The Prince and the Pauper
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Edwin S. Porter
Marguerite Clark
Robert Broderick
William Barrows
William Sorelle
William Frederick
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In sixteenth century London, Edward, the Prince of Wales, feels weighed down by the seriousness of his position and decides to venture from the royal court to get a taste of the outside world. By chance he meets Tom Canty, a beggar boy and sometime thief who bears a strong resemblance to him, and proposes that they switch identities for a time. Tom agrees, and while Edward remains behind on the street, Tom returns to the court. Each boy is subjected to the pains of the other's life, Edward, the dangers of poverty and crime, Tom, the overbearing responsibilities of power. When King Henry VIII dies, Tom finds himself about to be crowned ruler and unveils himself as an imposter, but the court merely declares him mad. Edward falls victim to a gang of thieves headed by Tom's father, who, because of the profit he brings in, refuses to let the prince leave. After some effort, however, Edward escapes and arrives at Westminster Abbey in time to stop the coronation of the beggar Tom.
Cast
Marguerite Clark
Robert Broderick
William Barrows
William Sorelle
William Frederick
Alfred Fisher
Nathaniel Sack
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
This film was the first feature screen adaptation of a Mark Twain novel, according to contemporary news items. A 1909 two reel version of the film was produced by Edison and directed by J. Searle Dawley. Among the other adaptations of the novel are a 1920 Austrian production, Seine Majestät, Das Bettelkind, directed by Alexander Korda; Warner Bros.' 1937 version, starring Errol Flynn and directed by William Keighley; Disney's 1962 television production, directed by Don Chaffee; and the Salkind brothers' 1977 international production Crossed Swords, directed by Richard Fleischer.
