Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

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

Director:

Franklin J. Schaffner

Writers:

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

Stars:

Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, Roderic Noble

Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 11 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

The tragic story of Nicholas II, the last Czar of Russia, set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution. It is an inside look into the private lives of Nicholas and his wife Alexandra, their daughters, and the painful secret which bound the Imperial Couple to the mystical Rasputin, and the eventual execution of the entire family.

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Plot Keywords:

czar | rasputin | czarina | execution | siberia | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

GP

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French German Russian

Release Date:

13 December 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

Nicholas y Alexandra

Filming Locations:

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

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Horizon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

183 min

Sound Mix:

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

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

First cinema film of John Shrapnel.

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Goofs

Yurovsky is played by Alan Webb, who turned 65 in the year the film was released. In reality, Yakov Yurovski had recently turned 39 when he held the Romanovs in custody and participated in their execution.

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Quotes

Tsar Nicholas II: Alexei spends all day with you. You hardly ever come to meals. I hardly ever seem to see you anymore.
Tsarina Alexandra: My place is where I am needed most.
Tsar Nicholas II: It must be hard to have so many people need you. I'll be patient. If I wait, my turn will come.

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Connections

Version of Rasputin the Mad Monk (1932)

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Soundtracks

"Wiegenlied (Cradle Song) Op.49, No.4"
(uncredited)
Music by Johannes Brahms
Words from Des Knaben Wunderhorn
Sung by Alexandra

User Reviews

historically accurate, dramatically flat

This picture is historically quite accurate, a good history lesson. Unfortunately, as drama, it is quite dreary. The score is essentially non-existent. The cast in workmanlike but uninspiring as is the directing. The script, too, is factual and well done as history but never quite rises to great drama. In other words, this is no 'Dr. Zhivago'. The film makers rather hammered home the fact that Nicholas and Alexandra 'loved' each other, but it never rises to the passion or interest of Zhivago and Laura.

Perhaps the real problem are Nicholas and Alexandra themselves. They were average, decent, conscientious, church going people as we would know them today. Nicholas would have risen to middle management, would have been a good lieutenant in the Fire Department.

But that's the dramatic problem, they were just pretty damned average people placed in extraordinary power and circumstances in which they were completely unsuited to cope. They have no intrinsic interest themselves anymore than your neighbors do. Do you want to sit through a three hour picture about your neighbor? How 'bout a three hour movie about Paris Hilton? No….. rich but boring.

The areas the picture does excel is in costumes and sets, where it quite justly won Academy awards. However, this is not sufficient to redeem it.

If you are someone who is not inclined to read a book but would like to know something of the history of this period, this would be an excellent picture for you to view. However, if you are already well versed in the subject the movie will seem rather dull.