When the King is drugged on the eve of his coronation, his aides persuade his look-alike cousin to impersonate him at the ceremony. The King is kidnapped, and the imposter must continue the charade as they attempt to find and rescue the King.

SYNOPSIS:

Goaded into traveling to Ruritania, RUDOLF RASSENDYLL quickly realizes the enormity of his mistake when he meets his cousin, KING RUDOLPH, Ruritania’s new king.Rudolf is an exact double for his cousin, a stark reminder of their family’s scandalous past, as the Rassendyll’s are the illegitimate branch of the royal family.

On the eve of his coronation, King Rudolph is drugged by his brother, PRINCE MICHAEL, in an attempt to seize the throne. The King’s closest aides, SAPT and FRITZ, convince Rudolf to stand in for the King. When Rudolf arrives at the cathedral, Michael sends his man, HENTZAU, to find out what went wrong. Sapt and Rudolf return to Michael’s lodge to discover the King has been kidnapped and his servant murdered.

Rudolf has no choice but to continue the charade as they attempt to find the King. He fights his growing attraction for PRINCESS FLAVIA, a woman the King must marry to maintain the peace between their two countries. Flavia likes this new “King Rudolph,” and falls in love with him, never suspecting he’s not the real King.

Hentzau uses Michael’s mistress, ANTOINETTE de MAUBAN, to bait a trap for Rudolf. Hentzau springs the trap, attempting to kill Rudolf, but Rudolf manages to escape.

Fritz learns Michael and Hentzau are holding the King prisoner at the King’s mountain castle at Zenda. The castle is a crumbling ruin, nearly uninhabitable, and impossible to breach.

Rudolf returns to Zenda, and is shot and killed on his way to the lodge. The dead man turns out to be a decoy. Rudolf makes a quick appearance in town, where he is seen by Hentzau. Hentzau returns to the castle, informing Michael and the King that Rudolf is still alive. Hentzau taunts the King about the loving relationship between Rudolf and Flavia.

Hentzau arrives at the lodge, intent on kill Rudolf. Rudolf strikes a bargain with Hentzau. Rudolf is in love with Flavia, and intends to keep her and the throne for himself. If Hentzau will kill Michael, Rudolf will sneak into the castle and kill the King.

Rudolf rides out to see what’s left of the castle. Sapt tells him the mountain is honeycombed with tunnels, the remnants of an ancient Roman fortress. Many of the tunnels have collapsed, bringing down portions of the mountain and the castle. Despite the danger, Rudolf decides to attempt to enter the castle through the tunnels.

Rudolf, Sapt and Fritz enter the tunnels. A cave-in separates Rudolf from the others, forcing him to go on alone. The tunnel leads him to Hentzau’s chamber. He is spotted by Antoinette, who agrees to keep Michael and Hentzau occupied while he looks for the King.

Antoinette tries to find the entrance to the tunnel, when she is caught by Hentzau. She quickly covers, allowing Hentzau to seduce her. Michael walks in on them and, in a jealous rage, tries to kill Hentzau. But Hentzau kills Michael. Antoinette lets slip that Rudolf is in the castle. Hentzau goes after him.

Rudolf finds his way down to the King’s prison cell. He battles the two Guards, killing them both. He releases the King, but Hentzau stops them before they can escape.

With the castle surrounded by Rudolf’s men, Rudolf convinces Hentzau to spare the King’s life in exchange for a way out. Instead of showing Hentzau the tunnels, Rudolf turns on him, the two engaging in a down-and-dirty battle to the death with anything they can get their hands on (armor, swords, battleaxes, etc.). Rudolf is nearly killed, saved by Fritz’s arrival through the now-cleared tunnels. Fritz saves Rudolf’s life, giving Hentzau time to escape.

Flavia confronts Rudolf for lying to her. She tries to hold on to her anger, but she can’t. She loves him too much. Rudolf begs Flavia to leave with him, but she reminds him she’s duty-bound to marry the King.

Rudolf returns home a changed man, unable to tell anyone what happened.

THE PRISONER OF ZENDA