This week’s mystery movie has been the 1952 MGM picture “The Prisoner of Zenda” and, as many people pointed out, it is not as good as the Ronald Colman version (1937).
This version of “Zenda” stars Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr, with Louis Calhern, Jane Greer, Lewis Stone, Robert Douglas, James Mason, with a screenplay by John L. Balderston and Noel Langley, adapted by Wells Root from the novel by Anthony Hope and the dramatization by Edward Rose. Music by Alfred Newman, adapted by Conrad Salinger, photography by Joseph Ruttenberg, art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Hans Peters, set decoration by Edwin B. Willis and Richard Pefferle, costumes by Walter Plunkett, hair styles by Sydney Guilaroff and makeup by William Tuttle. It was produced by Pandro S. Berman and directed by Richard Thorpe.
“The Prisoner of Zenda” is available on DVD from Amazon.
Writing in the New York Times (Nov. 5, 1952), Bosley Crowther said:
Men may come and men may go—as Presidential candidates or what—but there seems to be no termination to the longevity of “The Prisoner of Zenda” of Anthony Hope. This original Ruritanian romance, which was published first in 1894 and has already had three expensive and historic productions in films, is now in its fourth regeneration on the Capitol Theatre’s screen, by courtesy of the bold and munificent escort service of M-G-M. And decked but this time in Technicolor, with Stewart Granger as its brave, swashbuckling star, it looks quite as youthful and unblushing as if it bore not the slightest trace of age.
For Monday, we have a mystery gent.
Update: This is Jay Adler.
For Tuesday, we have …“Oh, Her.”
Update: This is Kathleen Freeman.
Brain Trust roll call: Dan Nather (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Howard Mandelbaum (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), B.J. Merholz (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Don (Monday’s mystery guest), Mike Hawks (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Robert Morrissey (Monday’s mystery guest), Arye Michael Bender (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest), Patrick (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery guest) and David Inman (Monday’s mystery guest).
For Wednesday, we have two mystery chaps.
Update: This is Robert Coote and Louis Calhern.
Brain Trust roll call: David Inman (mystery movie and Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Mary Mallory (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Patrick (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Gary (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Beachgal (mystery movie and Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Benito (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Roget-L.A. (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Don Danard (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Pat in Michigan (mystery movie and Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Jenny M. (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Tucson Barbara (mystery movie, Monday’s and Tuesday’s mystery guests), Sheila (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Patricia van Hartesveldt (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Chrisbo (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Howard Mandelbaum (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), Sarah (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), John O’Dowd (Monday’s mystery gent), Bruce Reznick (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”), L.C. (mystery movie and mystery cast), Bob Hansen (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”) and Dan Nather (Tuesday’s “Oh Her”).
For Thursday, we have a not terribly mysterious woman and an equally non-mysterious gent rocking a Prussian hairstyle.
Update: This is Jane Greer and James Mason.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Wednesday’s mystery gents), Mike Hawks (Wednesday’s mystery gents), Benito (mystery movie and Monday’s mystery gent), Howard Mandelbaum (Wednesday’s mystery gents), Tucson Barbara (Wednesday’s mystery gents), Chrisbo (mystery movie and Wednesday’s Mystery Guest No. 2), Patrick (Wednesday’s mystery guests), Jenny Lerew (mystery movie, Tuesday’s “Oh Her” and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (mystery movie, Tuesday’s “Oh Her” and Wednesday’s mystery guests), Rick (mystery movie, Tuesday’s “Oh Her” and Wednesday’s mystery gents), Dan Nather (Wednesday’s mystery gents) and Howard Decker (mystery movie, Tuesday’s “Oh Her.”)
Note to Beachgal: They are in the movie, but not in those roles.
And for Friday, our leading lady and our leading man in one of his dual roles (just like last week’s “Lady of the Night” get it?).
Update: This is Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger.
Brain Trust roll call: Mary Mallory (Thursday’s mystery gent), Howard Mandelbaum (Thursday’s mystery guests), Mike Hawks (Thursday’s mystery guests), Roget-L.A. (mystery movie and Thursday’s mystery guests), Beachgal (Wednesday’s and Thursday’s mystery guests), Anne Papineau (Thursday’s mystery guests), Patrick (Thursday’s mystery guests), Tucson Barbara (Thursday’s mystery guests) and Don Danard (mystery movie and Wednesday’s mystery guests).
ladailymirror.com 
I would have gotten here sooner, but I just had to check the DVD to make sure! The movie is the 1952 version of THE PRISONER OF ZENDA with Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr, and I believe the mystery gent is Jay Adler.
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Jay Adler in THE PRISONER OF ZENDA (1952).
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Could be Jay Adler in the Prisoner of Zenda.
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Looks like Jay Adler.
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Jay Adler in THE PRISONER OF ZENDA 1952.
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That’s Jay Adler – I don’t remember ever seeing him in color!
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A member of the esteemed Adler acting family, here is Stella and Luther’s brother, Jay. Guessing at the picture based on his costume. Could it be ‘The Prisoner of Zenda’ as a station master?
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Jay Adler in The Prisoner of Zenda from 1952.
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Oh my gosh, it is Carmen Puliafito!!!!!!!
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Actually, it’s not. Alas.
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hmmm. I want to say Phillip Van Zandt.
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Alas, I’m afraid not.
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Jay Adler?
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That’s Kathleen Freeman so this must be the 1952 “Prisoner of Zenda.”
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Jay Adler and Kathleen Freeman in THE PRISONER OF ZENDA, which is nowhere as good as the Colman ZENDA.
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Kathleen Freeman.
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Kathleen Freeman on Tuesday.
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This would be Jay Adler and Kathleen Freeman (hardly a mystery!) in The Prisoner of Zenda (1952.)
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Tues is Kathleen Freeman
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Kathleen Freeman in period costume
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Tuesday: Kathleen Freeman, without a doubt
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I think Monday might be Jay Adler as the Customs man in the ’52 version of The Prisoner of Zenda
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Kathleen Freeman today.
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Tuesday’s guest is Kathleen Freeman in “The Prisoner of Zenda”.
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Kathleen Freeman
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Nora Marlowe Tuesday?
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Alas, I’m afraid not
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“Oh, Her” is the fabulous Kathleen Freeman
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Kathleen Freeman for Tuesday.
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Tuesday: Kathleen Freeman
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In that case, perhaps it’s that OTHER “Oh her”: Kathleen Freeman
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Kathleen Freeman.
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Kathleen Freeman, an ease “Oh, her” for Tuesday.
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Jay Adler?
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Looks like a young Kathleen Freeman. That sure narrows things down.
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The Prisoner of Zenda (1952) w/Stewart Granger, Deborah Kerr, Louis Calhoun, Jay Adler, & Kathleen Freeman.
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I think the movie is “The Prisoner of Zenda.”
I’m gonna guess that Monday’s gent is Jay Adler.
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That’s Kathleen Freeman on Tuesday.
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I think Tuesday’s gal is Kathleen Freeman.
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Robert Coote and Louis Calhern.
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Robert Coote and Louis Calhern.
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Wen on the right is Alphonse Martell, on the left is George J. Lewis
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That old chestnut The Prisoner of Zenda 1952. PS Jay Adler is the hound dog on Monday
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Robert Coote, Louis Calhern.
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Robert Coote and Louis Calhern
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Louis Calhern on Wednesday in The Prisoner of Zenda
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Robert Coote and Louis Calhern on Wednesday.
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Well, it’s Robert Coote on the left-Louis Calhern on the right? Yesterday was Kathleen Freeman, and from the two shot of Coote & Calhern, they’re recreating “The Prisoner of Zenda” and Niven and Smith looking down at Ronald Colman. Never seen this version!
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On Tuesday, Kathleen Freeman in “The Prisoner of Zenda.” On Wednesday, Louis Calhern and Robert Douglas.
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Oh her – Kathleen Freeman
today Robert Coote Louis Calhern Prisoner of Zenda
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Robert Coote and Louis Calhern today.
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Prisoner of Zenda, 1952. Kathleen Freeman et al.
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Deborah Kerr and James Mason.
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Jane Greer and James Mason.
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Jane Greer and James Mason.
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Thursday: I believe the woman on the left is Jane Greer and the gent on the right is James Mason. So, I’m guessing the mystery movie is The Prisoner of Zenda (1952).
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Wen are Robert Coote and Louis Calhern
Thurs we have Jane Greer and James Mason
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Jane Greer and James Mason.
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Jane Greer and James Mason on Thursday.
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Jane Greer and James Mason
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Just catching up….Robert Coote and Louis Calhern in The Prisoner of Zenda..on Wednesday.
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Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger today. Ronald Colman was much, much better.
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Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger on Friday.
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Friday: Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger
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Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger get all cuddly.
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Deborah Kerr, Stewart Granger.
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Friday we have Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr
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Didn’t make it here on Thursday, when Jane Greer and James Mason were featured. Of course, that’s Stewart Granger and Deborah Kerr today.
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Deborah Kerr and Stewart Grainger
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Ah! Well, of course. Deborah Kerr and Stewart Granger join James Mason, Jane Greer and Kathleen Freeman in the 1952 version of Prisoner of Zenda. Not sure about the other folks, though.
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