The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)
Average Rating: 8.9/10
Reviews Counted: 8
Fresh: 8 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Release Date: Sep 3, 1937 Wide
liked it
Average Rating: 3.9/5
User Ratings: 620
My Rating
Movie Info
Ronald Colman stars in David O. Selznick's classic production of Anthony Hope's swashbuckling adventure. The film takes place in a mythical Central European kingdom with Colman in a dual role as King Rudolf V and Rudolph Rassendyl, a visitor from England who's a distant cousin to the prince. Arriving in the city of Strelsau, the inhabitants are startled by Rudolph's resemblance to the prince. Spotted by two of the prince's aides, Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim (David Niven) and Colonel Zapt (C.
Sep 3, 1937 Wide
Mar 6, 2007
Cast
-
Ronald Colman
Rudolph Rassendyl/King ... -
Madeleine Carroll
Princess Flavia -
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
Rupert of Hentzau -
Mary Astor
Antoinette de Mauban -
David Niven
Capt. Fritz von Tarlenh... -
C. Aubrey Smith
Col. Zapt -
Raymond Massey
Black Michael -
Lawrence Grant
Marshal Strakencz -
Ian Maclaren
Cardinal -
Byron Foulger
Johann -
Howard Lang
Josef -
Ralph Faulkner
Bersonin -
Montagu Love
Detchard -
William Von Brincken
Kraftstein -
Phillip G. Sleeman
Lauengram -
Alex D'Arcy
De Gauiet -
Ben Webster
British Ambassador -
Evelyn Beresford
British Ambassador's Wi... -
Boyd Irwin
Master of Ceremonies -
Emmett C. King
Von Haugwitz Lord High ... -
Al Shean
Orchestra Leader -
Charles Halton
Passport Officer -
Spencer Charters
Porter -
Eleanor Wesselhoeft
Cook -
Henry Roquemore
Station Master -
Lillian Harmer
Station Attendant -
Pat Somerset
Guard at Lodge -
Leslie Sketchley
Guard at Lodge -
D'Arcy Corrigan
Traveler -
Charles K. French
Bishop -
Otto H. Fries
Luggage Officer -
Torben Meyer
Michael's Butler -
-
Francis Ford
Man -
Florence Roberts
Duenna -
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (12) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (8) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)
This adaptation holds up really well, and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. is terrific as the bad guy.
Nigh on to perfect swashbuckler.
Ronald Coleman is one of the greatest leading men in American cinema. High tea style acting mixed with an air of swashbuckling macho. Zenda is a treat.
As much fun as a swashbuckler could hope to be.
Audience Reviews for The Prisoner of Zenda
Super Reviewer
Super Reviewer
-
- Princess Flavia: Holds her part well and really draws you in...
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for The Prisoner of Zenda yet.
What's Hot On RT
Trailer for James Franco adaptation
Star Trek opens softer than expected
Rachel McAdams' time travel romantic drama
Trailer for Tom Hanks thriller
Featured on RT
- Box Office Guru Wrapup: Star Trek Softer Than Expected at #1 36
- Weekly Ketchup: Will Smith to Star in Wild Bunch Remake? 34
- Critics Consensus: Star Trek Into Darkness is Certified Fresh 101
- Red Carpet Roundup: Star Trek Into Darkness Edition 0
- Video Interviews with Katie Aselton & Lake Bell of Black Rock 2
- VIP Access: Eli Roth talks Aftershock 1
- Total Recall: Star Trek Movies 94
Top Headlines
-
J.J. Abrams Talks Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Wars, and More
0
-
Vin Diesel Says Fast & Furious 7 Will Begin a New Trilogy
8
-
Mickey Rourke Confirmed for Expendables 3
4
-
Brad Bird Still Mulling Incredibles 2
0
-
Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, and Martin Short Join Inherent Vice
0
-
Bruce Willis Makes an Expiration Date
2
-
Drew Pearce Hired for Mission: Impossible 5
0
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
colman impersonates dual roles in this piece, the king to be throned and his identifical double who is merely an english man visiting outlandish nation. the king-to-be has been narcotized before the day he's about to be throned in consecration. so the loyal defenders of the king scheme to have the englishman as temporal substitute during his recovery. but the king's grudgy half brother covets the throne while his mischievous accomplice(fairbanks) drools over his mistress (mary astor). to add up the hardship, the englishman falls head over heels in love with the queen-to-be (carroll)...with all the conditions above, the price of honor and chivalric nobility appears precious. wouldn't that be the whole swashbuckler thing about?
ronald colman has the elegant screen presence as well as his composed charisma in the aristocratic costumes, while madelein carroll luminates the scenes with her striking beauty in the utmost degree, particularly in the cross-staring in the annoitment scene. douglas fairbanks jr. has limited screen time but remain impressive with his naughty mannerism and rascal-alike grinning.
"the prisoner of zenda" has every quintessential element of swashbuckler gendre except the consummation of romance since the queen-to-be selects her destined course of serving her royal house at the cost of her great one true love. the scene madelein bursts into an abrupt change of mind is sheer excellence of good acting. this is an aloof swashbuckler without the reward of his fair woman. perhaps tragic love emphasizes its gallantry for the ultimate swashbuckler without glorious compensation.