Streaming The Prisoner of Zenda Online

The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)iMDB Rating: 7.0
Date Released : 14 November 1952
Genre : Adventure
Stars : Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, Louis Calhern, Jane Greer
Movie Quality : BRrip
Format : MKV
Size : 700 MB

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English trout fisher Rudolf Rassendyll is about the only tourist not coming for the coronation of Central-European King Rudolf V at Strelsau, but happens to be a distance relative and is approached on account of their canning resemblance to stand in for the drunk king, in order to prevent his envious half-brother Michael, who arranged spiking his wine to seize the throne when the reputedly less then dutiful Rudolf stays away. The ceremony goes well, and he gets acquainted with the charming royal bride, related princess Flavia, but afterward the king is found to be abducted; he must continue the charade and once the hiding place, the castle of Zenda, is found is involved in the fight between political parties for control over Rudolf V, his the throne and his bride, for which a formidable third candidate, Michael's disloyal co-conspirator Rupert of Hentzau, was waiting in the curtains.

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Review :

Average Technicolor remake of a 1937 classic...the fight scenes are a big improvement here...

The 1937 film version, produced by David Selznick and starring Ronald Colman as Rudolf Rassendyll/King Rudolf V, Madeline Carroll as Princess Flavia, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as the villainous Rupert of Hentzau, is an escapist fantasy adventure classic in many respects. It's one of my all-time favorite stories and one of my favorite films to enjoy whenever I'm bored. Besides, the film inspired me to create written adventures of my own imaginary European country as a high school student.

Many years later the MGM studios decided to produce a Technicolor remake of the 1937 film. In few elements, such as in the production values and action scenes, it's an improvement. In most elements it's not.

Here we have a scene-for-scene remake that's virtually identical (even in the camera angles, dialog, and stirring music score by Alfred Newman) to the 1937 film except for the casting. And the casting is the weakest flaw here. Apart from Jane Greer in the Mary Astor role, we have Stewart Granger who has the required athleticism but lacks Ronald Colman's urbane panache in order to act regal. Deborah Kerr's Princess Flavia is a one-dimensional character here. The love scenes and chemistry between Granger and Kerr seems forced and unconvincing. The suave James Mason lacks Douglas Fairbank's young, devilish charm as Rupert of Hentzau, which made Fairbanks so enjoyable to watch in the 1937 version. The supporting characters, Colonel Zapt (Louis Calhern) and Fritz (Robert Coote), are reduced to mere puppets here and lack the buddy charm that C. Aubrey Smith and David Niven contained in the 1937 version.

Even worse, MGM contract director Richard Thorpe captained the film. Being an average director who always relied on shooting as few takes as possible and caring little for artistic temperament or actors' performances, his vast film work was only average and mostly unsatisfactory. He was never one of my favorite classic film directors.

However, it is the magnificent Technicolor production design, as well as the improved final duel between Rassendyll and Rupert, that makes the remake worth watching. Thanks to the bright lighting required for shooting in Technicolor, the night scenes are easier to watch this time. Even better, the exciting final duel is much more elaborately and imaginatively staged this time, while the two opponents in the 1937 version only looked as if they were fencing someone off-camera in close-ups and relying on stunt men in their long shots. Next to THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD (1938) THE MARK OF ZORRO (1940), and THE SEA HAWK (1940), this one ranks as one of my favorite film duels. However, despite the extravagant settings, the period look goes a little too far...the men smoke ladies' cigarettes and in two scenes Granger wears the most effeminate fur overcoat I've ever seen!

A beautiful Technicolor production and an awesome duel scene within...but after watching this version it's like you've just ate a slice of French silk chocolate pie, which is rich and filling but lacks the substance and nutritional value of a healthier dark chocolate bar.

Stick to the 1937 version, please.