The Prisoner of Zenda is a dramatic adventure tale of intrigue among the royalty… I guess… There is a king and a duke who is up to no good. The day before coronation the (future) king drinks drugged wine which knocks him off, and if he misses the event, the duke would get the throne. Luckily, the king’s cousin who looks exactly like him is in town and so they engage in ye olde switcheroo.
Somehow, in 1922, this is the THIRD film adaptation of this story. Okay.
I watched the film for Ramon Navarro who is not really the main character (he plays the guy who brings the wine) and is among people who have a similar aesthetic to him which means he does not completely stand out. But — one can definitely see the charisma and good looks he had going for him.
If it wasn’t obvious, I was not terribly impressed with The Prisoner of Zenda. It is not that riveting of a story and it is not as beautiful as silent movies can be. Still, it has its moments.
The part of the film that grabbed my attention the most is Barbara La Marr. I have been meaning to get acquainted with her filmography (honestly, mostly because we share birthday) and now I want to more than ever because she is beautiful and a fascinating presence on the screen.
I also happened to watch a lesser-known Marilyn Monroe vehicle, Don’t Bother to Knock, today and I feel like I might have had something more substantial and interesting to say about that one (most because the film itself is more interesting). Alas! I am committed to sticking to the Summer Under the Stars schedule.
Swingin' at the Seance 