Errol Flynn gives a superb performance as he stars in Mark Twain’s classic tale of two nearly identical boys from vastly different worlds who trade places as–The Prince and The Pauper. As Lady Jane Seymour (Joan Valerie), consort to King Henry VIII (Montagu Love) gives birth to Prince Edward Tudor (Bobby Mauch), Tom Canty (Billy Mauch) is born in slums not far from the palace. These two boys grow up in London–one in a life of privilege, the other in poverty–until one day they meet, realize they could pass as twins and decide to trade places for a day. But fate traps each in the other’s life, with only Miles Hendon (Flynn) as their ally. Now, their survival and the fate of a nation depend on these two boys convincing the royal court of their true identities. Underscored with the brilliant themes of Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and directed with spirit by William Keighley, this is the definitive film version of Twain’s great tale!

For thoughts on The Prince and The Pauper (1937), please check out our discussion on The Video Attic:

[youtube https://youtu.be/rA5oSfcdD2k?si=CrkNZC3m_6AyEcwz&t=65]

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents The Prince and The Pauper for the first time on Blu-Ray with a 1080p transfer sourced from a 4K scan of the Original Nitrate Camera Negative. It is starting to become difficult to express in new ways the utter brilliance of what Warner Archive accomplishes for film fans. This black-and-white feature has perfectly resolved natural film grain throughout which provides an unforgettable amount of detail to the image. You can gaze upon any article of clothing or production design and experience the unique textures on display. Print damage has been completely eradicated as you avoid nicks, scratches, or flicker. The presentation allows for a formidable amount of depth in every setting with no evidence of any black crush. Warner Archive is simply one of the best in the game.

Audio Quality

This Blu-Ray release comes with a newly restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that handles this material impeccably. There are no signs of damage or age-related wear and tear to the track. The score comes through with an unwavering fidelity without some of the issues that many films of this vintage experience. Dialogue comes through clearly throughout the duration with no trace of sibilance. The environmental effects and the music are capably balanced so that the dialogue never struggles for a foothold. This audio presentation accomplishes everything it needs to. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles available on the disc.

Special Features

Plenty Of Money and You: A seven-minute Merrie Melodies animated short is provided in which a chick ends up caring for a baby ostrich. This is provided in gorgeous HD.

Streamlined Greta Green: An eight-minute Merrie Melodies animated short is provided in which a young anthropomorphic car wants to grow up and be a taxi despite his mother’s objections. This is provided in gorgeous HD.

Sunbonnet Blue: A seven-and-a-half-minute Merrie Melodies animated short is provided in which two mice who are in love are upended by the efforts of a dastardly rat. This is provided in gorgeous HD.

Original Theatrical Trailer: The four-minute trailer is provided here.

Final Thoughts

The Prince and The Pauper is a terrific adaptation of the classic story with the perfect blend of storytelling prowess and grand spectacle. Errol Flynn is quite excellent as the star of the outing, but special notice should be given to Bobby and Billy Mauch as the titular pair. Even at nearly two hours, the story maintains a swell pace that never leaves you less than completely invested. Director William Keighley accomplished something special with this one. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a fantastic A/V presentation and a fun array of cartoons. This is the standout version of the story. Recommended

The Prince and The Pauper can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or various other online retailers. The film will be released on January 30, 2024.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.