My Train of Thought

 Last night TCM gave us quite a treat by airing two versions of the film The Prisoner of Zenda.  The first, made in 1937, featured Ronald Colman in the dual roles of Rudolph Rassendyll and Rudolph V, heir to the throne.  Madeleine Carroll was Princess Flavia.  Raymond Massey was Michael, the king's half-brother, C. Aubrey Smith portrayed the Colonel, protector and trusted adviser to the king, and David Niven had the role of Fritz, captain of the guard.  Mary Astor, as beautiful Antoinette was Michael's lover.  Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. rendered a most believable Rupert, the conniving partner of Massey, who kidnaps the king in exchange for the promise of wealth and power once Michael ascends the throne.

For the 1952 remake, the dual roles were handled by Stewart Granger, with Deborah Kerr as Flavia, Robert Douglas as Michael, Louis Calhern as the Colonel, Robert Coote as Fritz, and James Mason as Rupert.   Jane Greer handled the role of Antoinette, Michael's lover quite well.

The story opens when an Englishman,  who is an exact match for the soon to-be crowned king is found by the colonel and captain while vacationing in a foreign kingdom .  During a discourse, it is revealed that Rassendyll and Rudolph are actually distant cousins.  The two exchange memories at the king's hunting lodge, but the king is drugged via a bottle of wine that he alone drank.  The next morning, the day of coronation finds the king in no condition to appear, so the Englishman is asked to pose as the king for the day.  Rudolph is tucked neatly away in the wine cellar while the impersonator returns to the capital for the coronation.  The rest of the film involves brother Michael's plot to try and kill Rudolph so that he can ascend the throne.   Since Flavia is from a royal house, Michael is determined that she become his bride and ensure his claim as ruler.  The king and monarchy are saved thanks to Rassendyll, who having fallen in love with Flavia must now bid her adieu as he returns to England to keep the secret of his impersonation.
There are elements of the swashbuckler in both films, however, the 1952 version gives the sword fight between  Granger and Mason more air time.  The later version was filmed in technicolor while the 1937 film was in black and white.  The costumes in both films were stunning.  Ernest Dryden designed the costumes for the 1937 adaptation.  He'd also done the elegant clothes for Marlene Dietrich in The Garden of Allah.  The later version's wardrobe was designed by Walter Plunkett, who also did costumes for Gone With the Wind along with many other fine period films.

An interesting note is that Lewis Stone, who portrayed the Cardinal was the same actor to handle the dual roles in the silent 1922 version of the film.   Robert Osborne also noted that the same exact script was used for both films.  And while a few of the hand motions or stances are different, it was interesting to watch how the actors conducted themselves.  TCM has both film adaptations on a DVD together.  If you choose to add this to your collection, you can decide which is your favorite.





ALL ABOARD!