The Prisoner of Zenda (1922)

Movie
German title	The prisoner of Zenda
Original title	The Prisoner of Zenda
Country of production	United States
original language	English
Publishing year	1922
length	113 minutes
Rod
Director	Rex Ingram
script	Mary O'Hara
production	Rex Ingram for MGM
camera	John F. Seitz
cut	Grant Whytock
occupation
Lewis Stone : Rudolf Rassendyll / Rudolf V. Alice Terry : Princess Flavia Ramón Novarro : Rupert von Hentzau Robert Edeson : Colonel Sapt Stuart Holmes : Grand Duke Michael Malcolm McGregor : Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim Barbara La Marr : Antoinette de Mauban Edward Connelly : Marshal of Strakencz Lois Lee : Countess Helga John George : Assistant Snitz Edwards : Josef

The Prisoner of Zenda is an American adventure film by Rex Ingram from 1922. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Anthony Hope and is the third film adaptation (after 1913 and 1915). Although Ramón Novarro only played a minor role, he was the first to appear on the posters.

action

The Englishman Rudolf Rassendyll is present at the coronation of Rudolf V of Ruritania, who is distantly related to him. Colonel Sapt and Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim notice his resemblance to the ruler, who take him to a hunting lodge to meet Rudolf. Rudolf is amused by the resemblance and invites Rassendyll to dinner. During the meal, Rupert von Hentzau hands out a bottle of narcotic wine. Hentzau is a follower of Grand Duke Michael, Rudolf's treacherous brother. Rudolf drinks the bottle of wine and cannot be woken the next morning. Colonel Sapt fears that if the coronation is postponed Michael could usurp the throne and persuades Rassendyll to take Rudolf's place.

When he wants to swap roles with Rudolf after the coronation, he has been kidnapped and is being held captive at Zenda Castle.

An assassin tries to get Rassendyll out of the way, but is unsuccessful. Rassendyll, Sapt and Tarlenheim go out to save Rudolf. Rassendyll succeeds in defeating Grand Duke Michael in a sword fight and freeing Rudolf. In order not to be executed for high treason, Rupert von Hentzau commits suicide in a hopeless situation by throwing himself into a waterfall.

Rudolf takes his rightful position, Rassendyll should actually be kept away from Flavia in order to save her heartache, but both eventually meet in a hut. Rassendyll has to tell the bitter truth to the woman he loves, but tells her to run away with him. Out of a sense of duty for her country, Flavia refuses and Rassendyll has to leave alone.

criticism

Overall, the film received more positive than negative reviews. The New York Times called the film worth seeing and praised the performance of the actors. Variety called the film impeccable .

literature

• Anthony Hope : The Prisoner of Zenda. Roman (= Ullstein book 21067 Ullstein adventure ). German by Ronald M. Hahn . Ullstein, Frankfurt am Main et al. 1987, ISBN 3-548-21067-8 (original title: The Prisoner of Zenda. ).
• Robert K. Klepper: Silent Films, 1877-1996. A Critical Guide to 646 Movies. McFarland, Jefferson NC et al. 1999, ISBN 0-7864-0595-3 .

Web links

• The Prisoner of Zenda in the Internet Movie Database (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Robert K. Klepper: Silent Films, 1877-1996. 1999, p. 348.
2. ^ The Screen . August 1, 1922. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
3. ↑ Prisoner of Zenda . In: Variety , Variety, Inc., Aug. 4, 1922, p. 34.