The Prisoner of Zenda (1937/1952)

Since these two versions come nicely packaged on one DVD, I watched both of them this weekend. I viewed the 1952 version first, then the 1937 version. Now, the 1952 is a remake that used the same script, so the dialogue, even the staging, etc. is virtually the same. The only real differences are the cast, and that one film is in b&w, the other in color. I have to say I liked both versions and would happily watch either again, but if I had to choose, I'd go with the 1937 version.

Why? Because of Douglas Fairbanks Jr. as Rupert of Hentzau. Because he is awesome. The biggest difference between the two versions is in Rupert's character. In the 1952 version, James Mason has the role.


Both are very good, but despite the fact that they're saying the same dialogue, each is an entirely different character. James Mason is an older Rupert, a wee bit older than Stewart Granger, and he makes Rupert more thoughtful, creepy, and downright evil. Douglas Fairbanks Jr. is considerably younger than Ronald Colman, and is a cocky/arrogant/devil-may-care version. I wanted James Mason to get it at the end, whereas I wanted Douglas Fairbanks Jr. to get away.

I wouldn't want to mix casts, either, because each villain works specifically with their type of protagonist. Stewart Granger is a bit flippant and devil-may-care himself, so James Mason is a nice foil for that. Same with Fairbanks and Ronald Colman. Colman is the thoughtful one, so having Fairbanks be the grinning, cocky one works beautifully. I particularly love their sword fight at the end. Fairbanks' Rupert is so arrogantly sure of himself, facing this unassuming, older Englishman. You can just see how he's positive there's no way he can lose. But Ronald Colman's Rudolph is all steady confidence and resourceful physicality. As the fight goes on and Fairbanks realizes he's not teaching Colman a lesson, quite the reverse, he gets more and more desperate. It gives the whole fight an arc that plays out just perfectly.

Granger and Mason seem much more evenly matched, and while Mason plays Rupert with a fair touch of arrogance, there's more caution there, less recklessness. He's more the older soldier going to teach the younger foreigner a lesson. As he starts losing, his desperateness is of an entirely different tone. It's quite interesting watching the two movies back to back. I loved both sword fights.

I enjoyed Stewart Granger and Ronald Colman. One gives you matinee idol dashing, the other gives you clever reliability. I think Ronald Colman and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. are the better matches for the characters they're portraying, but at the same time, it's hard to beat handsome Stewart Granger. I think this is why I liked both versions. The 1937 version is better, more accurate, but the 1952 has a lot going for it too.


As for the rest of the cast, both sets of actors were good and interchangeable. Princess Flavia is played by Deborah Kerr in the newer version, Madeleine Carroll in the older. Jane Greer vs. Mary Astor, as Antoinette. They all were fine. Same with the different sets of male characters. Oh, I should mention that the 1937 version has David Niven, who is delightful.


Some favorite shots from both films:

Douglas Fairbanks Jr. showing his dangerous side.

Ronald Colman, nicely backlit by the fireplace during the final fight... but you know, did he have to put on the heavy sweater? He had a very nice black outfit on before he swam the moat... rather like:

Stewart Granger sneaking around, in his most excellent and attractive black attire. See, he knows better than to put on a wool sweater! More please!

And finally, my favorite shot of Stewart Granger in the whole movie, as the imprisoned king, suffering from an unknown wound, rumpled and disheveled, chained up, and sporting a lovely five o'clock shadow. I'd break into the castle to rescue him!

There's a 1979 version of Prisoner of Zenda that I'd like to see, but Netflix doesn't have it. It stars Peter Sellers, which doesn't interest me, but it does have one of my favorite modern sword fighting actors, Stuart Wilson, as Rupert of Hentzau, and I would dearly love to see him play that role! I've commented on how fast he is with a sword every time I see him wield one (which, so far, is in Ivanhoe, Mask of Zorro, and Princess of Thieves... the latter, I realize, I loved and never blogged about... sigh.) One of these days, it might come around.