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

Lindsay Anderson was asked to direct.

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Goofs

Peter Arkadiavitch Stolypin, who was the Prime Minister of Russia from 1906-1911, mentions the Tercentenary in his meeting with Nicholas in Livadia. He is also present when the Tercentenary takes place. In reality, this would be an impossibility, as Stolypin was assassinated in 1911, and the Tercentenary takes place in 1913.

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Quotes

[after Nagorny saves Alexei from falling off a rock he was climbing]
Tsarevich Alexei: It's all right, Nagorny. You'll always save me.

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Connections

Version of Rasputin the Mad Monk (1932)

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Soundtracks

"Don Quixote: Pas de deux"
(uncredited)
Music by Ludwig Minkus

User Reviews

Wonderful!

Nicholas was King George V's cousin and Alexandra was Queen Victoria's granddaughter, so the casting of British actors Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman was a stroke of genius (and they are hardly "unknown" actors, at least in Britain). You actually believe they ARE the couple. Michael Jayston is truly remarkable as Nicholas and even resembles him. The rest of the cast is superb, especially Tom Baker's portrayal as Rasputin . . . marvelous!

The movie sticks pretty much to the facts. Keep in mind, Nicholas was not a bad man, but he didn't want to be Czar. He would have preferred to be a potato farmer. You feel the fear growing as Nicholas and his family slowly withdraw into their own world because of Alexis' Hemophilia. Nichola's stand that "God meant for me to rule" causes him to rarely listen to the good advice of the people around him and not heed the warning that he not go to the front to "take charge." Add to this the rumor of Alexandra being a German spy, Rasputin's death by Prince Yusupov and Grand Duke Dimitry, the loss of thousands of soldiers, the starving Russian people . . . and Nicholas leaves the door wide open for Lenin and his eventual return to power. After he abdicates, he and his family are shuttled around until they end up in Ekaterinburg and "The House of Special Purpose."

This is a great movie. See it if you have a long afternoon with nothing to do, you won't regret it.

BTW, the DVD version adds deleted scenes that sew up some loose ends.