"The Prisoner of Zenda" is a 1979 American comedy film directed by Richard Quine and stars Peter Sellers, Lynne Frederick, Lionel Jeffries, Elke Sommer, Gregory Sierra, Jeremy Kemp, and Catherine Schell. The film is adapted from the 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope. The story revolves around a man (Peter Sellers) who has to impersonate a king, whom he closely resembles, when the king is abducted by enemies on the eve of his coronation. The film has received mixed reviews, with some critics pointing out that it is not exactly a Sellers' market. However, it has been praised for its amusing parody and good cast. The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes and is rated PG for comedy, action, and adventure. The original motion picture score for "The Prisoner of Zenda" was composed by Henry Mancini, and it has been released on CD by La-La Land Records in a limited edition.
Plot
"The Prisoner of Zenda" (1979) is a comedy film about a commoner who is forced to impersonate King Rudolph of Ruritania, who closely resembles him, in order to save the king from assassins and murderous usurpers. The film is an amusing parody of the original adventure novel by Anthony Hope. The main character, played by Peter Sellers, is a London cabby who is hired by the kingdom to impersonate the king. The film has received mixed reviews, with some critics praising the cast and the amusing parody, while others find it boring and repetitive.
Trailer
Cast
- Peter Sellers: King Rudolph / Cabby
- Lynne Frederick: Princess Isabella
- Lionel Jeffries: Lord Higham
- Elke Sommer: Countess von Schönau
- Gregory Sierra: Count von Schönau
- Jeremy Kemp: King's Lookalike
- Catherine Schell: Duchess Eleanor.
Director: Richard Quine
Writer: Anthony Hope, Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais
Box Office Gross: $7,650,600
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Release Date (Theaters): May 25, 1979
Theme
"The Prisoner of Zenda" is a comedy film that parodies the original adventure novel by Anthony Hope. The film's main theme is the impersonation of King Rudolph of Ruritania by a commoner who closely resembles him, in order to save the king from assassins and murderous usurpers.
Reception
The film has received mixed reviews, with some critics praising the cast and the amusing parody, while others find it boring and repetitive.
Settings, Visual Styles, and Techniques
The film is set in the fictional kingdom of Ruritania, and the visual style is that of a comedy film. The techniques used in the film include parody and humor.
Trivia and Fun Facts
- Peter Sellers plays several roles for laughs in the film.
- The film is directed by Richard Quine.
- The original adventure novel by Anthony Hope was published in 1894.
- The film has a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes and is rated PG for comedy, action, and adventure.