The Prince and the Pauper (1977): Cast & Plot
The Prince and the Pauper is a 1977 adventure drama directed by Richard Fleischer, starring Mark Lester as Prince Edward / Tom Canty, Charlton Heston and Ernest Borgnine. It runs 1 hour 53 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 53m (113 min)
- Director
- Richard Fleischer
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Prince and the Pauper About?
The premise of The Prince and the Pauper without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Tom Canty, a destitute London street youth, discovers he is the spitting‑image of Edward, Prince of Wales, the son of King Henry VIII. When the two meet, they trade clothes for a prank, but the switch becomes permanent after they are separated, forcing each boy to survive in the other's very different world of royalty and poverty.
The Prince and the Pauper Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- slapstick comedy
- period drama
- young boy
- royal family
- king edward vi character
- king henry viii character
- look alike
- london england
- westminster abbey
- satire comedy
- ensemble cast
- swordfight
+38 more Show fewer
- swashbuckler adventure
- prince impersonator
- playing a prince
- prince and pauper
- reference to the prince and the pauper
- phony prince
- the prince and the pauper
- fake prince
- boy prince
- young prince
- father
- brother brother relationship
- brother brother conflict
- father son relationship
- crown prince
- actor playing dual role
- dual role
- 16th century england
- prince
- king
- whipping
- comedy of manners
- loss of father
- satire
- royalty
- historical fiction
- adventure hero
- disarming someone
- rapier
- duel
- sword duel
- swordsman
- sword
- historical event
- coronation ceremony
- beggar
- beggars' guild
- impostor
The Prince and the Pauper Cast & Characters
Mark Lester leads the cast as Prince Edward / Tom Canty, with Charlton Heston as Henry VIII and Ernest Borgnine as John Canty. Directed by Richard Fleischer; 36 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Richard Fleischer
-
Mark Lester as Prince Edward / Tom Canty -
Charlton Heston as Henry VIII -
Ernest Borgnine as John Canty - Rex Harrison as The Duke of Norfolk
Also Starring in The Prince and the Pauper
· 32 more- Oliver Reed Miles Hendon
- George C. Scott The Ruffler
- David Hemmings Hugh Hendon
- Raquel Welch Lady Edith
- Richard Hurndall Archbishop Cranmer
- Sybil Danning Mother Canty
- Lalla Ward Princess Elizabeth
- Harry Andrews Hertford
- Graham Stark Jester
- Michael Ripper Edith's Servant
- Dudley Sutton Hodge
- Harry Fowler Nipper
- Murray Melvin Prince's Dresser
- Don Henderson Burly Ruffian
- Roy Evans Night Owl
- Peter Cellier Mean Man
Show all 36 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Sydney Bromley Peasant
- Anthony Sharp Dr. Buttes
- Preston Lockwood Father Andrew
- Arthur Hewlett Fat Man
- Julian Orchard . St.John
- Dan Meaden 1st Guard
- Dervis Ward Forester
- Felicity Dean Lady Jane
- Peter O'Farrell Linklight
- Andrew Lodge Captain of the Guard
- Tommy Wright Constable
- William Lawford Mandrake
- Ruth Madoc Moll
- Igor de Savitch Master of Music
- Jacques Le Carpentier The Mute
- Tyrone Cassidy 2nd Guard
The Prince and the Pauper Plot Summary
What happens in The Prince and the Pauper from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
In 16th-century London, a poor boy named Tom Canty reads aloud to a group of street children when his brutal father, John Canty, threatens to beat him unless he steals five shillings by suppertime. Tom slips into the city square, snatching a purse from a rich man but dropping it after a sharp nudge, and a crowd gives chase through the crowded streets.
He escapes by scrambling up a wall and slipping through a palace window, landing in a garden before King Henry VIII. The guards close in, but Tom out-sprints them to the castle roof and hides in a chimney. That evening, Henry VIII orders the arrest of Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, to be carried out at the masked ball.
Full summary
The whole story of The Prince and the Pauper, scene by scene
The Prince and the Pauper Trailers & Videos
The trailer of The Prince and the Pauper.
How Well Do You Know The Prince and the Pauper?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which character discovers Tom Canty's true identity as a poor boy from the streets?
The Prince and the Pauper Also Known As
18 alternative titles, including “Crossed Swords” and “王子与乞丐”.
- Also known as
-
- Crossed Swords
- 王子与乞丐
- Il principe e il povero
- El príncipe y el mendigo
- Πρίγκιψ και Φτωχός
- Koldus és királyfi
- Der Prinz und der Bettler
- Le Prince et le Pauvre
- 왕자와 거지
- شاهزاده و گدا
- O Príncipe e o Mendigo
- Принц и нищий
+6 more Show fewer
- O Príncipe e o Pobre
- Krydsede klinger
- El príncep i el captaire
- Princ a chuďas
- בן המלך והעני
- Fäkta för livet
Seen The Prince and the Pauper?
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The Prince and the Pauper FAQ: Cast & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Prince and the Pauper, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Prince and the Pauper?
The Prince and the Pauper runs 1 hour 53 minutes (113 minutes).
When was The Prince and the Pauper released?
The Prince and the Pauper was released on June 3, 1977.
Who directed The Prince and the Pauper?
The Prince and the Pauper was directed by Richard Fleischer.
More films by Richard Fleischer Who is in the cast of The Prince and the Pauper?
The Prince and the Pauper stars Mark Lester as Prince Edward / Tom Canty, Charlton Heston as Henry VIII and Ernest Borgnine as John Canty, among 36 credited actors.
Does The Prince and the Pauper have a post-credit scene?
No. The Prince and the Pauper has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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