TWO WEEKS' DUEL
A sword duel lasting almost two weeks and ranging over 60 acres ended with Ronald Colman and Douglas Fairbanks, jun., being given a draw. Fairbanks, battling under the name of Rupert of Hentzau, ended the fencing battle with a return engagement indicated. Colman, as Rudolf Rassendyll, retired to a neutral corner with the love of the beautiful Princess Flavia, played by Madeleine Carroll, as his reward. The duel, which was under the direction of John Cromwell, started in a castle dungeon on Stage 8. transferred to the guard room of the castle on Stage 9, wound through subterranean corridors on Stage 7, moved to the castle’s great hall on Stage 11, continued in a wine cellar on Stage 14, and wound up with a 35-foot leap into a water-filled moat on Stage 11. Throughout the battle the principals were attended by a camera crew, property men, make-up workers, electricians. and a crew of some 40 followers, who took a neutral attitude throughout the conflict. The duelling scenes obtained from Ihe struggle were incorporated into “The Prisoner of Zenda." David O Selznick’s production, with Madeleine Carroll in the leading feminine role. Although they required almost a fortnight to film, on the screen they run 'css than 10 minutes.
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Bibliographic details
Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 2 April 1938, Page 4
Word Count
210TWO WEEKS' DUEL Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 2 April 1938, Page 4
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