THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1937) in 35mm

Special Features: Presented by Academy Award®-winning visual effects artist and film historian Craig Barron

Oscar®-winning visual effects artist Craig Barron is also a renowned film historian, museum curator and educator with a deep focus on the history of cinematic illusion — from Hollywood’s studio era to the digital age. In an extended introduction, Barron breaks down the remarkable visual effects used in THE PRISONER OF ZENDA. His presentation incorporates color home movies and special-effects tests to explain how the filmmakers used split-screen photography to show the two characters played by Ronald Colman in conversation in the same scene, and matte paintings to expand the scale and majesty of the film.

A wastrel heir to the throne (Ronald Colman) is impersonated by his look-alike, a traveling commoner (also Ronald Colman), after being drugged on the eve of his coronation. This sets the stage for a battle against his wicked half-brother (Raymond Massey) and the half-brother’s henchman (Douglas Fairbanks, Jr.) for both the throne and the hand of the beautiful princess (Madeleine Carroll). A lavishly mounted tale of European adventure, romance and intrigue from producer David O. Selznick delivers castles, saber duels, betrayals, kidnapping and ransom, set against themes of love, honor and loyalty. Beautifully photographed by cinematographer James Wong Howe, this fully restored 35mm print from the Packard Humanities Institute simulates the sepia-platinum toning process used for the original release by flashing the b&w dupe negative onto color print stock. DIR John Cromwell; SCR John L. Balderston, from the novel by Anthony Hope; PROD David O. Selznick. U.S., 1937, b&w, 101 min. NOT RATED

Preserved by the UCLA Film & Television Archive. New sepia-processed 35mm print courtesy of the Packard Humanities Institute.

Run Time: 101 Minutes

Opening Date: Friday, November 13, 2026

Genre: Adventure

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