The Prisoner of Zenda (B or 3/4 stars)
Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll & Douglas Fairbanks Jr. headline director John Cromwell's rousing 1937 swashbuckler 'The Prisoner of Zenda'. It is the 1st sound version of Anthony Hope's classic novel; following a silent version from 1922 starring Ramon Novarro & precedes a stirring 1952 version starring Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, James Mason & Jane Greer. Set in 1897, Ronald Colman stars in a dual role as the kidnapped King Rudolf V of a small European country, & his lookalike British distant cousin, Major Rassendyll, the Prisoner of Zenda; who falls for the King's lady, Princess Flavia (Madeleine Carroll).
Rassendyll finds himself swept up in intrigue & adventure when he is convinced by the king's loyal aides (David Niven, Sir C. Aubrey Smith) to impersonate said king to save the throne; ultimately fighting to free the king from his evil half-brother, Michael, the Duke of Streslau (Raymond Massey, who knows how to play a villain) - who wants the crown for himself - and also Michael's main henchman, Rupert of Hentzau (Douglas Fairbanks Jr). Complications deepen when Princess Flavia starts to notice that her fiancee, Rudolf, isn't quite acting like himself, ha. Action & adventure ensues.
This movie has a little bit of everything: adventure, mystery, swashbuckling swordplay, humor, & light romance -- and all in 101 fairly fleet minutes. It's not perfect, but is quite entertaining. The cast is very good; with special mention going to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. for his thoroughly joyous, wholly energetic, scene-stealing portrayal of villainous Rupert of Hentzau. Fairbanks Jr. was encouraged by his legendary father to play "one of the best villains ever written". For me, he absolutely deserved an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his performance, but he did not get it.
Ronald Colman is as sturdy & dignified as ever as both Rassendyll & Rudolf. Madeleine Carroll is great as the ultimate princess. This movie was David Niven's breakthrough role as Capt. Fritz von Tarlenheim; injecting his brand of trademark humor that would make him an A-list actor soon thereafter. I enjoyed Mary Astor - as I always do - as Antoinette de Mauban. And how can you not ever love Sir C. Aubrey Smith; here, as Col. Zapt {great name}. James Wong Howe's black-&-white cinematography is scintillating. Lyle R. Wheeler's enormous sets & the cast of hundreds are wildly impressive. And composer Alfred Newman would nab his 1st of 45(!) Oscar nominations for his music contributions. Good film. Fun film. Definitely worth a watch.
Rassendyll finds himself swept up in intrigue & adventure when he is convinced by the king's loyal aides (David Niven, Sir C. Aubrey Smith) to impersonate said king to save the throne; ultimately fighting to free the king from his evil half-brother, Michael, the Duke of Streslau (Raymond Massey, who knows how to play a villain) - who wants the crown for himself - and also Michael's main henchman, Rupert of Hentzau (Douglas Fairbanks Jr). Complications deepen when Princess Flavia starts to notice that her fiancee, Rudolf, isn't quite acting like himself, ha. Action & adventure ensues.
This movie has a little bit of everything: adventure, mystery, swashbuckling swordplay, humor, & light romance -- and all in 101 fairly fleet minutes. It's not perfect, but is quite entertaining. The cast is very good; with special mention going to Douglas Fairbanks Jr. for his thoroughly joyous, wholly energetic, scene-stealing portrayal of villainous Rupert of Hentzau. Fairbanks Jr. was encouraged by his legendary father to play "one of the best villains ever written". For me, he absolutely deserved an Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor for his performance, but he did not get it.
Ronald Colman is as sturdy & dignified as ever as both Rassendyll & Rudolf. Madeleine Carroll is great as the ultimate princess. This movie was David Niven's breakthrough role as Capt. Fritz von Tarlenheim; injecting his brand of trademark humor that would make him an A-list actor soon thereafter. I enjoyed Mary Astor - as I always do - as Antoinette de Mauban. And how can you not ever love Sir C. Aubrey Smith; here, as Col. Zapt {great name}. James Wong Howe's black-&-white cinematography is scintillating. Lyle R. Wheeler's enormous sets & the cast of hundreds are wildly impressive. And composer Alfred Newman would nab his 1st of 45(!) Oscar nominations for his music contributions. Good film. Fun film. Definitely worth a watch.