Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Franklin J. Schaffner

Writers:

Edward Bond (additional dialogue)
James Goldman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

13 December 1971 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | War

Plot:

Czar Nicholas II, the inept monarch of Russia, insensitive to the needs of his people, is overthrown and exiled to Siberia with his family.

Plot Keywords:

Czar | Russian Revolution | Execution | Siberia | Rasputin

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 11 nominations

Cast

Michael Jayston	...	Nicholas
Janet Suzman	...	Alexandra
Roderic Noble	...	Alexis
Ania Marson	...	Olga
Lynne Frederick	...	Tatiana
Candace Glendenning	...	Marie
Fiona Fullerton	...	Anastasia
Harry Andrews	...	Grand Duke Nicholas (Nikolasha)
Irene Worth	...	The Queen Mother Marie Fedorovna
Tom Baker	...	Rasputin
Jack Hawkins	...	Count Fredericks
Timothy West	...	Dr. Botkin
Katherine Schofield	...	Tegleva
Jean-Claude Drouot	...	Gilliard
John Hallam	...	Nagorny

Runtime:

183 min | UK:189 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | French | German | Russian

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) (UK release) | Mono (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:PG (video rating) (1986) | USA:GP (original rating) | USA:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Sa Conca Beach, S'Agaró, Castell-Paltja d'Aro, Girona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Horizon Pictures (II)

Trivia:

The last cinema film of Sir Michael Redgrave.

Goofs:

Factual errors: In the final scene of the film, just before she is shot, Alexandra crosses herself from left to right in the Roman Catholic fashion rather than from right to left, the Russian Orthodox way, that she did correctly in all other scenes in which she made the Sign of the Cross.

Quotes:

[the Queen Mother is visiting the Tsar at his military base]
Queen Mother Maria Fedorova: I came to congratulate you, Nicky.
Tsar Nicholas II: What for?
Queen Mother Maria Fedorova: For finding, out of all Russia's countless cretins, idiots and incompetents the men least qualified to run your government.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Charlie Rose Show: Quentin Tarantino" (1994)

Soundtrack:

Pas de deux

Nicky And Alicky - Interesting Piece If Somewhat Flawed

This is a beautifully filmed epic, but let me forewarn you that it's not always accurate (but then, few are). Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman excel as the doomed Imperial couple, whose love for each other and their children is touching, but whose incapability to rule their country makes them appear insensitive to their subjects. Tom Baker as the infamous Grigory Rasputin fits the bill for the role, and he even manages to insert bits of humor in this much portrayed character. The incomparable Sir Laurence Olivier is impeccable in his turn as Witte. One of the most memorable scenes is the murder of Rasputin, again, somewhat fictionalized but highly watchable and entertaining. Martin Potter (Prince Felix Yussopov) is fascinating and repellent, while Richard Warwick (RIP) as Grand Duke Dmitry is boyishly and deliciously captivating. Irene Worth as the Dowager Empress is so natural, and the majority of the characters (I've noted some exceptions below) came off very well. The reconstruction of Bloody Sunday, WW1, and the execution were expertly presented.

However, several scenes (some not included in the video release, but restored on DVD) are fictionalized or downright false. On the DVD, for example, the part where Grand Duchess Tatiana (the late Lynne Fredrick, RIP) exposes herself to a Bolshevik guard in Ekaterinburg is fabricated and ridiculous. The supposed 'attempted suicide' by Alexei was again misrepresented - the actual incident which occurred at Tobolsk was accidental. Yakovlev (Sir Ian Holm) is portrayed as a hating, nasty man, when in actuality, he treated the Czar and his family with the utmost respect, despite his membership with the Bolsheviks. Jacob Yurovsky (Alan Webb) is shown to be a kind, elderly gentleman, which he was most certainly not. The Imperial daughters were not given much to do, and their characters were never fully developed. We pretty much had to guess which daughter each actress was portraying (until the climax), and the actresses did not resemble the real people at all!!! The eldest daughter was too dark-haired, thin-lipped and sharp-featured (not to say that she was unattractive), while the second was the wrong physical type, the third again had hair that was too dark, wrong body type and was too short. The youngest was too tall, and her hair was too light. And those 70s hairstyles!!! I guess I'm too picky, but considering the excellent job of casting with the main characters, they were way off here!!!

On the whole, worthwhile viewing, but I recommend that people read biographies of the Romanovs before seeing the movie, and try to get it on DVD if possible. The final scene is hard to watch (at least I thought so) and on the DVD print watch for 'movie mistakes'!!! But don't miss it. And oh, those costumes and locations!!!!!

An interesting note: John Wood, who plays Colonel Koblinsky here, later played Prime Minister Stolypin in 'Rasputin: Dark Servant Of Destiny'.

"Take your girls - or, your boys - frolic in the provinces, but get him out of here!!!!!"