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Rating:  -
Mark Twain's witty and delightful blending of historical fact forms the basis for this rousing "trading places" adventure in medieval London.
This is a film where you can turn off the picture and just listen to Erich Wolgang Korngold's wall-to-wall score, where each scene has its own theme, as do the leading characters. Korngold envisioned his film scores as operas without words, where he pitched his music to that of the actor's voices, the melody varying in tone and tempo to reflect their feelings. The climatic Coronation sequence, featuring St. Luke's Choristers, from Long Beach, CA, is spectacular. This was one of the composer's favorite scores, which he later reworked into Violin Concerto in D. Op. 35. (The Itzhak Perlman Edition, EMI records Ltd 2003).
If this weren't enough, the period settings, costumes and mise-en-scene are incredibly detailed and richly textured. The once-in-a-lifetime cast, headed by Errol Flynn, the remarkable Mauch twins, Claude Rains and a host of familiar Warners character actors, is impeccable.
Even Shawn, Prince Edward's giant Irish wolfhound, is a scene-stealer.
William Keighley's direction is first-rate, as is Sol Polito's black and white cinematography, where each set-up enhances the drama of the moment. The term Black and White is clearly a misnomer... never more apparent than in viewing this film, with its shimmering silver halide crystals, which have never been more beautifully presented on the screen. The transfer to DVD is stunning and the sound track comes through loud and clear on my system.
Hardly just a kids' film, this is one for the ages with its dark themes of poverty, child abuse, political skulduggery and talk of beheadings. Rest assured that all's well that ends well, with Errol Flynn coming to the rescue in the nick of time!
In the words of the N. Y. Times in its original review: "The novel and the screen have been bridged so gracefully that we can not resist in saying that the Twain and the movies have met."
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Errol Flynn was the ultimate swashbuckler, the most dashing hero that ever was, is, or will be. There are many imitations, but there has never been any who could truly match him, and I doubt will ever bee any who can even truly compare.
He made all the all the ladies dream and all the men wish they could be him (some admitted it, some did not, but they all did). However, that was not all he could do. There could be many better actors, but very few could make us dream as he did and does.
A lot has been said about Flynn, some good some bad, but his image remains beyond the reach of comments and criticism. He was, and is, the stuff of which myths and legends are made, on and off the screen. And he still unsurpassed.
As it was so eloquently put in the film "My Favourite Year", it doesn't matter if it was an illusion. It worked. He could not have convinced us the way he did unless somewhere inside he had that courage. He was that silly goddamned hero! Nobody is that good of an actor.
Besides, we cannot use him 'life-size'. We all need Errol Flynns as big as we can get them!
Today, we put on airs and claim to be a lot more sophisticated an audience than we were at the time when his movies were made.
But, the truth is that when see him on the screen today, he still inspires in us the same feelings, from awe to envy, and everything in between. Of course, some of us would admit it, some of us wouldn't, but we all feel it
His movies still tell us what true heroes and adventures are all about- and if they are not, they should be.
I would more than recommend "The Prince and the Pauper", and any or Errol Flynn's movies, to anyone who still dares to believe in dashing heroes and is not ashamed to admit it.
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Errol Flynn is at his best in this movie. It is a testament to his acting ability in that he can play so many different roles.
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This movie takes you on a grand, childhood, adventure. You are right along in this wonderful story; back in the days of horses, swords, nobles, peasants, thieves, castles, kings, and adventurous children. The 2001 version is also very good. I enjoyed them both.
The exciting adventures of a young boy in England in the 1700's. Can't say more without giving away the plot. Written by Mark Twain, who wrote Tom Sawyer; just as good.
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This is a superb movie but it has little in common with the book by the same name. It more closely resembles Alexandre Dumas "The Man in the Iron Mask" than Mark Twain's "The Prince and the Pauper". Errol Flynn and the Mauch twins are both great in this movie. Plenty of action for Flynn to show off his skills, and wonderful drama and comedy make it a family favorite. When a young poor street urchin swaps places with a prince a kingdom is almost lost. The Mauch twins do an excellent job of carrying both roles. They do an excellent job portraying a brat and a considerate boy. As good as Freddie Bartholomew in "Captains Courageous".
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