The Prince and the Pauper (1937 film)
| The Prince and the Pauper | |
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| Directed by |
William Keighley William Dieterle (uncredited) |
| Produced by |
Jack L. Warner (uncredited exec. producer) Hal B. Wallis (uncredited exec. producer) |
| Screenplay by |
Laird Doyle Catherine Chisholm Cushing |
| Based on |
The Prince and the Pauper by Mark Twain |
| Starring |
Errol Flynn Billy and Bobby Mauch Claude Rains |
| Music by | Erich Wolfgang Korngold |
| Cinematography |
Sol Polito George Barnes |
| Edited by | Ralph Dawson |
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. |
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Release date
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Running time
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118 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $858,000 |
| Box office | $1,691,000 |
The Prince and the Pauper is a 1937 film adaptation of the novel of the same name by Mark Twain. It starred Errol Flynn, twins Billy and Bobby Mauch in the title roles, and Claude Rains.
The film was originally intended to coincide with the coronation of King Edward VIII in 1936. However, its release was delayed until the following year. The film released on May 8, 1937, days before the May 12, 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.
The second theme of the final movement of Erich Wolfgang Korngold's violin concerto was drawn from the music he composed for this film.
In Tudor England, two boys are born on the same day in the most different circumstances imaginable. Tom (Billy Mauch) is the son of vicious criminal John Canty (Barton MacLane), while Edward VI (Bobby Mauch) is a prince and the heir of King Henry VIII of England (Montagu Love). One grows up in poverty, hungering for something better for himself and his family, the other in isolated luxury, with a strong curiosity about the outside world.
When they are youngsters, they meet and are astounded by their striking resemblance to each other. As a prank, they exchange clothes, but the Captain of the Guard (Alan Hale, Sr.) mistakes the prince for the pauper and throws him out of the palace grounds.
Tom is unable to convince anybody except for the Earl of Hertford (Claude Rains) of his identity. Everyone else is convinced that he is mentally ill. When Henry VIII dies, Hertford threatens to expose Tom unless he does as he is told. Hertford also blackmails the Captain into searching for the real prince to eliminate the dangerous loose end.
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