Nicholas and Alexandra
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| Nicholas and Alexandra | |
|---|---|
 original movie poster |
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| Directed by | Franklin J. Schaffner |
| Written by | James Goldman (screenplay) Robert K. Massie (book) |
| Starring | Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman |
| Music by | Richard Rodney Bennett |
| Cinematography | Freddie Young |
| Release date(s) |  United Kingdom November 29, 1971 |
| Running time | 189 minutes |
| IMDb profile | |
Nicholas and Alexandra is a 1971 biographical film which tells the story of the last of Russia's monarchs, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia and his wife, the Tsarina Alexandra.
The movie was adapted by James Goldman from the book by Robert K. Massie. It was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner.
It won Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration and Best Costume Design, and was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Janet Suzman), Best Cinematography, Best Music, Original Dramatic Score and Best Picture.
Contents |
[edit] Cast
- Michael Jayston (Nicholas II)
- Janet Suzman (Alexandra)
- Roderic Noble (Alexei)
- Ania Marson (Olga)
- Lynne Frederick (Tatiana)
- Candace Glendenning (Maria)
- Fiona Fullerton (Anastasia)
- Laurence Olivier (Count Witte)
- Harry Andrews (Grand Duke Nicholas)
- Irene Worth (The Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna)
- Tom Baker (Rasputin)
- Jack Hawkins (Count Fredericks)
- Ian Holm (Comissar Yakovlev)
- Timothy West (Dr. Botkin).
[edit] Plot summary
The story begins with the birth of the Tsarevich Alexei in the opulent surroundings of the Imperial Court. The Russo-Japanese War is on, and Tsar Nicholas' advisers warn him that this war is futile and costing too many lives. They also tell him that the Russian people want a representative government, health care and voting and workers' rights, but Nicholas wants to keep to the traditional autocracy left to him by his forefathers. Meanwhile, underground political parties led by Lenin, Stalin and Trotsky have formed.
Alexei is soon diagnosed with hemophilia. The Tsarina is frantic. A shy German lady who is not highly thought of by the Russian royal court, she is somewhat isolated, but is befriended by Grigori Rasputin, a Siberian peasant who describes himself as a religious pilgrim or holy man, and who's become popular with some people at court. Later she calls upon him to help her pray for Alexei, and comes to believe in his healing abilities.
In a textile mill, working under ghastly conditions, the people are encouraged by their priest, Father George Gapon. He leads them, joined by many other peasant workers, in a clearly peaceful procession to the Winter Palace, intending to present a petition to the Tsar. Hundreds of soldiers stand ready in front of the palace; their commanding officer tells them to shoot up in the air, but he falls from his horse, there is a panic, and the soldiers proceed to fire randomly into the crowd. Nicholas is horrified when he hears of the massacre, but admits he wouldn't have granted the people's requests. (Bloody Sunday)
Eight years later, on the 300th anniversary of Romanov rule, the family vacations in the Crimea. Alexei is a very lively little boy who is constantly prevented from leading a normal life. Nicholas gets police reports about Rasputin's dissolute behavior, and dismisses him from the court. Alexandra demands his return. She knows Alexei's hemophilia was inherited from her, and is wracked with guilt. She is obsessed with the thought that Rasputin can stop the bleeding attacks when they occur.
Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin has granted some of the people's requests in order to preserve the Empire, but he is shot at an opera performance in Kiev. Nicholas retaliates not only by executing the killer, but by closing the Duma and allowing police to terrorize the peasants and burn their homes.
Alexei has a minor fall, which leads to the worst attack yet. It is presumed that he will die. The Tsaritsa writes a letter to Rasputin, who soon responds with words of comfort and confidence. Sure enough, the Tsarevich recovers, and Rasputin is allowed to return.
World War I begins with the assassination of Archduke Ferdinand, and soon thereafter Germany declares war on Russia. Nicholas decides to command the troops himself and leaves for the front, taking over from his much more experienced cousin, Grand Duke Nicholas. This leaves Alexandra in charge at home. Under Rasputin's influence and her own conservative inclinations, she makes unwise decisions. Very few people have been told about Alexei's illness or how Rasputin is (apparently) helping him, so it looks like the Tsaritsa is losing her mind, or perhaps having an affair with Rasputin. On a sort of drunken whim, two decadent young princes, Grand Duke Dmitri and Prince Felix Yusupov, invite Rasputin to an opium party and kill him in December, 1916.
Deprived of her one trusted advisor, Alexandra becomes unable to cope. Workers are on strike everywhere. The army is ill supplied. Starving and freezing, they mutiny, and St. Petersburg is overrun with them. Nicholas is forced to abdicate, not only for himself but for Alexei, who is furious when he hears this, and becomes withdrawn, believing that the family will soon perish.
They are brought to Siberia in mid-1917, where they live under peasant conditions with rough but decent guards. In late 1917, Russia falls into the hands of the Bolshevik party, the one revolutionary group that nobody took seriously. The family is transferred to Yekaterinburg, under even harsher conditions. In a final tragic scene, the family are shown reading letters from friends, relatives and teachers. Only Alexei remains sober and aloof, sensing what is about to happen. Told they're to be sent to another city, the family pack their things and wait in the cellar. Their keeper and his assistants enter the room, as Alexi kisses his father for the last time. They point their guns at the family, causing Olga and Tatania to scream, Maria to run into the doctor's arm and Alexandra to cross herself. Then they open fire, and the first bullet goes through Nicolas' hand. The end scene shows the wall covered in blood.
[edit] Fact vs. Fiction
Some elements of the movie have been cited as being given creative license, as not being entirely factual.
- When the Romanovs are executed, not a word is spoken to them prior to their death. Most historical accounts indicate that an execution order was read to them beforehand.
- The party at which Rasputin is poisoned is disputed, partly because of the uncertainty on the part of historians over what really happened that night. The scene is thus based on the legend of Rasputin's murder, as crafted by Yussupov over many tellings. Rasputin's death is portrayed accurately in that he still lived after the poisoning and numerous gunshot wounds.
- Stolypin's assassination is portrayed accurately, but actually took place in 1911. Stolypin is shown as being present at the Tercentary, which wasn't until 1913.
[edit] External links
