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The Prisoner of Zenda

  • 1922
  • Passed
  • 2h 5m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
593
YOUR RATING
Lewis Stone in The Prisoner of Zenda (1922)
SwashbucklerAdventureRomance

When the king is drugged and abducted by his ambitious brother, a lookalike relative must take his place to keep the evil sibling off the throne.When the king is drugged and abducted by his ambitious brother, a lookalike relative must take his place to keep the evil sibling off the throne.When the king is drugged and abducted by his ambitious brother, a lookalike relative must take his place to keep the evil sibling off the throne.

  • Director
    • Rex Ingram
  • Writers
    • Anthony Hope
    • Mary O'Hara
    • Edward Rose
  • Stars
    • Lewis Stone
    • Alice Terry
    • Robert Edeson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.7/10
    593
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Rex Ingram
    • Writers
      • Anthony Hope
      • Mary O'Hara
      • Edward Rose
    • Stars
      • Lewis Stone
      • Alice Terry
      • Robert Edeson
    • 18User reviews
    • 9Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win total

    Photos16

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    Top cast20

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    Lewis Stone
    Lewis Stone
    • Rudolf Rassendyll…
    Alice Terry
    Alice Terry
    • Princess Flavia
    Robert Edeson
    Robert Edeson
    • Col. Sapt
    Stuart Holmes
    Stuart Holmes
    • Grand Duke 'Black' Michael
    Ramon Novarro
    Ramon Novarro
    • Rupert of Hentzau
    • (as Ramon Samaniegos)
    Barbara La Marr
    Barbara La Marr
    • Antoinette de Mauban
    Malcolm McGregor
    Malcolm McGregor
    • Capt. Fritz von Tarlenheim
    Edward Connelly
    Edward Connelly
    • Marshal von Strakencz
    Lois Lee
    Lois Lee
    • Countess Helga
    John George
    John George
    • Dwarf-Assassin
    Snitz Edwards
    Snitz Edwards
    • Josef
    Fairfax Burger
    • Bersonin
    • (as Fairfax Burgher)
    S.E. Jennings
    • De Gautet
    • (as Al Jennings)
    Ted Billings
    • Train Passenger Eating Banana
    • (uncredited)
    Carrie Daumery
    Carrie Daumery
    • Lady-in-Waiting
    • (uncredited)
    Bynunsky Hyman
    • Coronation Parade Spectator
    • (uncredited)
    Eric Mayne
    Eric Mayne
    • Lord Burlesdon - Rudolf's Brother
    • (uncredited)
    Lon Poff
    Lon Poff
    • Archbishop
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Rex Ingram
    • Writers
      • Anthony Hope
      • Mary O'Hara
      • Edward Rose
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews18

    6.7593
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    Featured reviews

    8wes-connors

    Riding on the Metro

    English traveler and sportsman Lewis Stone (as Rudolf Rassendyll) decides to attend the coronation of distant relative "Rudolf V." of Ruritania (also Lewis Stone, in a dual role), after the recent death of the foreign land's King. But proposed King Stone has a wicked half-brother, who covets the title. Receiving most of his help from charismatic Ramon Novarro (as Rupert of Hentzau), treacherous brother Stuart Holmes (as Grand Duke Michael) plots to poison Mr. Stone and take his place on the throne. But, due to the royal Rudolf's fondness for alcohol, a switch is made. One who senses something rotten in Ruritania is beautiful Alice Terry (as Princess Flavia), who is expected to marry one, but falls in love with another...

    "Towards the end of the day, when the soul is weary and the heart longs for its beloved"...

    Anthony Hope's classic adventure story gets the MGM treatment, even though the studio mostly called "Metro" by insiders was only M-G- (no Mayer, yet) at the time. Metro's mega-hit "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" (1921) director Rex Ingram and the principle players gathered here stuck with the company; helping set the standard for MGM productions, Metro/MGM competed successfully with older studios. This film advanced careers, most notably helping propel Mr. Novarro to "superstar" status. There are also fine impressions made by veteran Robert Edeson (as Colonel Sapt), bewitching Barbara La Marr (as Antoinette de Mauban) and debuting Malcolm McGregor (as Fritz von Tarlenheim)...

    Notable re-makes in 1937 (all talking, with Ronald Colman) and 1952 (in color, with Stewart Granger) are worth seeking out in a "twofer" package from Warner/Turner. They should have added this 1922 version. It's still entertaining, due to swaggering action, good production values and captivating performances. This non-speaking "The Prisoner of Zenda" was the standard silent film era version. It was the #4 "Best Picture" of 1922 according to the annual "Film Daily" poll of critics. Rex Ingram, Lewis Stone, Alice Terry and Ramon Novarro received director and acting accolades. Stone, at his silent best here, essays a small part in the 1952 version; it was one of the last roles for the perennial Metro-contracted actor.

    ******** The Prisoner of Zenda (7/31/22) Rex Ingram ~ Lewis Stone, Alice Terry, Ramon Novarro, Malcolm McGregor
    6preppy-3

    Dull, but elaborate

    Expensive silent film of a king who is marked for assassination. He switches identities with a look alike (both played by Lewis Stone) who takes his place at his coronation. But the real king is kidnapped. While his followers try to find him, the fake king falls in love with Princess Flava (Alice Terry).

    Slow moving but the film looks great. No action...just lots of exagerrated looks and people endlessly talking. The sets, costumes and acting helps. Seeing Stone (who went on to play Judge Hardy in the Andy Hardy movies) so young and being a romantic lead is interesting. He's also very good. Terry is regal and also very good as the princess. Ramon Novarro (still an unknown) plays the evil villain. That's quite a shock--he always played heroes in his later films. He pulls it off though.

    So, it's beautiful but I can't totally recommend it.
    10Ron Oliver

    Excellent Silent Swashbuckler

    Rudolf V, the King of Ruritania, has been kidnapped by Black Michael, his evil half-brother, and locked in the dungeon of the fortress of Zenda on the eve of his coronation. By a wild twist of fate, it falls upon a look alike distant cousin, the Englishman Rassendyll, to impersonate the king and effect his rescue before either one or both of them are killed by Black Michael or his henchman, Rupert of Hentzau. With two beautiful women complicating matters, and danger lurking at every turn, how can THE PRISONER OF ZENDA possibly be saved?

    It is unfortunate that this fine silent film is completely overshadowed by its 1937 talkie remake starring Ronald Colman. It is also unfair. Silent films & talkies are two different art forms and should not be put into competition against each other. Each art form is perfect in its own way. And so it is with the 1922 PRISONER OF ZENDA. Excitingly produced, with excellent production values & good acting, this movie stands on its own merits and on its own feet.

    Those familiar with Lewis Stone only as a fine character actor during his talkie career at MGM may be surprised to see him here as a romantic lead, and in a swashbuckler no less. But he is very good in his dual roles of Rudolf & Rassendyll. Strangely, at times he closely resembles Colman, but this is a coincidence no one could anticipate.

    This was also the breakout picture for Ramon Novarro. Born to a large wealthy family in Mexico, he had arrived in California as a 15-year old looking to become a singer. That led him into dancing & finally to acting and the movies. Working incredibly hard for years, and largely supporting his family (driven North by Revolution) he finally caught the eye of director Rex Ingram. In ZENDA, the 22-year old Novarro plays rascally Rupert, who, with his little beard & moustache & face wreathed in constant cigarette smoke, looks quite sardonic. He does very well with the unsympathetic character. Playing a mid-European, Novarro begins a career which would have him acting every sort of ethnic role, from Hebrew, to Polynesian, to Chinese.

    The rest of the cast all lend able support: Stuart Holmes as the wicked Black Michael; Alice Terry as the beautiful Princess Flavia; Barbara La Marr as the lovely Antoinette de Mauban, desperately in love with Michael; and Robert Edeson & Malcolm McGregor as two staunchly loyal officers of the king. Little comedian Snitz Edwards has a small role as a funny butler.
    8David-240

    Evil Ramon sparks disappointing Ingram film.

    Rex Ingram was one of the great visual stylists of the silent cinema, but his version of "The Prisoner of Zenda" is a little slow and ponderous and visually not as interesting as other Ingram films. But it's still pretty good with strong performances from Ingram's wife Alice Terry and the marvellous Lewis Stone. Although Ramon Novarro has top billing, Stone actually has the lead role - Ramon's role is a supporting one - an evil nobleman. But he is splendid - darkly handsome with a little beard and a monocle - and convincingly evil. It is interesting to see him before he became type-cast as the energetic sweet boy - he shows here that he had more range as an actor than he was allowed to show.

    The entire supporting cast is excellent and, although the sets are ordinary, the costumes are very fine. I expected more from Ingram, but this film is still worthwhile. Does anyone know if the Ingram - Novarro "Scaramouche" is still in existence?
    6mik-19

    "While you're unhung, Rentzau, hell lacks its master"

    A retiring English country gentleman, Rassendyll, is mistaken for his distant cousin, King Rudolph of Ruritania. When the king is taken hostage by his jealous brother, Black Michael, Rassendyll agrees to act as the king in the coronation ceremony.

    It takes a long time for this version of 'The Prisoner of Zenda' to get moving. The first hour or so is stodgy and less than riveting film-making, and then it gradually picks up momentum, and the last half hour packs a decent punch, especially action-wise. But all in all, a rather more lackluster, even crude entertainment than I had expected after the exhilarating 'Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse', also by Rex Ingram.

    The script is largely at fault, with the scenes so disjointedly put together that it does not in long stretches make a lot of sense. It has the makings of some interesting psychological insights, but does not explore them. I would have made more - MUCH more - out of the fact that for a long while Black Michael seems a pretty decent fellow, genuinely in love with Antoinette and understandably preoccupied about leaving the fate of his country to his feeble-minded brother. But Ingram makes nothing of it and seems curiously uninspired.

    The youngish Lewis Stone is an earnest Rassendyll/Rudolph, and sort of holds his own in the climactic sword-fight with, among others, Ramon Novarro. And now we are getting somewhere. This is Novarro's film. He was hardly a star when it was made, and his role does not take up a lot of screen time, but Novarro eats up the scenery with his monocled, slick diabolism. "While you're unhung, Rentzau, hell lacks its master!", Stone says, and right he is. Novarro is pure evil, and a delight to watch.

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    Related interests

    Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)
    Swashbuckler
    Still frame
    Adventure
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      A few days before shooting was to start, director Rex Ingram realized that Metro had forgotten to order costumes for Lewis Stone. The desperate director frantically phoned Stone and asked if he still had the costumes from the stage version. Luckily the actor had them stored in his attic.
    • Goofs
      During the climactic fight scene, a stool is kicked over twice.
    • Quotes

      [intertitles]

      Rudolf Rassendyll: While you're unhung, Hentzau, hell lacks its master!

    • Alternate versions
      The Turner library print is a re-release of the original version, with an uncredited piano music score and a running time of 113 minutes. Its opening credits were changed to list Ramon Novarro first, as he was then very popular, and also uses the name he is now known by. Also credited onscreen was John George and Snitz Edwards.
    • Connections
      Featured in Cinéman (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Zenda
      Music and Lyrics by Louis Breau and Ernst Luz

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 11, 1922 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • None
    • Also known as
      • Fången på Zenda
    • Production company
      • Metro Pictures Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $323,062 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 5m(125 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Silent
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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