The Prisoner of Zenda

1952

1 hr. 40 min.

Adventure

List

Reviews

63%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

King Rudolf V of Ruritania (Stewart Granger) is suddenly abducted just days before his coronation is to take place. The king's evil brother, Prince Rupert (James Mason), is behind the kidnapping plot, and plans to seize the throne for himself. As the king's supporters try to find him, they stumble upon Rudolf Rassendyl (also Granger), an identical distant cousin who can pose as the betrayed ruler. The plan works well until the king's fiancée, Princess Flavia (Deborah Kerr), suspects foul play.

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Frances H

My favorite straight version of the Prisoner of Zenda (the comedic one was of course the Peter Sellers version, although the one that was a side play in The Great Race was fun, too). Stewart Granger was such a good swashbuckler, much better than Ronald Coleman. And Deborah Kerr was the beautiful and noble Flavia, but the earlier version of Rupert of Henzau being played by Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was a better portrayal that James Mason could do--Fairbanks had much more joyful savior faire in the role. Mason was just too clipped and dry to do a good job.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/03/20

Full Review

Audience Member

This re-make is a poor cousin to the original (1937). The original had heart, character, and it kept your interest. The re-make was to be a frame-by-frame re-enactment of the original, something that was impossible to do, and something that proved ridiculous to try. Casting details also cheapened the remake and even the shift to color didn't help. The original version is the best.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/16/23

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joe m

OK-ish period piece. Granger and Kerr are both kind of wooden. Mason is the one with a tour de force performance.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

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Audience Member

Perhaps Grangers best movie! Both him and Mason are excellent in the scenes they are together.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/31/23

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s r

A bit too melodramatic, but still enjoyable.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

skip this see 1937 version

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/21/23

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Richard Thorpe

Director

Stewart Granger

Rudolf Rassendyll

Deborah Kerr

Princess Flavia

James Mason

Rupert of Hentzau

Jane Greer

Antoinette de Mauban

Louis Calhern

Col. Zapt

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Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

Stewart Granger, James Mason and Deborah Kerr romp with gusto through its silly but diverting story...

Dec 2, 2019

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Michael E. Grost

Classic Film and Television

Good-natured swashbuckler has fun story and some of the best European Royalty costumes ever.

Sep 13, 2017

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com

This remake of the 1937 popular adventure is mediocre, despite the high-caliber stars

Rated: C+

Oct 20, 2012

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Dennis Schwartz

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

The 1937 version was much livelier.

Rated: C

Apr 27, 2006

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Synopsis

King Rudolf V of Ruritania (Stewart Granger) is suddenly abducted just days before his coronation is to take place. The king's evil brother, Prince Rupert (James Mason), is behind the kidnapping plot, and plans to seize the throne for himself. As the king's supporters try to find him, they stumble upon Rudolf Rassendyl (also Granger), an identical distant cousin who can pose as the betrayed ruler. The plan works well until the king's fiancée, Princess Flavia (Deborah Kerr), suspects foul play.

Director: Richard Thorpe
Screenwriter: John L. Balderston, Noel Langley
Production Co: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.
Genre: Adventure
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): May 22, 2017

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