AdventureDrama

The Prisoner of Zenda

A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.

Release Date : 1922-09-11

Language :No Language

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Metro Pictures Corporation

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Rudolf Rassendyll / King Rudolf

Original Name : Lewis Stone

Gender : Male

Character Name : Princess Flavia

Original Name : Alice Terry

Gender : Female

Character Name : Colonel Sapt

Original Name : Robert Edeson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Grand Duke 'Black' Michael

Original Name : Stuart Holmes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rupert of Hentzau

Original Name : Ramon Novarro

Gender : Male

Character Name : Antoinette de Mauban

Original Name : Barbara La Marr

Gender : Female

Character Name : Capt. Fritz von Tarlenheim

Original Name : Malcolm McGregor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marshal von Strakencz

Original Name : Edward Connelly

Gender : Male

Character Name : Countess Helga

Original Name : Lois Lee

Gender : Female

Character Name : Assassin

Original Name : John George

Gender : Male

Character Name : Josef

Original Name : Snitz Edwards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bersonin

Original Name : Fairfax Burger

Gender : Male

Character Name : De Gautet

Original Name : S.E. Jennings

Gender : Male

Character Name : Train Passenger Eating Banana (uncredited)

Original Name : Ted Billings

Gender : Male

Character Name : Rudolf's Brother Lord Burlesdon (uncredited)

Original Name : Eric Mayne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Archbishop (uncredited)

Original Name : Lon Poff

Gender : Male

Character Name : Detchard (uncredited)

Original Name : Frederick Vogeding

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2022-06-06

This is one of my favourite swashbuckling stories - and this silent version is as good as they get. Lewis Stone is the travelling English baron "Rassendyll" who, through damned ill-luck happens to be in the tiny kingdom of Ruritania on the day before their new king "Rudolf" is to be crowned. Whilst walking in the woods, he is approached by two soldiers - "Sapt" (Robert Edeson) and "Fritz" (Malcolm McGregor) who happen to work closely with the king - and who are astounded to discover the Englishman is the spitting image of their sovereign. They adjourn to his hunting lodge where, equally astonished, the king and his distant cousin have a few drinks. Next morning, all is not well - the king has been drugged and there is no way he will make his coronation. "Sapt" explains that the crown would likely go to his scheming half-brother "Michael" (Stuart Holmes), the man likely behind this fiendish plot - unless they can find a way to get the king to his ceremony. Substitution appears the order of the day - but only for a short while - and they can thwart the evil Duke's ambitions... Except, the new "King" meets his soon to be bride "Flavia" (Alice Terry) and it all starts to get even more complicated... Can they rescue the real king before it is all too late? Well, that's the plot and Rex Ingram keeps it going well. Terry is lovely as the Princess and Stone plays his roles with loads of flair and style. As ever with these adventures, it's really all about the last fifteen minutes - and we have sword-fighting action a-plenty then. The sets and costumes are all top drawer and the inter-titles keep the story clear and concise. There can be no doubt that colour aided the subsequent versions of this, but otherwise this holds up well against any comparisons.