The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)
If you read my reviews here on Hot Toasty Rag, you’re familiar with my frequent disses of Gone With the Wind. Well, here comes another one: the “epic” crane shot that was touted as the first, best, and only to ever have been used in the 1939 classic was not! John Cromwell and W.S. Van Dyke, with their incredible direction of The Prisoner of Zenda, had already done it! In the grand entrance of Ronald Colman as Prince Rudolph, there’s a crane shot that follows his descent to the ballroom guests that is just as impressive as Gone With the Wind—and even more so because it was two years earlier and didn’t receive any publicity for it. Not to mention the unfathomable split screen used to film Ronald Colman and his look-a-like, Ronald Colman. I don’t know how they did it in 1937. Needless to say, John Cromwell and W.S. Van Dyke earned their Hot Toasty Rag nomination for Best Director of 1937.
Now for the actual story: Ronald Colman plays a dual role. He’s Prince Rudolph, in line for his coronation as King, and a distant cousin who happens to look very much like the prince. The prince’s loyal friends and advisers, C. Aubrey Smith and David Niven, meet the distant cousin on a fishing trip, and when the prince becomes a target of an assassination plot led by his jealous brother Raymond Massey, C. Aubrey and The Niv come up with a plan. They train the cousin to impersonate the prince, and while Raymond tries to manage his shock, they set about rescuing the real prince. Exciting, isn’t it?
Yes, it is incredibly exciting, and when you get to stare at two Ronald Colmans for the price of one, as well as a young David Niven, as well as a dashing Douglas Fairbanks Jr., you’ll get an incredible amount of eye candy. The plot moves quickly, keeping you interested and at the edge of your seat, and when inevitable confrontations happen, they don’t disappoint. Check out this classic adventure flick even if you don’t normally like this genre. It might change your mind.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Mary Astor movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1922's The Prisoner of Zenda here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1952's The Prisoner of Zenda here!
Now for the actual story: Ronald Colman plays a dual role. He’s Prince Rudolph, in line for his coronation as King, and a distant cousin who happens to look very much like the prince. The prince’s loyal friends and advisers, C. Aubrey Smith and David Niven, meet the distant cousin on a fishing trip, and when the prince becomes a target of an assassination plot led by his jealous brother Raymond Massey, C. Aubrey and The Niv come up with a plan. They train the cousin to impersonate the prince, and while Raymond tries to manage his shock, they set about rescuing the real prince. Exciting, isn’t it?
Yes, it is incredibly exciting, and when you get to stare at two Ronald Colmans for the price of one, as well as a young David Niven, as well as a dashing Douglas Fairbanks Jr., you’ll get an incredible amount of eye candy. The plot moves quickly, keeping you interested and at the edge of your seat, and when inevitable confrontations happen, they don’t disappoint. Check out this classic adventure flick even if you don’t normally like this genre. It might change your mind.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Mary Astor movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1922's The Prisoner of Zenda here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of 1952's The Prisoner of Zenda here!