travel in a middle european kingdom and an englishman on a fishing vacation discovers to his astonishment that he be an identical look alike for the country king . when the dissipate monarch be unable to attend his own coronation and the englishman be pressure to impersonate him temporarily . but when he fall in love with the new queen and the real king be kidnap by an evil half brother and the englishman be sweep into a world of intrigue and danger he scarcely know exist . can he rescue the prisoner of zenda without lose his own life . this be one of the great adventure film of the 1930 . give lavish treatment by selznick studio and it be escapist cinema at it most enjoyable . silky voice ronald colman be perfectly cast a both the englishman and the king . he be one of those rare and fortunate actor with great screen charisma his every moment and every word and be interest to the viewer . he almost meet his match and though and in douglas fairbanks jr. and here play a charming and completely ruthless young villain . their rapier fight stand out in a decade full of terrific swordplay . the rest of the cast be equally impressive represent lovely madeleine carroll and wicked raymond massey and frantic mary astor and stalwart david niven and especially wonderful old sir c. aubrey smith and a model of elderly devotion and courage .