Home | Movies By Year | Movies from 1977
The Prince and the Pauper (1977 film)
Buy The Prince and the Pauper (1977 film) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the movie. And once you've experienced the movie, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
'The Prince and the Pauper' (US title: 'Crossed Swords') is a 1977 British action-adventure film directed by Richard Fleischer, based on the 1881 novel 'The Prince and the Pauper' by Mark Twain. It stars Oliver Reed, Ernest Borgnine, Raquel Welch, George C. Scott, Charlton Heston, Sir Rex Harrison, and Mark Lester, playing the dual role of Edward VI of England and Tom Canty.
Plot
In 16th century London, a pauper called Tom Canty reads to a group a children but is attacked by his cruel father John Canty and threatened that he will be beaten if he does not steal five shillings by suppertime. Tom goes into the city square and steals a purse from a rich man, but drops it after bumping into another man. Thinking that Tom still has the purse, the rich man and other men chase Tom through the streets of London. Tom escapes by climbing up a wall and through a window, where he falls into a palace garden in front of King Henry VIII, who sets the guards on him. However, Tom outruns them by going to the roof of the castle and hiding in a chimney. In the grounds, Henry VIII orders for The Duke of Norfolk to be arrested during the masked ball that evening.
In his royal chamber, Prince Edward of Wales insists on not wearing a costume to the masked ball and his dressers leave him. Tom falls down the chimney into the chamber and Edward demands to know who he is. Tom introduces himself and explains his situation. Interested that Tom looks like him, Edward decides they swap appearances and clothes to attend the masked ball, but adds that the Prince's Seal stays with the true Prince. However, Edward is mistaken for Tom by The Duke of Norfolk, who orders for him to be escorted out of the palace. Outside, Edward is rescued by skilled swordsman Sir Miles Hendon. At the masked ball, The Duke of Norfolk is arrested and Henry VIII and the guests laugh at Tom's dancing, despite Tom repeatedly claiming that he's not the Prince of Wales.
Meanwhile, despite Edward repeatedly claiming that he is the Prince of Wales, Miles says he believes him, but actually doesn't and takes him to John Canty where Edward discovers what Tom's life is like. But when John attempts to beat Edward, Miles intervenes and a fight breaks out, resulting in John pushing Miles off a roof into a stream. John is declared a murderer and he flees London with Edward. At the castle, Henry VIII has fallen ill since the morning after the masked ball and he orders for no one to declare that Tom is not the Prince, not even Tom himself. Although some of the royal household are suspicious of the sudden change of demeanour of the "Prince", they dismiss it as a mere phase. During a banquet, Henry VIII dies in his royal chamber and Tom commands that The Duke of Norfolk shall not die.
In some woods, John and Edward are escorted by some unfriendly men to a cavern where Ruffler's gang hide out. They reveal that word has reached them of Henry VIII's death. Edward is inspired by the gang's hardships and vows to restore their honour. After winning a fight with one of the gang members, Edward leaves and John goes after him to beat him again, but is killed by another member of Ruffler's gang. Outside, Edward meets Miles, having survived his fall. Miles takes Edward to Hendon Hall, where Miles is outraged to discover his brother Hugh Hendon has married Miles' love interest Lady Edith and taken Hendon Hall for himself. Hugh has Miles and Edward captured, but Edith helps them escape and Edward convinces Miles that he (Edward) really is the rightful King and offers to restore him to his honour as a Knight.
The day of the crowning arrives and Edward and Miles race to London by hijacking a horse and cart which Hugh and Edith are in. Miles swaps clothes with Hugh and ties him up in the cart, but he breaks out in London and attempts to have Miles arrested, but Miles and Edward fight off the guards and Edward gets inside Westminster Abbey before the doors are closed. Edward halts the ceremony and he and Tom swap back to their original positions, admitting to each other that they were not good at each other's position. Archbishop Cranmer and other witnesses are stunned until Edward presents the Prince's Seal and takes his position as the rightful King.
After the ceremony, Edward makes Tom Head Governor of Christ's Hospital and his mother sets up shelters for the homeless. Miles' brother Hugh agrees to a divorce from Edith and enjoys a political career in America. Miles is restored to his honour as a Knight and marries Edith. The Duke of Norfolk has his enemies put to death and Princess Elizabeth later becomes Queen in her own right, keeping her promise to take "good care of England".
Cast
* Oliver Reed as Sir Miles Hendon
* Raquel Welch as Lady Edith
* Mark Lester as Edward VI of England and Tom Canty
* Charlton Heston as King Henry VIII
* Ernest Borgnine as John Canty
* George C. Scott as The Ruffler
* Rex Harrison as The Duke of Norfolk
* David Hemmings as Hugh Hendon
* Harry Andrews as Hertford
* Julian Orchard as St. John
* Murray Melvin as Prince's Dresser
* Lalla Ward as Princess Elizabeth
* Felicity Dean as Lady Jane Grey
* Sybil Danning as Mother Canty
* Graham Stark as The King's Jester
* Preston Lockwood as Father Andrew
* Arthur Hewlett as Fat Man
* Tommy Wright as Constable
* Harry Fowler as Nipper
* Richard Hurndall as Archbishop Cranmer
* Don Henderson as Burly Ruffian
* Dudley Sutton as Hodge
* Ruth Madoc as Moll
Production
The film was in limbo during the development. Berta Dominguez (the wife of Alexander Salkind) and Pierre Spengler wrote a script based on the novel for the Salkinds in 1968. A key change in the adaptation was changing the ages of the prince and the pauper from nine in the novel to sixteen. George Cukor was to direct but he wanted to go back to the original novel and cast an actor to play nine-year-old boys - Mark Lester. The Salkinds wanted to cast someone older, having Leonard Whiting in mind for the parts. The Salkinds lost enthusiasm for the project and instead went on to make 'The Light at the End of the World'.Petrou and Dominguez p5-8
The Salkinds had a big success with 'The Three Musketeers' (1973) which re-activated their interest in 'The Prince and the Pauper'. They originally intended to follow up 'Musketeers' with 'The Prince Malange' starring Oliver Reed and Peter O'Toole. Then O'Toole became unavailable and filming was threatened with sets already half-built. In addition, the Salkinds needed money while developing 'Superman'. The Salkinds decided it to use the old script for 'Prince and the Pauper' and use existing sets and commitments.
Richard Fleischer was approached to direct. He agreed provided he could have a new script and a bigger budget - $7 million. The Salkinds agreed. George MacDonald Fraser was hired to rewrite the script.
Shooting took place in England and Hungary. Filming started on 17 May 1976 at Penshurst Place, England. Filming took place there for two weeks before moving to Pinewood Studios. Most filming in Hungary took place in Sopron and Budapest.
Release
The film was released on 3 June 1977 in London and on 29 July 1977 in Ireland by 20th Century Fox. It was released on 2 March 1978 in New York City, on 15 March 1978 in USA Film Festival and on 17 March 1978 in United States by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Reception
The film generally performed poorly at the box office. However, in New York, it was the last film planned to be shown at Radio City Music Hall when it was threatened with closure in April 1978 and the film attracted large crowds who wanted to visit the theater before it closed. The film set a house record in Easter 1978 grossing $468,173 in the week ending March 29. In the sixth and final week, tickets were selling between $5 and $25 to benefit the Variety Club of New York.
See also
*Cultural depictions of Henry VIII of England
References
Sources
*
Buy The Prince and the Pauper (1977 film) now from Amazon
<-- Return to movies from 1977