Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna 

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

Stars:

Amy Irving, Olivia de Havilland, Jan Niklas

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

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
Amy Irving	...	Anna Anderson 2 episodes, 1986
Olivia de Havilland	...	Dowager Empress Maria 2 episodes, 1986
Jan Niklas	...	Prince Erich 2 episodes, 1986
Nicolas Surovy	...	Serge Markov 2 episodes, 1986
Susan Lucci	...	Darya Romanoff 2 episodes, 1986
Elke Sommer	...	Isabel Von Hohenstauffen 2 episodes, 1986
Edward Fox	...	Dr. Hauser 2 episodes, 1986
Claire Bloom	...	Czarina Alexandra 2 episodes, 1986
Omar Sharif	...	Czar Nicholas II 2 episodes, 1986
Rex Harrison	...	Grand Duke Cyril Romanov 2 episodes, 1986
Jennifer Dundas	...	Anastasia 2 episodes, 1986
Christian Bale	...	Alexei 2 episodes, 1986
Andrea Bretterbauer	...	Sonya Markov 2 episodes, 1986
Sydney Bromley	...	Herbert 2 episodes, 1986
Arnold Diamond	...	Dr. Markov 2 episodes, 1986
Carol Gillies	...	Sasha 2 episodes, 1986
Julian Glover	...	Colonel Kobylinski 2 episodes, 1986
Rachel Gurney	...	Grand Duchess Victoria 2 episodes, 1986
Betty Marsden	...	Princess Troubetskaya 2 episodes, 1986
Tim McInnerny	...	Yakovlev 2 episodes, 1986
Angela Pleasence	...	Clara (madwoman) 2 episodes, 1986
Shane Rimmer	...	Harvey Coward 2 episodes, 1986
Jane Wenham	...	Sophie 2 episodes, 1986
Jerome Willis	...	Kurt Vermehren 2 episodes, 1986
Ian Whittaker	...	Baggott 2 episodes, 1986

Storyline

In 1920s Berlin, suicidal asylum patient Anna Anderson (Amy Irving) claims to be Anastasia Romanov, the supposedly dead daughter of the last Czar 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 amongst them. This skepticism soon turns into mutual animosity.

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Plot Keywords:

character name in series title | anastasia romanov character | tv mini series | russia | russian revolution | 

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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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Did You Know?

Trivia

Sir Rex Harrison (Grand Duke Cyril Romanov) had turned down a similar role in Nicholas and Alexandra (1971).

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Goofs

In 1918, while held captive by "moderate" guards, Alexandra says Nicholas' mother is "safe in England". In real life, the Queen Mother arrived in the U.K. in 1919, the year after the Romanov family's deaths.

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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 (1967)

User Reviews

DNA test results

I wouldn't be so sure to accept the DNA tests as irrefutable evidence against Anna Anderson. First, read Peter Kurth's book on which this film is based. Anna Anderson knew things that only the real Grand Duchess Anastasia could possibly have known (forensic evidence in Anna's favor aside). Second, compare the pictures of Anastasia and Anna Anderson. Anyone can see that they are one-and-the-same person. Third, visit Peter Kurth's website (url below) where you can read detailed information about the DNA tests, as well as why Franziska Schanzkowska and Anna Anderson are not the same person (scroll down to the link, "ANNA-ANASTASIA NOTES ON FRANZISKA SCHANZKOWSKA"). Even Schanzkowska's relatives believed that their sister and Anna Anderson were not the same person.

I for one will always believe that HIH Anastasia Nicolevna Romanova and Anna Anderson were indeed the same person; I will never be swayed to the contrary .

www.peterkurth.com

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