Lewis Stone stars in a double role in this romantic costume adventure drama. Rudolf Rassenyll is a British vacationer in the mythical country of Ruritania. He is a dead ringer for Rudolf, the drunken monarch awaiting his coronation. His evil brother Rupert of Hentzau (Ramon Novarro) drugs the king, but the British look-alike replaces him on the throne to thwart a coup attempt. Black Michael (Stuart Holmes) discovers the switch and kidnaps the real king, holding him prisoner in the dungeon of Zenda. Rudolf rescues the captive monarch with the help of Princess Flavia (Alice Terry) and wins the heart of the grateful damsel. Robert Edelson, Barbara LaMarr, Stuart Holmes, and Malcolm McGregor also appear with Lois Lee and Edward Connelly in this silent classic. Screen heartthrob Ramon Novarro was still using the last name of Samaniegos at the time of the film. This was his film debut, and the handsome leading man would later rival Rudolph Valentino in popularity.