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poster of The Prisoner of Zenda
Rating: 6.7/10 by 51 users

The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)

An Englishman vacationing in Ruritania is recruited to impersonate his cousin, the soon-to-be-crowned king after the monarch is drugged and kidnapped.

Directing:
  • Richard Thorpe
  • Sid Sidman
Writing:
  • John L. Balderston
  • Noel Langley
  • Wells Root
  • Anthony Hope
  • Edward E. Rose
Stars:
Release Date: Tue, Nov 04, 1952

Rating: 6.7/10 by 51 users

Alternative Title:
Der Gefangene von Zenda - DE

Country:
United States of America
Language:
English
Italiano
Runtime: 01 hour 36 minutes
Budget: $0
Revenue: $0

Plot Keyword: based on novel or book, kingdom, heir to the throne, mistaken identity, remake, royalty, identity swap, fictitious country

Stewart Granger
Rudolf Rassendyll / King Rudolf V
Deborah Kerr
Princess Flavia
Jane Greer
Antoinette de Mauban
Lewis Stone
The Cardinal
Robert Douglas
Michael, Duke of Strelsau
Robert Coote
Fritz von Tarlenheim
James Mason
Rupert of Hentzau

CinemaSerf

From Alfred Newman's opening music through the first ten minutes of this, it's pretty much a carbon copy of the 1937 version of Sir Anthony Hope's story. The only difference is that it's Stewart Granger playing the dashing "Rassendyll" who arrives in the European kingdom of Ruritania just as it's king is to be crowned. He's puzzled by his welcome but a walk in the forest soon makes the reasons for that clear when he meets "Col. Zapt" (Louis Calhern) and his boss - the King - who looks like his identical twin. Back to his hunting lodge they go for a glass of wine and next thing he wakes up in the morning with the king sound asleep and the colonel with the headache. He'll never make his coronation now - unless... Despite plenty of nerves their alternative day goes off smoothly enough but their return to the lodge presents them with a much better problem. The king has been kidnapped by "Rupert" (James Mason) and their plan to put his step-brother "Michael" (Robert Douglas) on the throne via the "Princess Flavia" (Deborah Kerr) is starting to look like it will work. Only by staying on in his role whilst they figure out a way to rescue the eponymous gent from the dungeons can they hope to restore proper monarchy. With the battle lines now drawn, this becomes a colourful and quickly paced cat and mouse game with Granger on charismatic form as he must resist falling in love with the princess whilst he saves the king. Kerr does enough here. She brings a glittering presence just by turning up in a tiara with her softly spoken voice, but it's really Mason who steals the show as his character has that mischievous touch of malevolence that he was good at exuding. It does take a while to get up to speed, but it's my kind of film and well worth an hour and an half.


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