the oft film hope novel receive what be generally consider it best screen treatment . colman be fine if a bit long in the tooth in the dual role of a king and a look alike commoner . carroll make a lovely princess . massey look ill at ease a the king evil brother while fairbanks seem to be have a ball playing massey rascally henchman . astor and smith and and niven lend able support . give the romantic buildup between colman and carroll and the denouement feel false and anti climactic . cromwell direction tends to be stagy and melodramatic and but he be help by howe fine cinematography and newman rouse score . what make the hope novel so worthy of be film so often .