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Adventure film

The Prisoner of Zenda (1952): Cast, Plot & Where to Watch

The Prisoner of Zenda (1952) movie poster

The Prisoner of Zenda is a 1952 adventure film directed by Richard Thorpe, starring Deborah Kerr as Princess Flavia, Stewart Granger and Louis Calhern. It runs 1 hour 40 minutes. Rent or buy it on Amazon Video and Apple TV Store.

Where to watch Watch the trailer
The Prisoner of Zenda (1952) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 40m (100 min)
Director
Richard Thorpe
Genre
Adventure
Original language
English
Studio
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is The Prisoner of Zenda About?

The premise of The Prisoner of Zenda without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

An exhilarating swashbuckling tale set in a fictional kingdom where the newly crowned heir is targeted for assassination. To protect the throne, a charismatic look‑alike steps in and assumes the king’s identity at the coronation. When the true monarch is abducted, his loyalists race to rescue him, while the impostor finds himself genuinely falling for the intended bride, the radiant Princess Flavia.

The Prisoner of Zenda Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • 1890s
  • remake of remake
  • the prisoner of zenda
  • color remake of black and white film
  • 19th century
  • coronation
  • ruritania
  • doppelganger
  • year 1897
  • dual role
  • identical cousins
  • mythical kingdom
+38 more
  • court intrigue
  • impersonation
  • based on novel
  • colonel
  • captain
  • king
  • european adventure
  • europe
  • distant relative
  • englishman abroad
  • half brother half brother relationship
  • monocle
  • kidnapping
  • prisoner
  • plot
  • plotting a coup
  • duty
  • secret
  • deception
  • dagger
  • throwing a knife
  • stabbed in the back
  • betrothed
  • bottle of wine
  • impersonating royalty
  • waltz
  • reference to queen victoria
  • earring
  • rescue
  • murder
  • love at first sight
  • map on screen
  • trout fisherman
  • drunken man
  • horse drawn coach
  • shaving off one's mustache
  • castle moat
  • boot black
Where to watch

Where to Watch The Prisoner of Zenda

Rent or buy it from Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. US availability and prices from JustWatch.

Rent or buy 5

Streaming availability in the US, powered by JustWatch logo

Cast & crew

The Prisoner of Zenda Cast & Characters

Deborah Kerr leads the cast as Princess Flavia, with Stewart Granger as Rudolf Rassendyll / King Rudolf V and Louis Calhern as Col. Zapt. Directed by Richard Thorpe; 18 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in The Prisoner of Zenda

· 14 more
Plot

The Prisoner of Zenda Plot Summary

What happens in The Prisoner of Zenda from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

In June 1897, Rudolf Rassendyll—an urbane English gentleman—travels to the small Balkan kingdom of Ruritania for a quiet fishing holiday, expecting little more than the quiet sound of water and the comfort of a familiar routine. Yet he finds himself met with puzzled glances from the locals and a mounting sense that something about his presence unsettles the people he passes. The mystery deepens when, through the guidance of Colonel Zapt and Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim, he meets the soon-to-be-crowned king, Rudolf V. The king is not only a relative of Rassendyll but bears an extraordinary resemblance to him—an uncanny mirror that initially amuses him and then compels him to consider the extraordinary possibility of stepping into another life.

Full summary

The whole story of The Prisoner of Zenda, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Videos

The Prisoner of Zenda Trailers & Videos

The trailer of The Prisoner of Zenda.

Richard Thorpe - The Prisoner of Zenda (1952)
Details

The Prisoner of Zenda Also Known As

11 alternative titles, including “Der Gefangene von Zenda” and “Il prigioniero di Zenda”.

Also known as
  • Der Gefangene von Zenda
  • Il prigioniero di Zenda
  • Le Prisonnier de Zenda
  • El prisionero de Zenda
  • Im Schatten der Krone
  • Zenda foglya
  • Więzień Zendy
  • O Prisioneiro de Zenda
  • El presoner de Zenda
  • Fången på Zenda
  • Zatočenik dvorca Zenda

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FAQ

The Prisoner of Zenda FAQ: Where to Watch, Cast & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, where to watch and post-credit scenes of The Prisoner of Zenda, each answered in a sentence.

How long is The Prisoner of Zenda?

The Prisoner of Zenda runs 1 hour 40 minutes (100 minutes).

When was The Prisoner of Zenda released?

The Prisoner of Zenda was released on November 4, 1952.

Who directed The Prisoner of Zenda?

The Prisoner of Zenda was directed by Richard Thorpe.

More films by Richard Thorpe

Who is in the cast of The Prisoner of Zenda?

The Prisoner of Zenda stars Deborah Kerr as Princess Flavia, Stewart Granger as Rudolf Rassendyll / King Rudolf V and Louis Calhern as Col. Zapt, among 18 credited actors.

Where can I watch The Prisoner of Zenda?

In the US, The Prisoner of Zenda is available to rent or buy on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Fandango At Home (availability from JustWatch).

Does The Prisoner of Zenda have a post-credit scene?

No. The Prisoner of Zenda has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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