Anthony Hope's novel never appealed to me as a young man--the story of look-alikes ruling countries abound in "The Prince and the Pauper" and its ilk. To film the story, one would expect a director to go beyond the text and put an intelligent perspective to the story. Anthony Thorpe does nothing of the kind but settles for good looking actors and good sets. Children would love it because it is so uncomplicated and you do not have to think beyond what you are told on screen.
The only redeeming feature in the film was James Mason's above average performance. Deborah Kerr's performance is lackluster compared to her fine performance in The Night of Iguana, which convinces me that an inspired director can make an actor come alive on screen--and an unspired one merely make one look good. The other actors do not deserve mention.
The only redeeming feature in the film was James Mason's above average performance. Deborah Kerr's performance is lackluster compared to her fine performance in The Night of Iguana, which convinces me that an inspired director can make an actor come alive on screen--and an unspired one merely make one look good. The other actors do not deserve mention.