The Prisoner of Zenda (1922)

Monday August 14, 7:00 pm, The Paramount Theater

"While you’re unhung, Hentzau, hell lacks its master!"

On the eve of his coronation, Rudolph Elphberg of Ruritania is poisoned by his jealous half-brother, Duke Michael of Strelsau. A distant English cousin, and the King's spitting-image, takes his place to save the throne. Anthony Hope’s 1893 tale of romance and swordplay, The Prisoner of Zenda has seen no less than eight adaptations produced for the big screen, including three silent films, an animated Australian version and a television mini-series. The best known of the bunch today is the 1937 David O. Selznick production starring Ronald Coleman, Madeleine Carroll, David Niven and Mary Astor. Without a doubt, the 1922 Metro Pictures production, directed by Rex Ingram, is superior in its cinematic style, acting and production values. Ingram's film stars the exceptionally beautiful Alice Terry as Princess Flavia, and a wonderful newcomer, Ramon Novarro as Rupert of Hentzau. Lewis Stone stars as the irresponsible, drunken and character deficient King Rudolf, and his dignified, stalwart cousin Rudolf Rassendyll. Stone is best remembered as the wise old father of a well-known freckle-faced teenager with the voice of a strangled duck, whose character grew up on screen in the thirties and forties.

Ingram achieved significant success for himself and Metro the year before with The Four Horseman of the Apocalypse (1921), starring Terry and Rudolph Valentino. While filming their next production, The Conquering Power (1921), Valentino became willful and refused direction, at one point storming off the set. No doubt, his new found fame had gone to his head. His charming young replacement was Ramon Samaniegos, who changed his name to Novarro after Zenda’s release. As Hentzau, Norarro is quick, clever and a thoroughly likable anti-hero. One of four officers loyal to "Black" Michael (Stuart Holmes), Hentzau is a mischievous young fellow, more playboy and prankster than serious villain, who spends much of his time chasing after Michael’s mistress Antoinette (Barbara LaMarr). Ingram introduces Hentzau, as he stands up from the piano, flips his monocle in the air, and into his eye. Novarro virtually steals several scenes, even breaking character once as he mugs directly at the camera!

Ingram was able to draw great performances from his actors. As Rassendyl arrives at the coronation, he passes a dumbstruck Michael and pauses long enough to deliver a subtle expression of smug satisfaction with a raised eyebrow. Terry’s performance as the future queen is graceful and dignified, a perfect match to Rassendyll, and their final scene is both lovely and heartbreaking. The cast is rounded out nicely with two well-known character actors. Snitz Edwards plays the King’s butler and John George who worked with Lon Chaney, John Barrymore and nearly everyone else in Hollywood plays a decidedly darker than average role.

Adding substantial integrity to the production, Ingram used Belgian Fencing Champion and USC coach Henry Uyttenhove as a trainer and consultant for the spectacular swordfight at the end of the picture. Uyttenhove also worked on several Douglas Fairbanks films, including Robin Hood (1922), and again with Ingram on Scaramouche (1923).

"God does not always make the right men kings. You are the finest Elphberg of them all!"

In his autobiography, Million Dollar Movie, Michael Powell recalled his days as a young apprentice under Ingram at Victorine. "He knew how to flatter the audience by assuming that they were as cultivated and appreciative as he was. They responded. In this film (Zenda) the director resembled the conductor of an orchestra, with the added advantage that he was invisible, while the conductor is not."

Musical accompaniment for The Prisoner of Zenda will be performed by Dennis James at the Paramount's Publix Wurlitzer.