Review: The Prisoner of Zenda (1922)

Who'd have thought? Death Takes a Holiday is no longer the oldest film I've reviewed!

The only other silent films I've seen are very old Laurel and Hardy shorts. My perception of silent films as a whole is mostly influenced by Singin' in the Rain and its humourous look at the rise of talkies. So I expected this version of Zenda to be a comedy -- intentionally or otherwise.

This wasn't actually the book's first film adaptation. There were two earlier silent films. But both of them are now lost, so it's the oldest surviving adaptation.

I didn't recognise any actors, so onto the film itself.

Like the book, the film starts with Rudolf visiting his brother and sister-in-law. The film includes Countess Amelia's portrait, but doesn't explain (yet) who she was or why Rudolf is so interested in a newspaper article about King Rudolf's approaching coronation.

Rudolf

Meanwhile, in Ruritania Michael is plotting. Neither Michael nor Rupert make as much impression as in the 1937 film. I was amazed at how much Bersonin looks like Frankenstein's Monster, though 😆

Bersonin, who has apparently wandered out of a horror movie.

Rupert is a real disappointment. He doesn't look like my image of book!Rupert (and has a mustache and beard, something never mentioned in the book). But more importantly, he never steals the limelight the way Rupert should. He has some moments of Rupert-ness, and he isn't as unspeakably awful as 1952!Rupert, but he's not quite the scene-stealing, charming scoundrel of the book and 1937 film.

Rupert

One improvement the film makes is showing Michael and co. plotting. The book, which is entirely from Rudolf's perspective, never shows this. The film also introduces Flavia very early -- before Rudolf even gets to Ruritania, in fact. I don't mind this change (wonder of wonders! A change I don't mind!), but I do mind her costume and hairstyle. Could the wardrobe department have made them more anachronistic if they tried?

Flavia, in a hairstyle that came into fashion about thirty years after the film's setting, and a dress that doesn't fit any late 19th century fashion I've ever seen.

On the bright side, the film includes Helga! She was disappointingly absent from the 1937 version.

For some odd reason the name "Zenda" at the station is written in Cyrillic ("ЗЕНДА"). Goodness knows why. Ruritania in the book is basically a miniature Austria-Hungary, and neither country uses the Cyrillic alphabet. Did the director decide to move it closer to Russia?

King Rudolf's ill-advised drinking goes exactly like in the book, with the same results. I laughed at Rupert and Bersonin's amazement when they see "the King" leave the hunting lodge after they saw him drink the wine. But why on earth did Rupert send the "All is well" message to Michael when he knew all wasn't well? Did he send that message before he saw Rudolf? 😕

I like the addition of Flavia and Helga talking about "the King"! We never got to see that in the book. We also get to see Michael and his henchmen making their plans.

For some odd reason the film includes a subplot about Michael planning to assassinate Rudolf. Er, what? It was a major plot point in the book that Michael couldn't do anything of the sort because then the whole plan would be revealed. The film also has Antoinette directly meeting with Rudolf's friends, and being spied on by Michael's henchmen. Strange, I seem to remember how difficult it was for Antoinette to even get messages to them in the book.

Antoinette and Fritz

Michael manages to be even more despicable in the film than in the book 😠 In this version he actually gives Antoinette to Rupert, when in the book he died trying to defend her from him. His death is different, too. Instead of Rupert killing him before the heroes arrive, Rudolf kills him during the storming of the castle.

Here Zenda's castle moat isn't a traditional moat; it's part of a river leading to a waterfall. So when Rupert jumps in at the end, he apparently goes over the waterfall. Why'd he jump in, then? Rupert isn't the sort of character who'd choose an escape attempt that would probably kill him. Book!Rupert would be more likely to go along with Sapt taking him captive until he finds an escape (or can charm or kill his way to freedom).

I feel sorry for poor Flavia when she learns who Rudolf really is 😢

😢

The film's ending is closer to the book's than the 1937 film's. Here Rudolf gets on a train as Fritz and Sapt salute him. It's surprisingly sad 😢

This isn't the worst Zenda adaptation. Unfortunately it's not the best either. If I hadn't watched the 1937 film first, I probably would have enjoyed this film much more. As it is, I kept comparing it unfavourably to that version.

Is it available online?: Yes, there are several versions on YouTube. This is the one I watched.

Rating: 5/10. It's not great, but it could be worse.