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 Golden Globes. 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

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cliffhanger ending suggests Alexei may have survived the massacre at Ipatev House, as his body (along with one of his sisters') had never been recovered. However, approximately eleven years after this movie's release, remains found near the Ipatev House site were unearthed and confirmed to be Alexei's, thus rendering this movie's ambiguous finale anachronistic.

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Goofs

At the end of the film, nearly before the execution of the Romanov Family, there's an outdoor sequence that portrays Ipatov House. The title says: 'July 16, 1918, Ipatiev House, Yekaterinburg, Siberia'. Despite it being summer time, there is much snow on the roof and near the house. The temperature in Siberia in July is often above 90 F.

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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, Demon with Women (1932)

User Reviews

Movie's Accuracy is offset by obvious omissions

For once, after all the nonsense written and shown about the infamous Grigori Rasputin, this film makes an excellent effort at accuracy and objectivity. The characters look incredibly like the historical people they play: Alexis (The heir and narrator), the Tsar (Masterfully played by Ian Mc Kellam), the four daughters; unfortunately, the character of the Empress, Alexandra, is terrible; not only does she not look like her but portrays none of Alexandra's personality (Unlike the excellent job done by Janet Suzman in Nicholas and Alexandra). The movie is breathtaking in its on-location shots, especially St. Petersburg and the interiors of the palace. With so much effort put into accuracy, though, I don't understand how, with the climax of the film, Rasputin's murderers are incomplete: it was not just Felix Yussupov but the Tsar's nephew and favorite, Grand Duke Dmitri, who pulled off the killing. This movie completely excludes Dmitri. Still, if the viewer is just looking for an above average account of the strangest period in history (Without looking TOO close), this movie will do the trick.