Rasputin (1996) (TV)

Director:

Uli Edel

Writer (WGA):

Peter Pruce (written by)

Release Date:

23 March 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

He was a magician. A madman. A savior and seducer....

Plot:

HBO biopic about the infamous "mad monk" Rasputin from the court of Tsar Nicholas in Russia.

Plot Keywords:

Russia | Russian Revolution | Child Execution | Czar | Good Versus Evil

Awards:

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 10 nominations

Cast

Alan Rickman	...	Grigori Rasputin
Greta Scacchi	...	Tsarina Alexandra
Ian McKellen	...	Tsar Nicholas II
David Warner	...	Dr. Botkin
John Wood	...	Prime Minister Stolypin
James Frain	...	Prince Felix Yusupov
Ian Hogg	...	Purishkevich
Sheila Ruskin	...	Princess Marisa
Peter Jeffrey	...	Bishop Hermogones
Freddie Findlay	...	Alexei
Julian Curry	...	Dr. Lazovert
László Áron	...	Imperial Chauffeur (as Laszlo Aron)
János Bata	...	Detective #1
István Bicskei	...	Derevenko
István Bubik	...	Landowner's son

Also Known As:

Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny (USA) (video box title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

135 min | Germany:96 min

Country:

USA | Hungary

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Finland:K-16 (video premiere) | Germany:16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 (video premiere) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

Filmed in only eight weeks.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Rasputin arrives in St. Petersburg he is shown standing before the Winter Palace in Palace Square. The palace appears as it does today, painted green with white and gold accents. At the time of Rasputin's arrival in 1911 however, the palace was painted entirely in dull red. The palace's current color scheme was not applied until the 1930s.

Quotes:

Grigori Rasputin: You'll always fail because your soul is dead.
Dr. Botkin: I have performed many autopsies in my time, but I've never located a soul.
Grigori Rasputin: How many memories or emotions have you found?

Movie Connections:

Version of Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

Much better than most of its competitors

OK, you can look at this film in two ways - either as a good play, or as an historical drama. It works both ways, although my main quibble would be that one is left with little real idea of why the revolution took place and what Rasputin's role in this was. For that reason, it could have done with being a bit longer and more detailed. Rickman plays Rasputin with humour and humanity - not the one-dimensional monster of most other films about him, which is a good thing from both a dramatic and historical point of view. Ian McKellen as Nicholas II has sweetness and dignity although he is probably too old for the role, and the scenes where he almost loses his temper are (historically) highly improbable! I have no problems with Greta Scaachi's acting, but from a historical point of view her portrayal of the Empress is altogether too vulnerable and lacking in fight; and why the German accent in certain scenes!?

I doubt there will ever be a film that pleases all of the various fans/critics of Nicholas and Alexandra, Rasputin and the Russian revolution; this one is better and less sensational than most.