The Prisoner of Zenda (1913)

Movie
German title	The prisoner of Zenda
Original title	The Prisoner of Zenda
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1913
Rod
Director	Edwin S. Porter Hugh Ford
script	Hugh Ford
production	Albert W. Hale Adolph Zukor
music	Joseph Carl Breil
occupation
Walter Hale : Rupert von Hentzau James K. Hackett : Rudolf Rassendyll / Rudolf V. Beatrice Beckley : Princess Flavia Fraser Coalter : Colonel Sapt David Torrence : Grand Duke Michael William R. Randall : Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim Minna Gale : Antoinette de Mauban Sidney Barrington : Marshal of Strakencz Frank Shannon : Detchard Charles Green : Johann Tom Callahan : Josef

The Prisoner of Zenda is an American adventure film directed by Edwin S. Porter and Hugh Ford from 1913. The silent film is based on the novel ofthe same name by Anthony Hope (based on the play by Edward E. Rice ) and is its first film adaptation.

In 1913, Adolph Zukor tried to convince the New York theater actor James K. Hackett to play the role in the film, which he had played on stage several times. The medium of film was still in its infancy, so Hackett was initially not enthusiastic. Finally he persuaded him.

According to the website silentera.com, the film was lost for a while ; the Library of Congress has a copy and the International Museum of Photography and Film in the George Eastman House .

action

The Englishman Rudolf Rassendyll travels to the European fantasy land of Ruritania for the coronation of Prince Rudolf V. Rassendyl is distantly related to the future king. The Ruritan officers Colonel Sapt and Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim are amazed by the resemblance of Rassendyll to Rudolf V and invite him to a hunting lodge to meet Rudolf. In order to be able to carry out a coup, Rassendyll is caught in an intrigue without knowing it. After various adventures, Rassendyll and Königstreuen manage to defeat the schemers and save the throne for Rudolf V.

Production notes

The film, made in 1912, celebrated its world premiere in the USA on February 18, 1913. A little later, on March 7, 1913, it was also shown in the German Reich.

Web links

• The Prisoner of Zenda in the Internet Movie Database (English)
• The Prisoner of Zenda (1913) on Silent Era
• The Prisoner of Zenda at The German Early Cinema Database

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} The Prisoner of Zenda (1913) . silentera.com. Retrieved May 31, 2014.
2. ^ Neal Gabler: An Empire of Their Own . Doubleday, New York, NY 1988, p. 31.
3. ^ Presumed Lost . silentera.com. Retrieved May 31, 2014.