One of the best swashbucklers ever: The Prisoner of Zenda

[dangermousie]

Prisoner of Zenda was a hugely popular swashbuckler novel by Anthony Hope. It (and its sequel "Rupert of Henzau") is still in print, over a hundred years after it was first published. It tells the story of Rudolf Rassendyl, a dashing English gentleman who bears an uncanny resemblance to the ruler of the fictional kingdom of Ruritania (one of the King's ancestors had a bit of fun on the side, apparently). Rassendyl masquerades as the king in order to save the country from a treacherous plot and in the process he wins the heart of the beautiful princess Flavia. There are political intrigues, swashbuckling duels, star-crossed lovers, and one of the best villains ever, Rupert of Henzau (actually the second in command of Michael, the King's evil brother, but he steals the show).

It's also one a a few good books lucky to have a good adaptation (I have to say, David O. Selznick always did good adaptations: this, GWTW, Tale of Two Cities, Rebecca, David Copperfield). An excellent (and easy to find) movie version of the book was made in 1937. It starred the man with the sexiest voice ever (IMO) Ronald Colman as Rudolf (my favorite of his roles is as Smithy in the three-hanky weepie "Random Harvest," but this is damn close) Madeleine Carroll as Flavia (she was also in Hitchcok's "39 Steps"), and Douglas Fairbanks Jr (if anyone has read Patricia Veryan's "These Poor Splendid Wings" about RAF flyers, he is the dead ringer for my favorite character in that book, Joe Lane) stealing the movie in my favorite ever role of his as Rupert.

There are lovely pictures behind the cut.



Rupert being quite sexy. I bet there would have been a lot of Rupert/Rudolf slash if the movie came out now, as Rupert is charming, unscrupulous, and excellent duellist and quotes poetry:


R & R going at it:


Rupert with the mistress of his boss, played by Mary Astor:


More Rupert (I don't generally go for the bad guys, but...)



Rudolf and Flavia:



Rudolf and Fritz (one of the people who talks Rudy into staying. He's played by David Niven):


Mmmm, love the sets:





Not that the clothes are bad:

Comments

[ysrith.livejournal.com]

Another old movie nut!

I currently have "Century of the Cinema" out of the library.
Old B/W were great, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr is wonderful.

You would love the Rank Box-set I just bought. Lot of classic UK movies from the 30-40s, including "The 39 Steps"

BTW have you seen the later version of "The Prisoner of Zenda", with the wonderful James Mason as Rupert? Now there is a man I could watch over and over again. Wonderfully sexy!

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Oh, YES! I think that's part of my crush on the character (tho' I had it from the book) but James Mason had the most gorgeous voice EVAH!

[ysrith.livejournal.com]

James Mason was one of the sexiest bad guys ever! That voice - sighs. Shivers down the spine.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Old B/W were great, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr is wonderful.


Oh yes. *nods fervently*

Rank Box-set I just bought.

Hmmmm, I wonder if it's available in the States...

Re: 1952 version. I adore James Mason...now there's another man with the most amazing voice. Stewart Granger who plays Rudolf is gorgeous but a bit wooden. It's actually a shot for shot (only in color) remake of the 1937 one, which is quite faithful for a remake :)

[ysrith.livejournal.com]

Unforunately the Rank box set does not appear to be avilable in the US.
Can your DVD player do multi-region? It is available on Amazon.co.uk, and is only £26. Well worth it for 8 movies.

I agree with you on Stewart Granger. Very pretty, but always a bit wooden. But you have to admit he was fit! They just loved getting his shirt off, or having him parade around in ripped clothing. Ridiculously sculpted for a 40-50's actor.

Swoon!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Ridiculously sculpted for a 40-50's actor.


Mmmmmm... *is remembering "Scaramouche"*

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Awww, I always loved Rupert - he was one of my first bad-boy crushes. Have never really liked any of the movies they made of the books, though Deborah Kerr looks gorgeous in the 1950s version.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

he was one of my first bad-boy crushes

What's even stranger is, I don't usually have a thing for bad boys. But Rupert? Yum.....

Deborah Kerr looks gorgeous

I love Deborah Kerr (well, in everything except Quo Vadis where she was all wrong).

Have you seen the silent version? (Not that is would change your mind, as it's inferior to both the 1937 and the 1952 one)

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I don’t have a generalized bad-boy thing, but in most 19th c. and earlier novels, I think I find the heroes too goody-goody and I end up liking the bad boys – so Rupert, Brian de Bois-Guilbert from Ivanhoe, and of course, Steerforth from David Copperfield have always appealed to me ;) Maybe it’s the Heathcliff syndrome or something.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, Brian de B-G was so much more interesting than Ivanhoe. I have yet to see a really good adaptation of the book: I don't care for either the 1950s or the 1990s versions, though the 1980s one isn't bad.

As to Steerforth, he was the only character I loved in DC. David himself was a horrid prig once he grew up.