The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

Directed by John Cromwell. Starring Ronald Colman, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., C. Aubrey Smith, Madeleine Carroll, Raymond Massey, Mary Astor, David Niven, Byron Foulger, Montagu Love.

Fine adventure romance in the classic tradition, with Colman tackling the dual role of the heir to the throne of a tiny unnamed European country and a distant relation lookalike who happens to be passing through on vacation when the prince is drugged and kidnapped by schemers intent on usurping the crown for Massey’s disgruntled duke. The visitor is convinced to take the relative’s place until the matter can be sorted out, which gives him time to share amorous glances with the deposed prince’s betrothed beauty (Carroll). A little slow to start, but emerges as rousing entertainment with solid production values, atmospheric black & white photography, and action-filled final act. Colman is curiously affectless in both roles—a wry, detached style of gentlemanly polish that weakens the noble desperation of the would-be king and softens the edge of the would-be hero—while Carroll suffers from one-note vacant decency (and a script disinterested in using her in nearly any of the important scenes), but Fairbanks is better than you’d expect as the dastard: one part charming rogue and two parts treacherous blaggard. One of many adaptations of the popular 1890s book/play; this was the first “talkie”. W. S. Van Dyke and George Cukor made uncredited directorial contributions.

76/100