Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986)

Story of Anna Anderson, who claimed to be Anastasia Romanov, the only "surviving" child of the last Czar and Czarina of Russia.

Director:

Marvin J. Chomsky

Writers:

James Goldman, Peter Kurth (book)

Stars:

Amy Irving, Olivia de Havilland, Jan Niklas

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Amy Irving	...	Anna Anderson
Olivia de Havilland	...	Dowager Empress Maria
Jan Niklas	...	Prince Erich
Nicolas Surovy	...	Serge Markov
Susan Lucci	...	Darya Romanoff
Elke Sommer	...	Isabel Von Hohenstauffen
Edward Fox	...	Dr. Hauser
Claire Bloom	...	Czarina Alexandra
Omar Sharif	...	Czar Nicholas II
Rex Harrison	...	Grand Duke Cyril Romanov
Jennifer Dundas	...	Anastasia
Christian Bale	...	Alexei
Andrea Bretterbauer	...	Sonya Markov
Sydney Bromley	...	Herbert
Arnold Diamond	...	Dr. Markov

Storyline

In 1920s Berlin, suicidal asylum patient Anna Anderson claims to be Anastasia Romanov, the supposedly dead daughter of the last tsar of Russia, Nicholas II, who was dethroned and murdered by the communists along with his entire immediate family during the Russian Revolution. She is so convincing in her descriptions of her life on the court and how she escaped the communist purge that, after leaving the asylum, she slowly gains followers willing to believe her story. However, the surviving members of the Romanov family who now live in exile are not among them. This skepticism soon turns into mutual animosity.

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Plot Keywords:

russia | russian revolution | czar | 1920s | hairy chest | 

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Taglines:

The Great Romantic Enigma of the Twentieth Century

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Mystery

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Details

Country:

USA Austria Italy

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Anastasia

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Telecom Entertainment Inc., Consolidated Entertainment, Reteitalia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

200 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Christian Bale's first movie.

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Goofs

At the end, the narrator says "The trial started in 1939 . . ." The trial actually started in 1938.

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Quotes

Reporter: Is that a threat, your highness?
Grand Duke Cyril Romanov: No, it's an expression of intent.

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Connections

Version of Anastasia (1956)

User Reviews

Would be convincing except.

The poor woman who was portrayed in this movie would be convincing except for DNA evidence proving she wasn't Anastasia Romonov. Either you believe she was who she said she was or the member of the British royal family who provided DNA and shared a common ancestor with the Romonov's in Queen Victoria wasn't who they said they were which is unlikely, this aside the woman probably believed she was a Romonov even though she obviously wasn't the film seems to make her out as a callous actress who was playing everybody for fools as an alternative for her mental problems said by the surviving family even so this film was entertaining and doesn't end the mystery which was unsolved at the time of it's making but shows it as it was a mystery and I'm glad the DNA evidence is conclusive since there would be people on the internet arguing whether she was who she said she was.