THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1952)

Stewart Granger as King Rudolf V and Rudolf Rassendy

The Prisoner of Zenda (POZ) is a movie based on royalty and dignitaries in a fictional country called Ruritania. King Rudolf V, was about to take over the throne after his father's death, but his exceptional love for wine made him an easy prey for his step-brother, Black Michael. Black Michael had always envied King Rudolf for being the heir of the throne, as he took himself as a better king. Black Michael was not meant for the throne, because his mother was not of the royal blood.

Stewart Granger as King Rudolf - a drunkard

Knowing that King Rudolf loved wine - and got drunk very frequently - he gave a bottled of drugged wine to King Rudolf the night before his coronation, meant to put the future King to sleep throughout the process and snatch the throne from him. King Rudolf was really drugged, and he was unconscious for many hours.

Stewart Granger as Rudolf Rassendyll - a British gentleman

Luckily, Rudolf Rassendyll was there. Rudolf was a British gentleman travelling from his homecountry to Ruritania to see the coronation as well as starting a new career as an attache to an ambassador. He was indeed special because he looked alike as the King, as if they're twins. The King's loyal companion, Colonel Sapt and Captain Fritz got Rudolf to pretend as the King to attend the coronation and Rudolf agreed, as the King would never be crowned if he was not crowned on that very day.

After the coronation, Rudolf, Sapt and Fritz found out that the King was kidnapped by Black Michael. That's the beginning of the film's intermission. In front of the public, the two parties pretend to be nice to each other, but off the scene, they were pulling each other's rope - Black Michael wanted to kill Rudolf and the King so that he could take over the throne, and Rudolf wanted to save the King so that the lovely Queen Flavia -with whom he fell in love with - would not marry the wicked man.

Col.Sapt and Capt.Fritz - loyal to King Rudolf V

Towards the end, a rich French woman called Antoinette de Mauban stepped in and helped Rudolf to save the King. Antoinette had always been in love with Black Michael and letting Michael to be the King meant that she could never be with Michael and therefore, he had to let Rudolf saved the King. Black Michael was also defeated by his disloyal servant, Rupert of Hentzau who work for Michael only for his own benefit.

Jane Greer as Antoinette de Mauban

Deborah Kerr as Queen Flavia

The King was then saved and return to the palace, but Rudolf-Flavia love story remained secret, for the sake of the King and the country's safety.

The Prisoner of Zenda is indeed a good movie. The fighting scene between Rudolf and Rupert was real, as if they were really trained as military. The best appearance was probably Stewart Granger who played Rudolf Rassendyll and King Rudolf simultaneously. James Mason was not bad either, and he was a real flirt whenever Antoinette de Mauban was around.

Deborah Kerr and Jane Greer who played Queen Flavia and Antoinette de Mauban respectively were beautiful, and they were great, though I find Jane Greer would have played the character Queen Flavia better if given the chance. However, Antoinette was a more important character than Queen Flavia, and therefore perhaps a better actress was needed there.

Robert Coote as Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim was funny. He had a light moustache on his face and though his character was not meant to be funny, he had one funny line when he said, "They must've take me for a bigger fool" as he delivered a letter to Rudolf who was sitting on a bed. Louis Calhern as Colonel Sapt was quite good, though as times he was rather 'woody', or perhaps the character required him to be so. But without the two of them, Stewart Granger would have looked odd in the film.

James Mason as Rupert of Hentzau (left) and Robert Douglas as Black Michael (right)

 This movie may not have a lot of educational points in it, but my students seemed to love it. And to be true, my students were mostly born in mid 90s. Considering that this film was made when their fathers and mothers were teenagers, I'd say this film still has a special appeal among youngsters.

I'd give 7/10 rating for this film. I wish someone would do a remake of this movie.