this be also my favorite novel a a child as well . it may have be the first major novel i read . david o. selznick have recently leave metro goldwyn_mayer to set up his own studio . this be one of his first production a an independent producer and in choose anthony hope novel and he make a very wise choice . his casting be even good and he only have the very best available cast at the time . the dash ronald colman a both the king and his cousin . the very beautiful madeline carrol a the princess flavia . raymond massey a the diabolical ( wrong side of the sheet ) brother of the king . ( you could not say bastard in movie or print back then . c. aubrey smith a the old loyal aide . the lovely mary astor a a countess who help . david niven ( this may have be his first major role ) a a young aide . he show much promise of thing to come . and last but not least . douglas fairbanks jr and a the dastardly rupert . i think he steal the film from both colman and massey . each and ever one of them plus others be about flawless under john cromwell fine and polished direction . and the set be magnificent and so good in fact and they be use in the 1952 version ) i will also have a review of this version . the music be excellent write by alfred newnan and the screenplay be wriiten by ( among others ) edward rise and john balderston and donald ogden stewart ben hecht and sidney howard . this film be one of the more popular film of it day and even today these many year later it come across a a wonderful exciting film . this be film in glorious black and white by james wong howe . today the love scene seem a bit dated but back then actor in a clinch do not look at one another and the camera have to catch there face . this tale take place prior to ww 1 and i just wonder if people do so much smoking and thats a minor quibble . for a peek at a classic from the 1930 see this . rating half ( out of 4 ) 96 point ( out of 100 ) imdb 9 ( out of 10 ) .