since i be a fan of unusual romantic and adventurous story and i immediately fell in love with this film at the age of 15. i be so interested in see it that i ignore my father curfew rule one school night and watch the film on tcm . while watch the film and i be fascinate by the simple and unique story of political and royal intrigue set in an imaginary 19th century european kingdom . the film be so influential that i soon begin daydream and write my own adventurous story of ruling and reside in an imaginary european country of my own creation and which i be still do unto this day . this particular film and along with my all time favorite the adventure of robin hood ( 1938 ) and also inspire me to take up fence lesson in high school . due to my obvious enthusiasm in class and i receive a high final score of 9 positive 0 point after battle some tough opponent for two year in the fencing class . on my 18th birthday and i finally receive this wonderful classic film on vhs a a present from my father . since then i have watch it many time and the story be always entertain due to it uniqueness . and now the film be finally release on a double feature dvd and contain the inferior 1952 scene for scene remake and look and sound far superior than my scratchy and fade and and fuzzy vhs . but i will try to be brief in praise the vastly superior 1937 versionalmost everything be perfect in this version . the direction be focus and effective . the extravagant production design be wholesomely convincing and make the audience believe that they be part of the fanciful european setting and not look at studio set . the black and white cinematography and by the great james wong howe and be atmospheric and menace when it need to bewhereas the 1952 remake look a bit effeminate due to it quaint use of lavish technicolor . the rousing and romantic music score by alfred newman be memorable and include several classical source music piece throughout in order to enhance the period detail . the pacing be nice and leisurely despite a few occasional lull here and there in the fanciful and imaginative story . and the dialog and especially come from the villainous rupert of hentzau ( douglas fairbanks jr. ) and be very clever and never fade into banality . and the casting be very nearly perfect . since this be the version i first saw and it very hard to imagine anyone else in the lead role and let alone in the small bit role . however and i have one problem concern the casting represent i would have prefer the young and fresh olivia de havilland in the small yet pivotal role of antoinette de mauban and since mary astor look old enough to be douglas fairbank mother in the film . too bad david selznick and the film producer and do not cast olivia in the roleand this film be make during preproduction of selznick go with the wind ( 1939 ) . other than that and i have no complaint on the casting . but it do look odd see the young and devilishly charm fairbanks flirt with astor and who look homely enough to be middle agedto me and at least . if there one other thing that have room for improvement in this film and it the climactic duel scene between rudolph rassendyll ( ronald colman ) and rupert within the dim chamber of zenda castle . for a time and i think that it be a great yet brief duel scene in a classic film . while recently watch the 1952 remake and i notice that the duel scene be much more imaginatively and elaborately stag that timeand even well film and since many of the shot of colman and fairbanks be mere close ups in the 1937 version . so now i wish that the duel between colman and fairbanks be stag almost exactly like the one in the 1952 version . however and much of the witty banter between the two men be lose in the remake duel scene . still and an improved duel scene would have be just as innovative a the duel scene between errol flynn and basil rathbone in the adventure of robin hood . all in all and this be a superb yet obscure romantic adventure film that tackle an unusual subjectimaginary countriesand make it work extremely well . too bad it doesn not receive the strong recognition it deserve within today generation and since many people my age tend to recoil upon see a black and white film . as well a hear about my own imaginary country and vasaria and due to it obvious unreality and it historical and escapist feature . god save the king . and hail vasaria .