Stylish but barely mediocre overall

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

Based on the hugely popular late Victorian adventure novel by Anthong Hope, this silent version is very entertaining and moves along at a good pace, especially at the last half of the movie. King Rudolph V of Ruritania's coronation is but a day away. The King's brother, the Grand Duke "Black" Michael has a plan to keep the King away from the coronation and have himself crowned King instead. The King is not widely popular with the people and also is a drunkard. Michael drugs a bottle of wine that he sends to the King as a gift. The King gulps down the wine and falls into a stupor which will make it impossible for him to attend the coronation. As it happens, the King's devoted Chief of Staff, Colonel Sapt, meets a distant cousin of the King's, Rudolph Rassendyll, an English gentleman educated in Heidelberg. In appearance Rassendyll is the exact double of the King and Sapt convinces him to take the King's place at the coronation. While impersonating the King, Rassendyll falls in love with the King's intended, Princess Flavia and she with him. The adventure continues with murder, betrayal, kidnapping and a daring rescue of the King. Lewis Stone does an admirable job as Rassendyll. Oddly, in several scenes, Stone reminds one of Ronald Colman. Ramon Navarro sparkles as Michael's henchman Hentzau - he is conniving but also has flair. The actor playing Colonel Sapt is great and his scene late in the movie with Rassendyll and Princess Flavia is wonderfully done and quite touching. The ending of the movie avoids having what we think of as the typical Hollywood ending. Colonel Sapt has the last word when he says to Rassendyll "God does not always make the right men kings. You are the finest Elphberg of them all." What a fine 19th century sentiment that is. And probably small consolation to Rassendyll.

"The Prisoner of Zenda" has been filmed about a dozen times. It's a VERY familiar story to anyone who loves old films. When I heard about this 1922 version coming on Turner Classic Movies, I at first thought it was the original one, though it turns out there was an even earlier version in 1913! Regardless, I was thrilled to finally see a silent version of a story I have long loved. So is this one as wonderful at the 1937 Ronald Colman version? Well, not exactly--but it sure was close.Another surprise about this one is that is starred Lewis Stone--a guy I'd hardly think of as an action hero! This is the bald Judge Hardy...playing a handsome king! Looking at Stone's hair in the film, I assume he was wearing a wig, as he had A LOT of hair! But he was also quite good in the dual roles of King Rupert as well as his English cousin. Oddly, however, while Stone clearly is THE leading man, Ramon Navarro got top billing--which makes little sense as he's a relatively minor character. No, this is definitely Stone's film.As far as the plot goes, it's pretty much the familiar story. The new king, Rudolf, is about to be crowned leader of Ruritania. However, his evil but popular brother, Michael, has plans of usurping the throne. First, he drugs Rudolf so he cannot attend the coronation. BUT, coincidentally, a distant cousin is at hand and poses as the king. However, this won't deter Michael, as he's discovered the real king and has taken him prisoner. So, you KNOW another attempt will soon be made on the pretend king's life. Can the evil Michael and his nasty henchmen be defeated? This is a lovingly made silent--with terrific sets and wonderful acting. I particularly loved the king's beloved #1 man--he had such wonderful and soulful eyes. And something unique to the film I really liked--the deadly river and how it plays into the film. Overall, a great silent--and a film that only barely was eclipsed by the great 1937 version (this film is just perfect).Note: After the FIRST guy gets pulled over the deadly falls, the print's quality degrades VERY quickly. It is very fuzzy and could really use additional restoration.

As with "Scaramouche", I found this film rather stodgy, with a lacklustre score. Lewis Stone is too old in his dual role and Alice Terry lacked any real charm. This picture belongs to its supporting cast- Barbara LaMarr ("too beautiful for her own good") as Antoinette de Mauban, Colonel Zapt, Captain von Tarlenheim and,of course, Rupert of Hentzau, played with relish and humour by Ramon Novarro. I think I prefer him in this role to any other I have seen him portray; perhaps his popularity with the female audience meant he became stuck in the part of gentle romancer (long after he had become too mature for this) rather than developing his abilities as an actor.

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 (Andy Hardy) 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 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 sword fight 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!"