The Prince and the Pauper
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Features
• Black & White
• Closed-captioned
• Dubbed
• DVD-Video
• Subtitled
• NTSC
In Theaters : 08 May, 1937
DVD Release : 26 August, 2003 |
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The Prince and the Pauper Customer Reviews
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♥♥♥♥♥ |
"This is good for cracking nuts, isn't it?"
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Errol Flynn strikes again! This 1937 film adaptation of Mark Twain's classic novel THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER is the definitive version, although [[ASIN:B000TXPXBO Crossed Swords]] and Disney's own remake (with Guy Williams, in 1962) are pretty damn good themselves. The plot tells the story, set in the year 1547, of two 10-year-old boys who look alike - one a grimy beggar boy, the other the bratty heir to the throne - and how, on a whim, they came to switch identities. This story also tells of how, for a time, the fate of England dangerously hung in the balance.
Plot SPOILERS begin.
While young beggar boy Tom Canty resides in the royal palace as the prince and being thought mad by the courtiers, Prince Edward VI, now wrested of his life of privelege, gets an eye-opening tour of the seedy parts of England and of the day-to-day struggles endured by his downtrodden subjects. Beset by bullies, Edward is rescued by the kind and dashing but down-on-his-luck mercenary soldier Miles Hendon, who then becomes Edward's bemused protector. Hendon is quite taken with his haughty, raggedy charge even if he doesn't really believe the lad's claims to royalty.
This also being an adventure story, there are villains afoot. Tom Canty's father himself is scum, prone to violence and intent on using his son for thievery. Then there's the deceitful and conniving Earl of Hertford (Claude Rains, who here sports a ne'er-do-well beard). He craves power and status at whatever cost and sends the Captain of the Guard (Alan Hale) on an errand of murder. In the end, it all hinges on securing the Great Seal of England.
End SPOILERS.
As I've said, Errol Flynn strikes again! Fresh off the success of [[ASIN:B000M2E30E The Charge of the Light Brigade]] and, before that, [[ASIN:B00005JMR7 Captain Blood]], Flynn was tapped to play the role of the gallant Miles Hendon. Although the Mauch twins (Bobby and Billy) are very good and winning as Prince Edward and Tom Canty, Errol Flynn was the biggest reason the crowds flocked to this one. But be advised that he doesn't show up until half the movie's gone. Once he's there, though, he speedily makes his mark. Flynn wasn't really in that many scenes - no, the Mauch boys dominate those - but he's so dynamic a personality that he's the one image you walk away with. Also worth mentioning, by the way, are character actor Montagu Love's brief but standout performance as the dying monarch Henry VIII and Claude Rains's treacherous turn as the Earl of Hertford. Just to set the record straight, no one spat out venomous words quite so silkily as did Mr. Rains.
THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER is a perfect family film and offers enough intrigue and derring-do to gladden the swashbuckling heart. The pomp and spectacle, as well as the squalor and despondency, of 16th century London are vividly brought to life with the sweeping black and white cinematography and Mr. Korngold's stirring score. The story zips along mostly at a brisk pace, with the only exception being the lengthy coronation sequence. The movie treats us to a swordfight or two (not too many, but what we get is thanks to Errol Flynn). There are even flashes of Mark Twain's satiric social commentary, for those searching for depth in an adventure film. Lastly, there are also glimpses of humor, with some even provided by Errol Flynn, who does have a way with words and with facial expressions. And I did like the bit about the puzzled young Mr. Canty unwittingly drinking his royal bath water. |
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The Prince and the Pauper dvd movie.