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Prins for en dag
Also known as [His Highness the Prince]
(1913) Denmark
B&W : Three reels
Directed by Eduard Schnedler-Sørensen
Cast: Carl Alstrup [Prince Karl Heinrich; Journalist Herbert], Lauritz Olsen [Robert Herrick], Oscar Stribolt [the mayor of Waldeck], Olga Svendsen [the mayor’s wife], Zanny Petersen [Grethe], Frederik Buch [Baller, the counsellor], Paula Ruff, Ingeborg Jensen, Kristian Møllback, Franz Skondrup, Agnes Andersen, Philip Bech, Johanne Fritz-Petersen, Carl Hintz, Betzy Kofoed, Bernhard Lehmann, Albert Luther, Carl Schenstrøm
Nordisk Films Kompagni production; distributed by [?] Nordisk Films Kompagni or Fotorama? / Cinematography by Franz Louis Engel and Carl Ferdinand Fischer. Released 11 December 1913. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the USA by Great Northern Film Company in May 1914.
Drama.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Prince Heinrich and Herbert Prince, a journalist, are very similar in build and facial resemblance, although neither is aware of the fact. Therein lies the secret of the memorable day the journalist enjoyed. Prince Heinrich, bored over billiards in the officer’s quarters of his regiment, discards the game to take a brief nap, the journalist was involuntarily (at first) feted in his stead. Herbert has been granted leave of absence, and, before departing from his duties, persuades his friend. Bob Garrick, to accompany him. While Bob is busy packing, Herbert shaves off his moustache. It is then that the resemblance to Prince Heinrich is most marked, particularly as both Prince and journalist affect monocles. But neither Herbert nor Bob is aware of the resemblance and do not reckon when en route for the distant city of Waldeck that they are marked out for the distinction that awaits them. The solitary passenger who shares their compartment, a tubby smiling little individual, is the first to mistake the identity of the journalist. Seeing a photograph of Prince Heinrich in his newspaper, he promptly concludes that he is facing the prince traveling incognito. Elated over his discovery he notifies all passengers and soon the journalist and his companion are the object of many courtly bows and courtesies. For some time they both imagine they are surrounded by lunatics, but when Herbert is addressed as the Prince, it at length brings enlightenment to their understanding. Councilor Hall, their little associate, wires the mayor of Waldeck of the impending arrival of the Prince and counseling an official reception. When Herbert and Bob observe all the civic dignitaries awaiting them, and entering into the spirit of the jest of mistaken identity, they decide to go through with what has been thrust upon them without seeking. Herbert acts as though of manner born; his majestic mien and urbane courtliness impressing all with whom he comes in contact, albeit Bob, for the nonce acting as his valet, has occasionally to resort to strong measures to keep the Prince up to concert pitch in maintaining his august position. From the railway station, Herbert and Bob proceed with ceremony to the hotel, where apartments have been arranged for their reception and where everyone, from proprietor to call boy, shows the greatest deference to the pair. They manage to retain their gravity till they reach their apartments and then they can contain themselves no longer. Their merriment is suddenly checked. A deputation headed by the be-whiskered mayor enters upon them, soliciting the honor of their presence at a banquet. The pair accept and have a gay time, although Bob’s enjoyment is tinged with a little bitterness in that he has to act throughout as the Prince's private valet. Herbert shows strong partiality for the corpulent mayor’s winsome little daughter, and while the company is enjoying the wine and walnuts, he makes the most of his opportunities to improve his acquaintance. He is caught in the act of a kiss and as a compensation to the mayor for his injured feelings, promises to confer upon him and his companion. Councilor Hall, the coveted order of the Golden Eagle. While their enjoyment is at its height the real Prince Heinrich reads in his paper of his own visit to a nearby town and the cordial reception given by its inhabitants. At a loss to understand what it means, he telephones to the hotel Waldeck and is told the Prince is still there. Eager to learn the facts of the case, he summons his aide-de-camp and they speed to Waldeck. Upon reaching the hotel he finds the room to which the Prince has returned and proceeds thither. The mayor and Councilor Hall are wakened from their maudlin state at the sight of Prince Heinrich and at a respectable distance follow in his wake, expecting dire consequences will be the outcome of the masquerade on the part of the men they feted. Herbert, too, is aghast at the appearance of the Prince, but when he explains that he entered involuntarily into them through being mistaken for the Prince, with the view of getting excellent copy for his paper, the Prince joins in Herbert’s laughter to the discomfiture of the two officials. To save the dignity of the civic pair, the Prince endorses the gift of the order of the Golden Eagle, and after saying a kindly word to the mayor’s daughter (whose faith in Herbert is still unshattered) he also confers a decoration upon Herbert, conditionally he says with a laugh, that Herbert, in future, wear a moustache.
Reviews: [The Moving Picture World, 30 May 1914, page ?] A three-reel picture, wholly amusing and filled with delicious satire; it will make a decided hit. The real fun of the offering is in its characters, of which there are many and at which it pokes convincing fun, but the plot is also very amusing. It makes a journalist, whose last name is Prince and who looks like Prince Henrick, let a comical and yet entirely human council of a small city entertain him as the prince. The prince learns of this and comes to town in his uniform, but takes it all as a good joke. It is a commendable picture in every way, acting, photography and general handling, and a very desirable offering.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: (unknown) [Denmark]; Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 26 November 2022.
References: Tarbox-Lost p. 207 : Website-IMDb.
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