Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

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 | Execution | Siberia | Rasputin | Russian Revolution

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, Girona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Horizon Pictures (II)

Trivia:

Audrey Hepburn was considered to play Alexandra.

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:

[drunk on opium]
Rasputin: I'm going to die soon, my friends. I've made my will. I won't live to see the new year. And it makes me angry.
[chuckles]
Rasputin: It's good to enjoy yourself with your friends, eh? I don't want to die.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

La Marseillaise

Great Movie..great acting!

I have always been fascinated by Russia's last tsar and his family. I have literally read dozens of books as well as articles about them. This movie puts into perspective what I have known all along. I came across this movie (VHS form) over 10 years ago. I've read Robert K Massie's book and although the movie can never be as concise as a book, it skillfully captures the mood and developed the plot really well as the movie progresses. The casting also deserved a big applause. Jayston and Suzman did a wonderful job portraying the real tsar and tsarista. The only thing I guess (and it is not fault of theirs) is perhaps better sounds and graphics. I had to turn up my volume really high to hear what they are saying especially if the actors speak softly as demanded by the mood of that scene. Oh well..it's the early 70's..what can we expect. Great movie...i would recommend it to everyone.