Product Details

• Actors: Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll, C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, Mary Astor
• Directors: John Cromwell, W.S. Van Dyke
• Writers: Anthony Hope, Ben Hecht, Donald Ogden Stewart, Edward E. Rose, John L. Balderston
• Format: Black & White, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Warner)
• VHS Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Run Time: 101 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301976215
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,907 in Video (See Bestsellers in Video)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

One of numerous film versions of Anthony Hope's novel, this 1937 production directed by John Cromwell (Algiers) gets it right. Ronald Colman stars as a British commoner asked to substitute for his lookalike cousin, the king of a small, European country. Besides falling in love with a royal (Madeleine Carroll), he becomes subject to the machinations of a villain (Douglas Fairbanks Jr. who almost steals the show). A classic swashbuckler, the film depends a little too much on an air of pomp (as if to make sure we understand that Colman's character is seeing all this from the inside for the first time). But in every significant sense, this is high adventure for the ages. --Tom Keogh

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colman, Fairbanks in Swashbuckling Masterpiece!, November 14, 2000

By	Benjamin J Burgraff (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

'The Prisoner of Zenda' is one of the most fondly-remembered films of the '30s, and for good reason! It offers Ronald Colman, one of Hollywood's most beloved British stars, in the dual role of Rudolf, crown prince of a small European kingdom, and Rudolf Rassendyll, his look-alike British cousin, end product of a brief affair of an ancestor (as the Englishman puts it, "Fishing in forbidden waters!"); the radiant Madeleine Carroll, best-known as Robert Donat's leading lady in Hitchcock's classic 'The 39 Steps', as the royal betrothed, who falls in love with the pretender; Raymond Massey, Canadian star of H.G. Wells' SF masterpiece, 'Things to Come' (and, 3 years later, the quintessential Abraham Lincoln on stage and in film!), as Black Michael, Rudolf's scheming half-brother; and, best of all, a youthful Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., son of silent Hollywood's greatest swashbuckler (and a pretty fair swashbuckler, himself!), as the suavely villainous ally of Michael.

The story is simple, and has been done many times before, but never with such elan; drugged monarch-to-be must be impersonated by look-alike for coronation, lest kingdom fall into hands of evil half-brother. In the hands of this PERFECT cast (with terrific support by C. Aubrey Smith, a young David Niven, and Mary Astor) the tale becomes a stylish tale of love, intrigue, and derring-do! High points include an astonishingly beautiful Royal Ball, where Colman and Carroll reveal their love; a very funny yet menacing meeting between Colman and Fairbanks, as they discuss the real King's potential fate; and best of all, a MAGNIFICENT climactic swordfight between the pair, as they lunge and parry furiously through the halls of a castle, while exchanging quips and one-liners!

This is swashbuckling at it's finest, and is a MUST for any adventure fan's collection! If you are unfamiliar with Ronald Colman's work, you're in for a treat! Don't miss it!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not on DVD...? , November 24, 2005

By	Ken Jost "Ken" (Madison, AL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The fact that this film is not on DVD is truly a testment to the stupidity of mankind and whatever organization it is that owns the rights to it!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It simply gets no better than this., January 12, 1999

By A Customer

A stellar cast and lavish cinematography highlight this classic. Lord Laurence Olivier called Ronald Colman the best actor of our time, and this film proves it. Playing both a late 19th-century European king and his distant English cousin, Colman showcases his always-splendid acting talents. Madeleine Carroll is simply adorable as the princess, and David Niven is a true-blue, loyal officer as Fritz. C. Aubrey Smith gives the performance of his life as the Colonel, and as always, Raymond Massey plays a deliciously wicked Black Michael, the king's jealous half-brother. Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. simply chews up his scenes as Prince Rupert, and treats us to some spectacular sword fighting as well. What is the plot? With this cast, does it matter? Only because the story comes from the novel written by the superb Anthony Hope and the film itself was produced by David O. Selznik as his warm-up to "Gone with the Wind." I can't do credit to this story, and I won't spoil the charm of it. Simply buy the video, indulge yourself, and luxuriate in it!