The Prisoner of Zenda
by Anthony Hopeliterary work· published 1894
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The Prisoner of Zenda is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in order for the king to retain the crown, his coronation must proceed. Fortuitously, an English gentleman on holiday in Ruritania who resembles the monarch is persuaded to act as his political decoy in an effort to save the unstable political situation of the interregnum. A sequel, Rupert of Hentzau, was published in 1898 and is included in some editions of The Prisoner of Zenda.
Adaptations (6)
The Prisoner of Zenda has been adapted into 6 films, from 1913 to 1979.
The Prisoner of Zenda1913 · film · 55 min · dir. Hugh Ford, Edwin S. Porter · IMDb ↗IMDb6.1A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.
The Prisoner of Zenda1915 · film · dir. George Loane Tucker · IMDb ↗IMDb7.9An English tourist poses as his royal double to foil revolutionary kidnappers
The Prisoner of Zenda1922 · film · 125 min · dir. Rex Ingram · IMDb ↗IMDb6.7A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.
The Prisoner of Zenda1937 · film · 101 min · dir. John Cromwell, W.S. Van Dyke · IMDb ↗IMDb7.691%A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.
The Prisoner of Zenda1952 · film · 96 min · dir. Richard Thorpe · IMDb ↗IMDb6.9A kingdom's ascending heir, marked for assassination, switches identities with a lookalike, who takes his place at the coronation. When the real king is kidnapped, his followers try to find him, while the stand-in falls in love with the king's intended bride, the beautiful Princess Flavia.
The Prisoner of Zenda1979 · film · 108 min · dir. Richard Quine · IMDb ↗IMDb5.2Anthony Hope's classic tale gets a decidedly 'un-classic' treatment at the hands of Peter Sellers. Following the story somewhat, friends of the new King Rudolph of Ruritania fear for his life, and switch him with a look-a-like London cabby. Throw in two(!) lovely blondes, treachery, and a battle for life and honour, and enjoy life at its zaniest.
