Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

Director:

Franklin J. Schaffner

Writers:

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

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 | Rasputin | Czarina | Execution | Siberia

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 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
Guy Rolfe	...	Dr. Fedorov
John Wood	...	Col. Kobylinsky
Laurence Olivier	...	Count Witte
Eric Porter	...	Stolypin
Michael Redgrave	...	Sazonov
Maurice Denham	...	Kokovtsov
Ralph Truman	...	Rodzianko
Gordon Gostelow	...	Guchkov
John McEnery	...	Kerensky
Michael Bryant	...	Lenin
Vivian Pickles	...	Mme. Krupskaya
Brian Cox	...	Trotsky
James Hazeldine	...	Stalin
Stephen Greif	...	Martov
Steven Berkoff	...	Pankratov
Ian Holm	...	Yakovlev
Alan Webb	...	Yurovsky
Leon Lissek	...	Avadeyev
David Giles	...	Goloshchekin
Roy Dotrice	...	General Alexeiev
Martin Potter	...	Prince Yussoupov
Richard Warwick	...	Grand Duke Dimitry
Vernon Dobtcheff	...	Dr. Lazovert
Alexander Knox	...	The American Ambassador
Ralph Neville	...	The British Ambassador
George Rigaud	...	The French Ambassador (as Jorge Rigaud)
Curd Jürgens	...	The German Consul (as Curt Jurgens)
Julian Glover	...	Gapon
John Shrapnel	...	Petya
Diana Quick	...	Sonya
John Forbes-Robertson	...	Col. Voikov
Alan Dalton	...	Flautist
David Baxter	...	Young Bolshevik
Penny Sugg	...	Young Opera Singer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robin Askwith	...	Russian Soldier (uncredited)
Barta Barri	...	(uncredited)
Frank Braña	...	(uncredited)
Jeremy Brett	...	(uncredited)
Don Jaime de Mora y Aragón	...	Minister Reporting to Grand Duke Nicholas (uncredited)

Directed by
Franklin J. Schaffner

Writing credits
Edward Bond		(additional dialogue)
James Goldman		(screenplay)
Robert K. Massie		book

Produced by
Andrew Donally	....	associate producer
Franklin J. Schaffner	....	producer (as Franklin · J · Schaffner)
Sam Spiegel	....	producer

Original Music by
Richard Rodney Bennett

Cinematography by
Freddie Young

Film Editing by
Ernest Walter

Casting by
Maude Spector

Production Design by
John Box

Art Direction by
Ernest Archer
Jack Maxsted
Gil Parrondo

Costume Design by
Yvonne Blake

Makeup Department
A.G. Scott	....	hair stylist
Neville Smallwood	....	makeup artist
Paquita Trench	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Luis Roberts	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Box	....	second unit director
José López Rodero	....	assistant director (as Jose Lopez Rodero)
Miguel Gil	....	first assistant director: second unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Vernon Dixon	....	set dresser
Eddie Fowlie	....	property master
Robert W. Laing	....	assistant art director (as Bob Laing)
Alan Roderick-Jones	....	assistant art director
Gus Walker	....	construction manager (as Angus Walker)
Benjamín Fernández	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Julián Martín	....	painter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Gerry Humphreys	....	sound recordist
Winston Ryder	....	sound editor
George Stephenson	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Eddie Fowlie	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Gerald Larn	....	matte painter (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Manuel Berenguer	....	cameraman: second unit
Ernest Day	....	camera operator

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Betty Adamson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Antonio Castillo	....	costumes: Alexandra & Marie Fedorovna
Anthony Powell	....	costumes: second unit
John Wilson-Apperson	....	wardrobe supervisor

Music Department
Marcus Dods	....	conductor
Christopher Gunning	....	additional music: Arranged and conducted by
New Philharmonia Orchestra	....	orchestra

Other crew
Phyllis Crocker	....	continuity
David Giles	....	dialogue coordinator
John Mollo	....	uniform and military advisor
Sam Spiegel	....	presenter
Patrick Isherwood	....	assistant accountant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)
• Horizon Pictures

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1971) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia-Warner Distributors (1971) (UK) (theatrical)
• Warner-Columbia Films (1971) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1987) (USA) (VHS)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video (1991) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1999) (USA) (DVD)
• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1975) (USA) (TV) (pan/scan)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2002) (UK) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (1998) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (????) (Brazil) (DVD)
• LK-TEL Vídeo (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• LK-TEL (19??) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Pioneer Entertainment (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• RCA/Columbia Pictures Video Ltd. (1986) (UK) (VHS) (pan/scan)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Video Collection International (1992) (UK) (VHS) (pan/scan)

Other Companies

• Royal Shakespeare Company  courtesy of: Janet Suzman
• National Theatre  courtesy of: Tom Baker & Laurence Olivier (as The National Theatre of G.B.)
• Jadran Film  technical facilities (uncredited)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

183 min | UK:189 min

Country:

USA

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:

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 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:13 | Peru:14 | Netherlands:18 (orginal rating)

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Yul Brynner actively sought the role of Rasputin.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When one of Nicholas' advisers goes to meet with him on his train, he arrives in a 1930 Ford Model A. This scene is set during World War One (1914-1918)

Quotes:

[after the 'Bloody Sunday' massacre]
Father Gapon:He never came... Nicholas the Murderer. The bloody, bloody murderer.

Movie Connections:

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

Soundtrack:

Russlan and Ludmila, Act II, Scene 3

Overlong and a little slow, but a sumptuous and absorbing film

I was really interested in seeing this film, I am intrigued by the story of the Romanovs and when I saw the cast I was like it looks as though I was in for a good film. When I did see it, I was impressed. It isn't perfect though, for one thing at 165 or so minutes it is too long, consequently some scenes felt drawn out and very padded. Pacing was a problem too, I am not saying that Nicholas and Alexandra is the only film to suffer from this problem because it isn't, but there are moments where the film does drag. Finally, there were moments towards the end where it could have done with more drama. The Romanovs's deaths especially could have been chilling, instead whereas I felt sad and angry at how any family could be killed in such a way, the actual scene itself wasn't quite as powerful as it could have been.

Flaws aside, Nicholas and Alexandra is sumptuous to look at. The cinematography looks fabulous and fluid, the costumes are colourful and lush and the scenery and buildings are both imposing and beautiful. The score is also beautiful, there are some parts in the film when there is no music and even no dialogue(not a problem at all, merely an observation), but regardless when the music was playing it was rich and sensitive. I also liked the quality of the script, it was thoughtful and intelligent, with a film like this that's what it needed to be. The direction is solid, and the story while some scenes could have done with more drama as I have mentioned already is still absorbing. The strongest asset though is the cast, Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman are both wonderful as the Tsar and Tsarina, Alexandra is the more interesting character but both actors did superbly. Tom Baker is a very charismatic and cunning Rasputin, and the ever great Laurence Olivier is impeccable as Witte.

Overall, not absolutely superb but it is absorbing and it looks great. Plus it has the benefits of being impeccably acted by a strong cast and a good script. 7/10 Bethany Cox