Tuesday, March 14, 2017

The Prisoner of Zenda

While vacationing in an unnamed Eastern European country readying to celebrate the coronation of its new king, an Englishman (Ronald Colman) realizes he bears a striking resemblance to the royal (Colman again) and, wouldn't you know it, stumbles upon him and hits it off immediately during a hunting expedition. Invited to his castle, he is soon forced to play his double when an assassination plot involving the king's slighted older brother (Raymond Massey) unfolds and spring into action when his new friend is kidnapped and placed in imminent danger. This often remade actioneer is exciting and entertaining adventure yarn with Colman tremendous in dual roles and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. stands out as a smarmy, nasty, edgy hand to the prince.
*** 1/2 out of ****

Sidenote: it is surprisingly how great Colman was in so many these old films and how his name has seemed to have faded from the public movie lover's consciousness.