The Prisoner of Zenda (1937 film)

The Prisoner of Zenda
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Cromwell
W. S. Van Dyke (uncredited)
Written byWells Root (adaptation)
Donald Ogden Stewart (additional dialogue)
Ben Hecht (uncredited)
Sidney Howard (uncredited)
Screenplay byJohn L. Balderston from the novel (and Edward Rose's dramatization)
Based onThe Prisoner of Zenda
1894 novel
by Anthony Hope
Produced byDavid O. Selznick
StarringRonald Colman
Madeleine Carroll
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
CinematographyJames Wong Howe
Bert Glennon (uncredited)
Edited byJames E. Newcom
Hal C. Kern
(supervising film editor)
Music byAlfred Newman
Production
company
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • September 2, 1937 (1937-09-02)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,250,000[1]
Box office$2.5 million (U.S. and Canada rentals)[2]

The Prisoner of Zenda is a 1937 American black-and-white adventure film based on Anthony Hope's 1894 novel and the 1896 play. A lookalike has to step in when his royal distant relative is kidnapped to prevent his coronation. This version is widely considered the best of the many film adaptations of the novel and play.

The film stars Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll and Douglas Fairbanks Jr., with a supporting cast including C. Aubrey Smith, Raymond Massey, Mary Astor and David Niven. It was directed by John Cromwell, produced by David O. Selznick for Selznick International Pictures and distributed by United Artists. The screenplay was written by John L. Balderston, adapted by Wells Root from the novel, with dramatization by Edward Rose; Donald Ogden Stewart was responsible for additional dialogue and Ben Hecht and Sidney Howard made uncredited contributions.

Alfred Newman received the first of his 43 Academy Award nominations, for Original Music Score, while Lyle R. Wheeler was nominated for Best Art Direction. In 1991, the film was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in its National Film Registry.

  1. ^ David Thomson, Showman: The Life of David O. Selznick, Abacus, 1993 p 262
  2. ^ Cohn, Lawrence (October 15, 1990). "All-Time Film Rental Champs". Variety. p. M-180. ISSN 0042-2738.