Rasputin (1996)

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

Director:

Uli Edel

Writer:

Peter Pruce

Stars:

Alan Rickman, Greta Scacchi, Ian McKellen

Won 3 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 wins & 11 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
János Bata	...	Detective #1
István Bicskei	...	Derevenko
István Bubik	...	Landowner's son

Storyline

In 1910s Russia, Czar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra find their son Alexei, sole heir to the Romanov dynasty, suffering from hemophilia and conventional medicine failing to help him. Alexandra looks into finding holistic treatment and finds Father Grigory Rasputin , a destitute monk who claims he had a vision from the Virgin Mary telling him that the Czar needed him. Though Nicholas and the royal doctor are both skeptical of Rasputin's alleged healing abilities, young Alexei quickly bonds with the charlton/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:

czar | tzar | bum | decadence | year 1916 | 

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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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Filmed in only eight weeks.

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Goofs

After Rasputin first heals Alexis, when Nicholas and Alexandra are conversing privately, Nicholas is seen wearing a shirt with a capital letter "N" monogram, presumably for his first name. In the Russian Cyrillic alphabet, however, the capital letter corresponding to an English N is written as "H".

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Quotes

Prime Minister Stolypin: [Rasputin is giving him The Stare] I can't be hypnotized, so don't bother.

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Connections

Version of Rasputin (1938)

User Reviews

Good drama, mediocre history.

HBO's "Rasputin" is an Emmy winning retelling of an old story around which swirls as much legend as fact. The film stretches the emotional and dramatic moments while condensing the history as it goes for the viscera with Rickman painting a sensationalized portrait of the enigmatic and shadowy title character. A stuttering drama dumbed down for prime time audiences, "Rasputin 1996" should be an entertaining watch for those who like a little history with their television dramas.

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:

HBO Films, Rysher / Citadel Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

135 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1