The Prisoner of Zenda & Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope

I've always thought that Greer as Antoinette plays one of the most tragic characters in popular literature. The parts in relation to the hero are almost a carbon copy of the roles of Katharine DeVaucelles and Hugette from If I Were King. The women in the cast, Deborah Kerr and Jane Greer as Princess Flavia and Antoinette DeMauban respectively never come in for much discussion of their roles. We've seen over ten versions so far going back to the silent screen. Which begs the question whether we'll get yet another version when Prince Charles eventually assumes the throne. I've wondered whether someone over at MGM after George VI died in early 1952 whether they thought it was now time to do another remake of The Prisoner Of Zenda in time to coincide with the publicity of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. The 1937 version benefited from having the world wide publicity of the constitutional crisis in the United Kingdom over Edward VIII choice of consort. Mason who has also played some of the best villains on screen keeps up the fine tradition for that role. took the Rupert part because he was advised it's one of the best villains ever created in drama.

If Granger doesn't quite have Colman's flair for the spoken word and very few ever have, he makes a fine and dashing hero which parts he played very well, too well in his opinion on his career. The casting of Stewart Granger in the double role of Rudolph Rassendyll and his royal cousin, the Crown Prince Rudolph of Ruritania and James Mason as the villainous Rupert of Hentzau is hardly some stock company casting. If it doesn't quite have the panache of the Colman film, it makes up for it with the introduction of some nice color cinematography. Next to the 1937 version with Ronald Colman and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., this version of The Prisoner Of Zenda is the one most fondly remembered by movie audiences.

The Prisoner of Zenda & Rupert of Hentzau by Anthony Hope