Overview
A daring adventure unfolds in a kingdom where loyalty and love collide.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- romantic
- dashing
- classic movie night
- adventure movie marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regard it as an exceptionally entertaining and faithful classic swashbuckler, elevated by its polished execution and performances.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The action unfolds in the invented kingdom of Ruritania, whose throne is threatened by kidnapping and treason.
Rudolph Rassendyll must impersonate his identical cousin, Rudolf V, to preserve the coronation and succession.
Princess Flavia develops feelings amid the impersonation, while Rassendyll is constrained by loyalty to the crown and the king's identity.
The film presents kidnapping, castles, royal treason, daring rescues, and a flamboyant villain in an entertaining Hollywood adventure register.
Films like The Prisoner of Zenda, and why
The Adventures of Robin Hood
classic swashbuckling adventure with court intrigue, mistaken identity, romance, and a threatened succession
Captain Blood
stylized historical adventure built around aristocratic danger, dashing villains, and romantic stakes
The Scarlet Pimpernel
identity deception, royal intrigue, and suspenseful adventure in a polished classic Hollywood mode
The Mark of Zorro
romantic period adventure centered on political peril, noble impersonation, and a charismatic rogue
Movie Details
- Director
- John Cromwell
- Release Date
- 1937-09-03
- Runtime
- 101 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (62)
Cast
- Ronald Colman
- Madeleine Carroll
- Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
- Mary Astor
- C. Aubrey Smith
- David Niven
- Raymond Massey
- Montagu Love
- Philip Sleeman
- Eleanor Wesselhoeft
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Prisoner of Zenda about?
- An adventurous gentleman becomes a king's double, balancing royal duty, treacherous conspirators, and forbidden affection in an imperiled fictional kingdom.
- What is The Prisoner of Zenda like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Prisoner of Zenda as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Prisoner of Zenda violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in The Prisoner of Zenda as mild.
- What did critics think of The Prisoner of Zenda?
- Critics broadly regard it as an exceptionally entertaining and faithful classic swashbuckler, elevated by its polished execution and performances.
- Which films are like The Prisoner of Zenda?
- Films with a similar feel include The Adventures of Robin Hood, Captain Blood, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and The Mark of Zorro.
- How long is The Prisoner of Zenda?
- The Prisoner of Zenda runs 101 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Prisoner of Zenda?
- In United States, The Prisoner of Zenda is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
