The Prisoner of Zenda

1922
Passed
2h 5m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Lewis Stone in The Prisoner of Zenda (1922)

When the king is drugged and abducted by his ambitious brother, a lookalike relative must take his place to keep the evil sibling off the throne.When the king is drugged and abducted by his ambitious brother, a lookalike relative must take his place to keep the evil sibling off the throne.When the king is drugged and abducted by his ambitious brother, a lookalike relative must take his place to keep the evil sibling off the throne.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

574

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 win total

Photos16

+ 9

Top cast20

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Lewis Stone

Rudolf Rassendyll…

Alice Terry

Princess Flavia

Robert Edeson

Col. Sapt

Stuart Holmes

Grand Duke 'Black' Michael

Ramon Novarro

Rupert of Hentzau
(as Ramon Samaniegos)

Barbara La Marr

Antoinette de Mauban

Malcolm McGregor

Capt. Fritz von Tarlenheim

Edward Connelly

Marshal von Strakencz

Lois Lee

Countess Helga

John George

Dwarf-Assassin

Snitz Edwards

Josef

Fairfax Burger

Bersonin
(as Fairfax Burgher)

S.E. Jennings

De Gautet
(as Al Jennings)

Ted Billings

Train Passenger Eating Banana
(uncredited)

Carrie Daumery

Lady-in-Waiting
(uncredited)

Bynunsky Hyman

Coronation Parade Spectator
(uncredited)

Eric Mayne

Lord Burlesdon - Rudolf's Brother
(uncredited)

Lon Poff

Archbishop
(uncredited)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
A few days before shooting was to start, director Rex Ingram realized that Metro had forgotten to order costumes for Lewis Stone. The desperate director frantically phoned Stone and asked if he still had the costumes from the stage version. Luckily the actor had them stored in his attic.

Goofs
During the climactic fight scene, a stool is kicked over twice.

Quotes
[intertitles]
Rudolf Rassendyll: While you're unhung, Hentzau, hell lacks its master!

Alternate versions
The Turner library print is a re-release of the original version, with an uncredited piano music score and a running time of 113 minutes. Its opening credits were changed to list Ramon Novarro first, as he was then very popular, and also uses the name he is now known by. Also credited onscreen was John George and Snitz Edwards.

Connections
Featured in Cinéman (2009)

Soundtracks
Zenda
Music and Lyrics by Louis Breau and Ernst Luz

User reviews18

Review

Featured review

6/10

Dull, but elaborate

Expensive silent film of a king who is marked for assassination. He switches identities with a look alike (both played by Lewis Stone) who takes his place at his coronation. But the real king is kidnapped. While his followers try to find him, the fake king falls in love with Princess Flava (Alice Terry).

Slow moving but the film looks great. No action...just lots of exagerrated looks and people endlessly talking. The sets, costumes and acting helps. Seeing Stone (who went on to play Judge Hardy in the Andy Hardy movies) so young and being a romantic lead is interesting. He's also very good. Terry is regal and also very good as the princess. Ramon Novarro (still an unknown) plays the evil villain. That's quite a shock--he always played heroes in his later films. He pulls it off though.

So, it's beautiful but I can't totally recommend it.