The Prisoner of Zenda (1952 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Prisoner of Zenda


caption = Original film poster
director = Richard Thorpe
producer = Pandro S. Berman
writer = Anthony Hope (novel)
Edward E. Rose
Wells Root
Noel Langley
John L. Balderston (screenplay)
Donald Ogden Stewart
| starring = Stewart Granger
Deborah Kerr
James Mason
Louis Calhern
Robert Douglas
Jane Greer
Robert Coote
music = Alfred Newman
cinematography = Joseph Ruttenberg
editing = George Boemler
distributor = Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
released = flagicon|USA 4 November 1952
runtime = 96 min
country = USA
awards =
language = English
budget =
preceded_by =
followed_by =
amg_id = 0045053
imdb_id =

"The Prisoner of Zenda" is a 1952 film version of the classic novel of the same name by Anthony Hope and a remake of the famous 1937 film version. This version was made by Loew's and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Pandro S. Berman. The screenplay by Noel Langley, was virtually identical to the one used in the 1937 version, which was by John L. Balderston, adapted by Wells Root, from the Hope novel and the stage play by Edward E. Rose, with additional dialogue by Donald Ogden Stewart. The music score was by Alfred Newman and the cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg. The art direction was by Cedric Gibbons and Hans Peters and the costume design by Walter Plunkett.

The film stars Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr and James Mason with Louis Calhern, Robert Douglas, Jane Greer and Robert Coote.

Background and production notes

This version of "The Prisoner of Zenda" used the same shooting script as the 1937 David O. Selznick film directed by John Cromwell and starring Ronald Colman and Madeleine Carroll. Slight variations in the screenplay were added by Noel Langley. In addition to the dialogue, the same film score, composed by Alfred Newman for the 1937 version, was also used for this version. A comparison of the two films reveals that settings and camera angles, in most cases, are the same.

According to a "Hollywood Reporter" news item, MGM was to pay Selznick USD $225,000 for the remake rights to the novel and the play by Edward E. Rose.

In 1999, blacklisted writer Donald Ogden Stewart, who was credited with additional dialogue on the 1937 production, was given a restored credit for the 1952 film.

Director Richard Thorpe and producer Pandro S. Berman had previously collaborated on "Ivanhoe" (1952) and, in addition to "The Prisoner of Zenda", would go on to team up again in "All the Brothers Were Valiant" (1953), "Knights of the Round Table" (1953), "The Adventures of Quentin Durward", (1955) and "Jailhouse Rock" (1957)

Cast

*Stewart Granger as Rudolf Rassendyl/King Rudolf V
*Deborah Kerr as Princess Flavia. Jean Simmons, who was married to Granger at the time, and Eleanor Parker were considered for the role.
*James Mason as Rupert of Hentzau. Richard Greene was to have portrayed Rupert, but had a scheduling conflict.
*Louis Calhern as Colonel Zapt
*Robert Coote as Fritz von Tarlenheim
*Robert Douglas as Black Michael
*Jane Greer as Antoinette de Mauban
*Lewis Stone as the Cardinal. Stone played the dual lead role in the 1922 silent version.

External links

*imdb title|id=0045053|title=The Prisoner of Zenda