ruritania!

Rupert escapes!

Review

A masterpiece of performance by all who appear in this film! The story is exciting from beginning to end, based on the book by the same title by Anthony Hope. Ronald Colman does a superb job playing the dashing young Englishman who saves the day, but then does an amazing job as the weak king, worth very little. The mix between Madeleine Carroll and Colman is unique. They blend well and help the story progress to its bittersweet end.

An amazing work of cinematography by James Wong Howe! The double work, with Ronald Colman as the Englishman and the King in the same frame, is phenomenal! Especially for that time period, there is not even a sign of a screen split. The fencing scene is quite well done, featuring the dark shadows of each opponent, very much similar to The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone, done a couple of years later. The music is also quite well done for the film, creating the perfect atmosphere and emotion.

Shadows on the wall

Behind the scenes fencing…

Someone not to be left behind is Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. He is said to not have wanted to do the film in the first place, if it hadn’t been for his famous father (also an actor), he would not have. However, I would say this is one of his best performances. He takes on the character of the arch-villain superbly. His strong personality and charisma make the story so much more gripping. His agility and devil-may-care character, at first paint a picture that he is not a worthy opponent. However, as the story progresses, he becomes less of a stooge for the King’s brother and much more the ultimate enemy. The fencing he does, and even the clothes he wears, is reminiscent of his father’s swashbuckling movies. Not to mention, the smile that never leaves his face, as he is always confident of himself.

This film was remade in 1952, with Stewart Granger, Debra Kerr, and James Mason. Although, different in some ways (it was in color, and a few lines are different), it is very much the exact same film. Also, I do not think the casting was as well done. Granger, Kerr, and Mason are all excellent actors, but their parts seemed distant and not as well placed as the 1937 version. The special effects were also not as well done.

On set: Mary Astor and Ronald Colman

In an episode of Get Smart, “The King Lives” (Season 3, Episode 14), Max ends up being the double for an important King in Europe. It plays out very similarly to The Prisoner of Zenda and Don Adams does a good job of imitating Ronald Colman, with the voice and movements of such.

So, if you’re looking for a good, old-fashioned swashbuckling movie, go with The Prisoner of Zenda from 1937! You won’t regret it!

Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.

Ellen Nolan

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