The Prince and the Pauper (1937) - Turner Classic Movies

Brief Synopsis

Rousing adaptation of the Mark Twain tale of a 16th-century prince who trades places with a lookalike peasant.

Cast & Crew

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William Keighley

Errol Flynn

Claude Rains

Earl of Hertford

Henry Stephenson

Duke of Norfolk

Barton Maclane

Billy Mauch

Photos & Videos

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Prince And The Pauper, The (1937) -- (Movie Clip) Paradox Of Power

Prince And The Pauper, The (1937) -- (Movie Clip) We'll Skin Him!

Film Details

Genre

Drama

Adaptation

Adventure

Classic Hollywood

Period

Release Date

May 8, 1937

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Distribution Company

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages by Mark Twain (New York, 1881).

Technical Specs

Duration

2h

Sound

Mono, Vitaphone

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

13 reels

Synopsis

On the same day in 1537 that Edward Tudor, the son of King Henry VIII, is born in London, a poor boy named Tom Canty is born in the slums of London. As Tom grows, he studies with Father Andrew and dreams of a life apart from the beggers and thieves that surround him, while Edward, pampered by the luxuries of royal life, becomes curious about the real England. One night, when Tom hides in the palace yard to escape a driving rain, the two boys meet, realize there is a striking resemblance between them, and playfully exchange clothes. In the midst of a game, the Captain of the Guard mistakes Edward for the beggar-boy and throws him out of the palace. When the Earl of Hertford, the King's scheming advisor who hopes to be appointed Edward's Lord High Protector, discovers the switch, he seizes the opportunity to control the throne by forcing Tom to continue the pretense, allowing him to order the murder of the real Edward. The boy is befriended by Miles Hendon, a soldier of fortune who indulges the boy's "fantasies" that he is Prince of England. Soon the King dies, and Edward manages, with Miles's help, to escape Tom's vicious father, John Canty, and return to the palace. The coronation is in progress, but Edward proves himself by revealing the whereabouts of the Great Seal of England. Finally, the true Edward is crowned, Hertford is banished, Miles is recognized for his bravery, and Tom is made a ward of the court.

Director

William Keighley

Cast

Errol Flynn

Claude Rains

Earl of Hertford

Henry Stephenson

Duke of Norfolk

Barton Maclane

Billy Mauch

Bobby Mauch

Prince Edward [Tudor]

Alan Hale

Captain of the guard

Eric Portman

Lionel Pape

Murray Kinnell

Halliwell Hobbes

Phyllis Barry

Ivan Simpson

Montagu Love

Fritz Leiber

Elspeth Dudgeon

Grandmother Canty

Mary Field

Forrester Harvey

Helen Valkis

Lady Jane Seymour

Lester Matthews

Robert Adair

Harry Cording

Robert Warwick

Rex Evans

Holmes Herbert

Ian Maclaren

Ann Howard

Gwendolyn Jones

Lionel Braham

Harry Beresford

Lionel Belmore

Ian Wolf

Proprietor of thieves' booth

St. Luke's Choristers

Leonard Willey

Tom Ricketts

Harold Entwistle

Yorke Sherwood

Noel Kennedy

Billy Maguire

Clifford Severn

Harry Duff

Fred Ellis

Peter Ellis

Leo White

Leyland Hodgson

Colin Kenny

Second watchman

Ottola Nesmith

Lady in waiting

Mrs. Wilfrid North

Lady in waiting

Lotus Thompson

Lady in waiting

Raymond Lawrence

Edward Harvey

Edward Cooper

Charles Mcnaughton

Larry Dodds

Will Stanton

Sidney Bracy

Elsie Prescott

Woman in window

Charles Coleman

Jimmie Aubrey

Ted Billings

George Kirby

Proprietor of inn

John Spacey

Humbert F. Greenwood

Ernie Stanton

Jack Richardson

Frank Benson

Frank S. Hagney

Eric Snowden

Charlie Simpson

George Bunny

Daisy Belmore

Frank Baker

Wilson Benge

Leslie Francis

George Broughton

Spencer Teakle

Peter Bronte

Cyril Thornton

Douglas Gordon

Rita Carlyle

Connie Leon

Doreen Munroe

Robert Cory

Jack Best

Claude Wisberg

Kay Deslys

Crew

Milo Anderson

George Barnes

Catherine Chisholm Cushing

Dramatic version

Ralph Dawson

William Dieterle

Fill-In Director

Laird Doyle

Leo F. Forbstein

Hugo Friedhofer

Oliver S. Garretson

James Gibbons

Special Effects

Robert Haas

Chuck Hansen

Assistant Director

Erich Wolfgang Korngold

Robert Lord

Associate Producer

Sol Polito

Milan Roder

Willard Van Enger

Special Effects

Jack L. Warner

Executive Producer

Western Costume Company

Photo Collections

Videos

Prince And The Pauper, The (1937) -- (Movie Clip) Paradox Of Power One can hear the voice of Mark Twain/Samuel Clemens in the speech of King Henry VIII (Montagu Love) to his son Prince Edward (Bobby Mauch), the interested Earl of Hertford (Claude Rains) witnessing, in The Prince And The Pauper, 1937.

Prince And The Pauper, The (1937) -- (Movie Clip) We'll Skin Him! Bobby Mauch (as "Prince Edward"), sneaking out of the castle, meets brother and twin Billy (as "Tom Canty,"), arrested by a guard (Alan Hale) in Warner Bros.' version of the Mark Twain story, The Prince And The Pauper, 1937.

Prince and the Pauper, The - (Original Trailer) The Prince and the Pauper (1937) - A rousing adaptation of the Mark Twain tale of a 16th century prince who trades places with a lookalike peasant. It stars Errol Flynn and Billy and Bobby Mauch.

Film Details

Genre

Drama

Adaptation

Adventure

Classic Hollywood

Period

Release Date

May 8, 1937

Premiere Information

not available

Production Company

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Distribution Company

Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.

Country

United States

Screenplay Information

Based on the novel The Prince and the Pauper: A Tale for Young People of All Ages by Mark Twain (New York, 1881).

Technical Specs

Duration

2h

Sound

Mono, Vitaphone

Color

Black and White

Theatrical Aspect Ratio

1.37 : 1

Film Length

13 reels

Articles

The Prince and the Pauper (1937)

March 22, 2005

The Prince and the Pauper (1937) is a classic adventure yarn, from the storybook opening sequence to scenes of 16th century palace life, royal intrigue and, of course, dashing swordplay between Errol Flynn and every miscreant who crosses his path. Based on Mark Twain's story of a youthful prince who exchanges identities with a pauper boy, The Prince and the Pauper stars Montagu Love (The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938) as King Henry VIII, Claude Rains (Casablanca, 1942) as the treacherous Earl of Hertford, twins Bobby and Billy Mauch as Prince Edward and pauper lookalike Tom Canty, and Errol Flynn as Miles Hendon, a soldier of fortune who befriends the prince and restores him to his rightful throne.

Directed by Warner Brothers veteran William Keighley, The Prince and the Pauper was released in 1937, coinciding neatly with the fanfare surrounding the coronation of King George VI of England. Because Flynn's price was considered too high by the studio, the dashing swordplay and roguish charm of Miles Hendon was almost portrayed by Patric Knowles (The Charge of the Light Brigade, 1936) or George Brent (Dark Victory, 1939). Both were secretly tested for the role. Only Flynn had the verve the producers required, and the job was his. Flynn arrived on the set in January 1937 suffering from pneumonia and a sinus ailment. As a dashing hero in knee breeches and silver sword, Flynn's performance is none the worse for wear. Off-camera, he entertained the young Mauch twins by teaching them practical jokes.

Playing to Depression-era audiences, The Prince and the Pauper weaves populist themes with fantasy storytelling. The lavish coronation scene that concludes the film is studded with extras, the St. Luke's Choristers choir, and sumptuous costuming.

Director: William Keighley
Producer: Robert Lord, Hal B. Wallis (executive)
Screenplay: Laird Doyle, based on the novel by Mark Twain
Cinematography: Sol Polito
Editor: Ralph Dawson
Art Direction: Robert M. Haas
Music: Erich Wolfgang Korngold
Cast: Errol Flynn (Miles Hendon), Claude Rains (Earl of Hertford), Henry Stephenson (Duke of Norfolk), Barton MacLane (John Canty), Billy Mauch (Tom Canty).
BW-118m. Close captioning. Descriptive Video.

By Jessica Handler

The Prince And The Pauper (1937)

The Prince and the Pauper (1937)

The Prince and the Pauper (1937) is a classic adventure yarn, from the storybook opening sequence to scenes of 16th century palace life, royal intrigue and, of course, dashing swordplay between Errol Flynn and every miscreant who crosses his path. Based on Mark Twain's story of a youthful prince who exchanges identities with a pauper boy, The Prince and the Pauper stars Montagu Love (The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938) as King Henry VIII, Claude Rains (Casablanca, 1942) as the treacherous Earl of Hertford, twins Bobby and Billy Mauch as Prince Edward and pauper lookalike Tom Canty, and Errol Flynn as Miles Hendon, a soldier of fortune who befriends the prince and restores him to his rightful throne. Directed by Warner Brothers veteran William Keighley, The Prince and the Pauper was released in 1937, coinciding neatly with the fanfare surrounding the coronation of King George VI of England. Because Flynn's price was considered too high by the studio, the dashing swordplay and roguish charm of Miles Hendon was almost portrayed by Patric Knowles (The Charge of the Light Brigade, 1936) or George Brent (Dark Victory, 1939). Both were secretly tested for the role. Only Flynn had the verve the producers required, and the job was his. Flynn arrived on the set in January 1937 suffering from pneumonia and a sinus ailment. As a dashing hero in knee breeches and silver sword, Flynn's performance is none the worse for wear. Off-camera, he entertained the young Mauch twins by teaching them practical jokes. Playing to Depression-era audiences, The Prince and the Pauper weaves populist themes with fantasy storytelling. The lavish coronation scene that concludes the film is studded with extras, the St. Luke's Choristers choir, and sumptuous costuming. Director: William Keighley Producer: Robert Lord, Hal B. Wallis (executive) Screenplay: Laird Doyle, based on the novel by Mark Twain Cinematography: Sol Polito Editor: Ralph Dawson Art Direction: Robert M. Haas Music: Erich Wolfgang Korngold Cast: Errol Flynn (Miles Hendon), Claude Rains (Earl of Hertford), Henry Stephenson (Duke of Norfolk), Barton MacLane (John Canty), Billy Mauch (Tom Canty). BW-118m. Close captioning. Descriptive Video. By Jessica Handler

Quotes

Trivia

Freddie Bartholomew was originally considered for the central dual role. Instead, real-life twins Billy Mauch and Bobby Mauch were hired.

MGM bought the rights to Mark Twain's novel in 1935 for $100,000, but never filmed the story. Eventually, Warner Bros. secured the rights.

The coronation scene was on a set that duplicated Westminster Abbey and took seven days to shoot.

William Dieterle filled in as director when William Keighley got the flu. Similarly, photographer 'Barnes, George' took over as director of photography when Sol Polito fell ill.

Notes

This was the first of twelve films in which Errol Flynn and Alan Hale worked together. News items in Hollywood Reporter note that William Dieterle filled in for William Keighley when he was ill with the flu and George Barnes replaced Sol Polito while he was ill. Press notes in AMPAS files state that the twenty-minute coronation scene took seven days to film on a set that was a duplicate of Westminster Abbey. Time notes that six unnamed technical advisors worked on the coronation scene. Motion Picture Herald notes the film was released to take advantage of the publicity surrounding the coronation of British King George VI. According to Hollywood Reporter, M-G-M bought the rights to the Mark Twain novel for $100,000 in 1935 but never filmed the story. It was to have starred Freddie Bartholomew with a script by Howard Estabrook. Other versions of the Twain story include the 1909 two reel film produced by Edison and directed by J. Searle Dawley, Paramount's 1915 film starring Marguerite Clark in the dual role of the Prince and the pauper (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1911-20; F1.3552), an Austrian film, Seine Majestat, Das Bettlekind directed by Alexander Korda, a Walt Disney version made for television and directed by Don Chaffee in 1962, another version in 1969, directed by Elliot Geisinger for Storyland Films, (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1961-70; F6.3920), and Crossed Swords, produced by the Salkind Brothers in 1978 and directed by Richard Fleischer.

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