Adaptations are rarely as good as the original. But every so often, you find exceptions to the rule. This is one of them.
This wasn't the first version of Zenda; there were at least two silent films based on the book. But this is the best-known film, and generally just the best adaptation.
I recognised only two of the actors:
Ronald Colman (Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities 1935) as the two Rudolfs
David Niven (Phileas Fogg in Around the World in Eighty Days 1956) as Fritz
The film begins with Rudolf Rassendyll arriving in Ruritania a day before King Rudolf's coronation. He meets Fritz, Sapt (apparently spelt Zapt in this film, for reasons known only to the producers), and King Rudolf. King Rudolf sees this as an opportunity to get drunk... with wine Michael sent him. Terrible idea, Rudolf. It ends as badly as you'd expect: King Rudolf unconscious, and not-king!Rudolf his reluctant impersonator.
Rudolf Rassendyll
Fritz and Sapt
King Rudolf
Meanwhile, we meet Michael. I like Michael much better here than in the book. Book!Michael was primarily in the background, with very few appearances and even fewer lines. Film!Michael gets considerably more screentime, and a chance to explain his motivations. Basically, he's jealous because he's the older son but Rudolf is the heir. (In the book, Michael is the younger brother, and his parents were married -- morganatically, but still a valid marriage. The film implies that Michael is illegitimate.)
Michael and Antoinette
Rupert makes his first appearance much earlier than in the book. This is a change I heartily approve of. Film!Rupert is just how I pictured book!Rupert: handsome, charming, and utterly despicable.
A very dashing, debonair, dastardly Rupert of Hentzau.
The crowds are waiting for the coronation. But there's no sign of the King. Michael and Rupert take the opportunity to gloat. And then the King arrives. Of course, it isn't the King; it's the other Rudolf, come to be crowned in his place. Michael looks utterly disgusted, but he doesn't suspect the truth yet.
Not-king!Rudolf arrives at the coronation...
...to Michael's *ahem* "delight" 😏
The coronation proceeds without anyone realising the king isn't there. Rudolf gets through the ceremony without giving himself away, Michael is too busy sulking to suspect the truth, and Flavia is pleased by the apparent change for the better in "King Rudolf's" manners.
Flavia
That night Rudolf and Sapt escape the city, hoping to retrieve the king and get not-king!Rudolf out of Ruritania. They're too late. Rupert got there first, and King Rudolf is now the prisoner of Zenda. Rudolf has no choice but to keep pretending to be king.
Rudolf and Flavia start to fall in love, to Sapt's dismay. And Rupert tells Michael about the two Rudolfs.
Our heroes decide to rescue King Rudolf. So they gather the army and go to Zenda. They get there just before Rupert kills Michael and takes over the castle. This is one of the main differences between book and film. The book doesn't have a long, drawn-out sword fight between Rudolf and Rupert, but it's awesome enough that I just don't care.
Film!Rupert gets a more dramatic exit than in the book. Instead of stealing a horse and riding off, he escapes by jumping out a window. More dramatic, but not very practical. I have to wonder how Rupert got out of that moat, when it's surrounded by a wall about six feet tall and the Ruritanian army is in and around the castle. In the book he used a rope to climb out, but there's no mention of that in the film. But minor quibbles about practicality aside, this scene is pretty awesome.
The King is rescued, so it's time for Rudolf to escape Ruritania before anyone learns the truth. First he has to explain the situation to Flavia. I can sum up this scene in one word: ouch 😭
My opinion of the film is "great adaptation, and great film in its own right". Even if you've never read The Prisoner of Zenda, you'll have no difficulty understanding the plot.
Unlike in the 1952 film, all the actors here are perfectly suited to their roles.
Ronald Colman is Rudolf Rassendyll, from his sarcastic comments to his "what have I got myself into?" moments as he realises how serious the situation is. He isn't quite as impressive as King Rudolf, but then King Rudolf just isn't an impressive character. David Niven is perfect as Fritz, and C. Aubrey Smith is a brilliantly gruff but loyal Colonel Sapt. Madeleine Carroll as Flavia is over-dramatic at times, but she's a fairly good Flavia anyway.
On the villainous side, Raymond Massey is a bit older than Michael should be -- Michael is younger than both Rudolfs in the book, and so presumably under thirty when he dies -- but manages to be menacing while still giving the impression he'd be a better king than King Rudolf. And Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is the best Rupert ever to appear on screen. Ever.
As a completely unrelated footnote, I'm disappointed the film didn't include the scene where not-king!Rudolf returns home, supposedly from the Tyrol, to find his brother and sister-in-law have been so upset by his absence they've got diplomats making enquiries about him. But I suppose that's not really an important scene, and the film has a perfectly good ending without it.
Is it available online?: Yes, on ok.ru.
Rating: 10/10.
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