Movie Reviewed: Prisoner of Zenda (1922)

Movie Reviewed: Prisoner of Zenda(1922)

Prisoner of Zenda, the silent version (1922)

When a king is drugged the day before his coronation by his evil brother Grand Duke 'Black' Michael and then he could put a look alike to the throne. When people accept the look alike as real king then Michael could seize the throne from the look alike. This is the gest of the story, but in 1922, Metro Studio casted some of the best of players of Hollywood that included Lewis Stone, Alice Terry, Ramon Novarro and Barbara La Marr as Antoinette de Mauban, the mistress of the king's treacherous brother. La Marr was referred to as “The Girl Who Is Too Beautiful,” had a very brief career in Hollywood and died at the age of 29. Novarro and Alice Terry were reunited in “Lovers,” but the success of “Prisoner of Zenda” and “Scaramouche,” both directed by Rex Ingram was never repeated in later movies.

This is a tale of gallantry and addiction to power, which led to the production of at least seven screen versions, including this 1922 adaptation. MGM was still not officially formed until 1923 but this movie came out as a product of Metro Studios, and director Rex Ingram brought in Ramon Novarro as the “Latin Lover” to replace Rudolph Valentino who went to work for the rival studio. Ingram gave some of the biggest hits of the silent era. During the production of the movie, Alice Terry married director Rex Ingram. Although the marriage lasted a long time, she also socially mingled with mainly gay men like co-star Ramon Novarro, Barry Norton and others. She accompanied Novarro frequently to speakeasies with predominantly gay clientele. This may have been done with the blessings of the MGM Studios, since Novarro was becoming a big hit and lots were at stake; and the studio wanted him to have the appearance of a man who likes women.

The quality of the DVD is acceptable, but if you are a fan of either Ramon Novarro, or Barbara La Marr or Alice Terry, I think you would like this movie: Highly recommended to all fans of Hollywood’s silent era.