The Prince and the Pauper (1937 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Prince and the Pauper


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director = William Keighley
William Dieterle (uncredited)
producer = Jack L. Warner (uncredited exec. producer)
Hal B. Wallis (uncredited exec. producer)
writer = Mark Twain (novel)
Laird Doyle
Catherine Chisholm Cushing
narrator =
starring = Errol Flynn
Billy and Bobby Mauch
Claude Rains
music =
cinematography =
editing =
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released = May 8 1937
runtime = 118 minutes
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
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website =
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0029440

"The Prince and the Pauper" is a 1937 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Mark Twain. It starred Errol Flynn, twins Billy and Bobby Mauch in the title roles, and Claude Rains.

Plot

In Tudor England, two boys are born on the same day in the most different circumstances imaginable. Tom (Billy Mauch) is the son of vicious criminal John Canty (Barton MacLane), while Edward is a prince and the heir of King Henry VIII of England (Montagu Love). One grows up in poverty, hungering for something better for himself and his family, the other in isolated luxury, with a strong curiosity about the outside world.

When they are youngsters, they meet and are astounded by their striking resemblance to each other. As a prank, they exchange clothes, but the Captain of the Guard (Alan Hale, Sr.) mistakes the prince for the pauper and throws him out of the palace grounds.

Tom is unable to convince anybody except for the Earl of Hertford (Claude Rains) of his identity. Everyone else is convinced that he is mentally ill. When Henry VIII dies, Hertford threatens to expose Tom unless he does as he is told. Hertford also blackmails the Captain into searching for the real prince to eliminate the dangerous loose end.

Meanwhile, Edward finds an amused, if disbelieving protector in Miles Hendon (Errol Flynn). An attempt to assassinate the boy changes Hendon's opinion of Edward's story. With Hendon's help, Edward manages to re-enter the palace just in time to interrupt the coronation ceremony and prove his identity. Tom is made a ward of the new king, and Hendon is rewarded for his services.

Cast

*Errol Flynn as Miles Hendon
*Billy Mauch as Tom Canty
*Robert J. Mauch as Prince Edward
*Claude Rains as the Earl of Hertford
*Barton MacLane as John Canty
*Henry Stephenson as the Duke of Norfolk
*Alan Hale, Sr. as the Captain of the Guard
*Montagu Love as King Henry VIII

External links

*tcmdb title|id=87129|title=The Prince and the Pauper