The Prisoner of Zenda

In June 1897, English gentleman Rudolf Rassendyll travels to Ruritania for a fishing vacation and notices the locals reacting oddly to him. He senses a mysterious likeness between himself and the kingdom's future king, which unsettles him. The unfolding situation pulls him deeper into a royal intrigue he did not seek.

Zapt and Captain Tarlenheim introduce him to Rudolf V, the soon-to-be-crowned king who bears an almost perfect resemblance to Rassendyll apart from the Englishman's mustache. The two men form a wary bond as they realize they resemble each other closely. Rudolf invites Rassendyll to stay at the royal hunting lodge.

They celebrate their new acquaintance by drinking late into the night. Rudolf drinks a wine given by his scheming half-brother Duke Michael and easily overindulges, falling into a stupor. The next morning he cannot be awakened, threatening the coronation.

With the coronation at stake and Rudolf unable to attend, Zapt convinces the reluctant Rassendyll to impersonate Rudolf for the ceremony. He agrees, aware that a mistaken identity could spark political disaster. The impersonation begins the moment of crisis for the crown.

During his masquerade, Rassendyll meets Rudolf V's betrothed, Princess Flavia. She had disliked the king but now sees him transformed into a better man. The two spend time together and gradually fall in love.

The impersonated king participates in the coronation, and the ceremony proceeds with the ruse seemingly secure. Rassendyll resumes his real identity briefly afterward, while the real king’s fate remains unsettled. The political tension remains high as the masquerade continues to hold.

After the coronation, the real Rudolf V is kidnapped by Rupert of Hentzau, forcing Rassendyll to maintain the disguise. Michael cannot denounce the ruse without incriminating himself. Rassendyll is thrust back into a dangerous game to locate the king.

Antoinette de Mauban, Michael's jealous French mistress, slips in and reveals to Rassendyll that the plan is a setup to kill him and that the king is being held in Michael's castle near Zenda. She promises to help rescue Rudolf and proposes a bold operation. Her information reframes the odds and rekindles hope.

With Antoinette and Captain Fritz von Tarlenheim, Rassendyll plans a rescue operation that includes one man swimming the moat while loyal troops storm the castle. The bold plan hinges on timing and courage, as the king’s life depends on their success. The stage is set for a dramatic nighttime assault.

Their carefully laid plan goes awry when Rupert discovers Michael attempting to seduce Antoinette and kills him. Antoinette, heartbroken, blurts out just enough to alert Rupert to the danger. The balance of loyalties shifts as Rassendyll scrambles to adapt.

Rassendyll fights and defeats the guards and then engages in a prolonged duel with Rupert while trying to lower the drawbridge to let Zapt and his men inside. He ultimately succeeds in breaking Rupert's resistance, and Rupert flees. The castle siege reaches its dramatic climax as the king’s captors are overwhelmed.

King Rudolf resumes his royal powers and duties, restoring order to the realm. Rassendyll tries to persuade Flavia to leave with him, but her devotion to duty proves stronger, making their parting both moving and bittersweet. The two lovers must part despite their feelings.

In the final scene, Zapt and von Tarlenheim escort Rassendyll to the border, where Fritz remarks that fate doesn't always make the right man king. Colonel Zapt salutes him, calling him 'the noblest Elphburg of them all,' as Rassendyll rides away beyond the border. The adventure closes with a quiet acknowledgment of personal sacrifice.