The Prisoner of Zenda (1952 film)
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| The Prisoner of Zenda | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster |
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| Directed by | Richard Thorpe |
| Produced by | Pandro S. Berman |
| Written by | Anthony Hope (novel) Edward E. Rose Wells Root Noel Langley John L. Balderston (screenplay) Donald Ogden Stewart |
| Starring | Stewart Granger Deborah Kerr James Mason Louis Calhern Robert Douglas Jane Greer Robert Coote |
| Music by | Alfred Newman |
| Cinematography | Joseph Ruttenberg |
| Editing by | George Boemler |
| Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Release date(s) |  4 November 1952 |
| Running time | 96 min |
| Country | USA |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
The Prisoner of Zenda is a 1952 film version of the classic novel of the same name by Anthony Hope and a remake of the famous 1937 film version. This version was made by Loew's and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, directed by Richard Thorpe and produced by Pandro S. Berman. The screenplay by Noel Langley, was virtually identical to the one used in the 1937 version which was by John L. Balderston, adapted by Wells Root, from the Hope novel and the stage play by Edward E. Rose, with additional dialogue by Donald Ogden Stewart. The music score was by Alfred Newman and the cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg. The art direction was by Cedric Gibbons and Hans Peters and the costume design by Walter Plunkett.
The film stars Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr and James Mason with Louis Calhern, Robert Douglas, Jane Greer and Robert Coote.
[edit] Background and production notes
This version of The Prisoner of Zenda used the same shooting script as the 1937 David O. Selznick film directed by John Cromwell and starring Ronald Colman and Madeleine Carroll. Slight variations in the screenplay were added by Noel Langley. In addition to the dialogue, the same film score, composed by Alfred Newman for the 1937 version, was also used for this version. A comparison of the two films reveals that settings and camera angles, in most cases, are the same.
According to a Hollywood Reporter news item, MGM was to pay Selznick USD $225,000 for the remake rights to the novel and the play by Edward E. Rose.
Jean Simmons, who was married to Stewart Granger at the time, and Eleanor Parker were considered for the role of Princess Flavia before the role was given to Deborah Kerr. Richard Greene was to have portrayed Rupert of Hentzau but because of a scheduling conflict, the role went to James Mason.
Lewis Stone, who plays The Cardinal, played the dual-role lead in the 1922 silent version.
Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr had previously appeared together in MGM's King Solomon's Mines (1950) and were to work together again in Young Bess (1953).
In 1999, blacklisted writer Donald Ogden Stewart, who was credited with additional dialogue on the 1937 production, was given a restored credit for the 1952 film.
Director Richard Thorpe and producer Pandro S. Berman had previously collaborated on Ivanhoe (1952) and, in addition to The Prisoner of Zenda, would go on to team up again in All the Brothers Were Valiant (1953), Knights of the Round Table (1953), The Adventures of Quentin Durward, (1955) and Jailhouse Rock (1957)
