Rasputin (TV 1996)

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

Director:

Uli Edel

Writer:

Peter Pruce

Stars:

Alan Rickman, Greta Scacchi, Ian McKellen

Won 3 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

In 1910s Russia, Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra find their son Alexei, sole heir to the Romanov dynasty, suffering from hemophelia and conventional medicine failing to help him. Alexandra looks into finding holistic treatment and finds Father Grigori Rasputin, a destitute monk who claims he had a vision from the Virgin Mary telling him that the Tsar needed him. Though Nicholas and the royal doctor are both skeptical of Rasputin's alleged healing abilities, young Alexei quickly bonds with the charleton/prophet, so he remains in the Royal Court. But Rasputin's constant boozing and womanizing angers the aristocracy and worsens the already unstable tensions between Nicholas and his subjects. With the seeds of revolution brewing, it becomes increasingly apparent that a bad end awaits for the entire Royal Family.

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Plot Keywords:

russia | child execution | good versus evil | czar | russian revolution | 

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Taglines:

He Was A Magician. A Madman. A Savior And Seducer....

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence and brief sexuality

Details

Country:

USA Hungary

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 March 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company Credits

Production Co:

Home Box Office (HBO), Rysher / Citadel Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in only eight weeks.

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Goofs

The movie shows various historical events in incorrect time sequence. For example, the movie depicts Stolypin as being assassinated after the outbreak of the First World War, whereas he was assassinated in 1911 and the First World War started in 1914. Similarly, the movie has the Empress saying at the 1913 Romanov tercentenary celebration that she has been suffering for twelve years on account of the Tsarevich's illness, whereas in fact the Tsarevich was born in 1904.

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Quotes

Alexei: God help me.
Tsarina Alexandra: He will... he will.

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Connections

Featured in 48th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1996)

User Reviews

Brilliantly filmed, brilliantly told

Although they script writers took the sensationalized story route every time, they nonetheless wrote a powerful script that can't help but have you foaming at the mouth to learn more about Rasputin and the breakdown of the Russian Empire. If you know very little about the collapse of the Russian Empire, then this film would have to be the best introduction you will get.

The cinematography in this film was absolutely gorgeous with wonderful contrasting colors illustrating the richness of the Romanov life, the bleak coldness of the Siberian plains and the stark conditions of the Russian Empire. The music was hauntingly beautiful and complemented the film perfectly. When music suits a film, it IS noticeable!

And then there is the acting... Alan Rickman is sensational as Rasputin, portraying the moody and incoherent Rasputin with a fabulous chameleon-like zeal. Ian McKellum so perfectly portrays the Tsar, Nicholas II (or at least, as one would perceive Nicholas to be from history books) that it is plain spooky! Great Scacchi is also wonderful as the Tsarina.