The Prisoner of Zenda (1937)

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

The Prisoner of Zenda (1937) – J. Cromwell

After a tough day at work fighting the evil legions of bureaucracy, there is nothing so replenishing as an old swashbuckler.  Here, the bad guys are wicked and the good guys love well and win – everything is in black and white, your heart is won over, and there is a final feeling of elevation!  Except, well, there’s a twist in this particular film.  In fact, Ronald Colman plays an English traveller who bears a remarkable resemblance to the about-to-be-crowned King of some Eastern European monarchy (also played by Colman) who becomes honour-bound to act secretly in the King’s stead when the latter is unfortunately kidnapped by his evil half-brother (Raymond Massey, who, of course, has designs on the throne).  So, while we root for English Colman, we worry that his time as “Acting” King might soon be over and so too his love for the King’s fiancée, played by Madeleine Carroll.   But, of course, it is only right and proper for English Colman to do the upstanding thing, despite his heart’s desires, and so, there is a wrinkle in our wish for clear-cut heroics and unsullied victories.  That said, the film is still a delicious fairy tale with excellent support from C. Aubrey Smith and David Niven (on the side of good) and dashing Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (on the side of evil).  That wrinkle likely boosts the film into something different, less predictable than other swashbucklers – and it succeeds primarily because of the charismatic lead/dual performance by Colman. Huzzah!