THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (78)

Directed by: John Cromwell (1937)

Starring: Ronald Colman, Madeleine Carroll, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Mary Astor

The Pitch: An Englishman on holiday in Ruritania finds himself having to impersonate the King in order to foil a palace coup.

Theo Sez: "I'm ... not very good at making speeches," says David Niven with a dash-it-all expression when the time comes to say goodbye. "I don't think we need to, do we?" replies Ronald Colman levelly. "You know what I mean," smiles Niven ; "I think I do, old man," replies Colman, shaking him warmly by the hand ; "No time for sentiment, come on!" barks crusty old C. Aubrey Smith in the background. The essence of Old Hollywood's love affair with stiff-upper-lip Englishness and a certain kind of adventure story - trading heavily on such concepts as Honour and Duty - that goes with it : it's a more reserved, less exuberant kind of swashbuckler than the contemporary Errol Flynns over at Warners, which is why the air of handsome ceremoniousness fits it like a glove - the portentous opening ("a picturization of the celebrated novel"), the credit for one Prince Sigvard Bernadotte as Technical Advisor, the massive, beautifully-designed sets, the incredibly ornate crane-shot (surely not a dolly?) down an endless line of courtiers. Saved from stuffiness by the subtle eye of James Wong Howe, as well as the performances - all of which emphasise humour whenever possible - and a witty script that makes Colman's and the villains' suave verbal sparring as much a highlight as their sword-fights. Bogs down a little here and there, and the plotting isn't entirely clear (why's everybody worrying about the heroine succeeding to the throne if she and the King aren't even married yet?) ; but the elegance and graciousness in every scene - and the icy perfection of Carroll's beauty - are matched only by the poignancy of watching Colman, Smith and Niven, expats all (and founder members of the Hollywood cricket team), stop the plot for a minute or two so they can reminisce about England : the joys of angling, and "a little stream just outside Aylesbury"...