Rasputin: The Mad Monk (1966)

The movie chronicles the events of history's "man of mystery," Rasputin. Although not quite historically accurate and little emphasis is put on the politics of the day, Rasputin's rise to ... See full summary »

Director:

Don Sharp

Writer:

Anthony Hinds

Stars:

Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Richard Pasco

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Christopher Lee	...	Grigori Rasputin
Barbara Shelley	...	Sonia
Richard Pasco	...	Dr. Zargo
Francis Matthews	...	Ivan
Suzan Farmer	...	Vanessa
Dinsdale Landen	...	Peter
Renée Asherson	...	Tsarina
Derek Francis	...	Innkeeper
Joss Ackland	...	The Bishop
Robert Duncan	...	Tsarvitch
Alan Tilvern	...	Patron
John Welsh	...	The Abbot
John Bailey	...	The Physician
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Michael Ripper	...	Waggoner (voice)

Storyline

The movie chronicles the events of history's "man of mystery," Rasputin. Although not quite historically accurate and little emphasis is put on the politics of the day, Rasputin's rise to power and eventual assassination are depicted in an attempt to explain his extraordinary power and influence.

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Plot Keywords:

rasputin | assassination | hypnotism | physician | drinking | 

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Taglines:

Ladies' Man - And Lady Killer!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 April 1966 (USA)

Also Known As:

Raspoutine, le moine fou

Filming Locations:

Black Park, Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hammer Film Productions, Seven Arts Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Christopher Lee and Francis Matthews spent several days filming an extended fight sequence for the film's ending. Eventually, much to Matthews's disappointment, most of the scene ended up on the cutting-room floor, leaving his bloody lip in the penultimate shot unexplained.

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Goofs

During the fight in the barn, Rasputin brings the blade down on his opponent's left arm, just below the elbow, and yet it is the right hand, cut off just above the wrist, that ends up on the floor.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Doctor: No point in me staying here any longer. Keep her warm. If she recovers consciousness, give her a little brandy.
Innkeeper: And if she doesn't, doctor?
Doctor: Send for the priest.
Innkeeper: Oh God.
Doctor: Nothing more I can do.

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Connections

Referenced in Evil Deeds 2 (2010)

User Reviews

Another classic Hammer film!!

I've read quite a few reviews of this film shunning it do to lack of historical fact or shoddy scriptwriting. Obviously these people have no clue about what Hammer films are and what they're meant to be. This film is another Hammer classic, hilarious and well-acted, excellent quality cinematography, and not to be taken the slightest bit seriously.

Christopher Lee is *the* hammer actor (well...with Peter Cushing running a close second;), and he plays the *perfect* Rasputin! The evil dictator laugh down-pat, the eyes are beyond eerie, and even his gait, his posture, his body language all work perfectly. And Barbara Shelley is definitely a solid, stereotypical, 'femi-victim', and she plays beautifully off of Lee.

The only qualm I have about this film is the ending, which was a touch too anti-climactic...although I bought the special edition with trailers and TV spots at the end which improved the ending dramatically (I wish I could find one of those 'free Rasputin beards'...)

Overall: This is not one of the best Hammer films, it's not Blood of Dracula or The Devil Rides Out...but it's up there, and it has all the great elements: cheezy soft-gore effects (love that severed hand!!), *almost* nudity, maniacal laughter, tension-riddled music...it's fun from beginning to end! 7/10.