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

Actor Tamás Tóth plays the part of Young Rasputin, clearly appearing to be a child of about 13 years of age. But the actor was born on December 2, 1958, so he was about 37 years old, at the time of filming (1995).

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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

Yurovsky: [in the basement] We are going to take your picture.
Tsar Nicholas II: Why?
Yurovsky: There are rumors in Moscow that you are all dead. Over there.
Tsarina Alexandra: Can we at least have some chairs?
Yurovsky: Chairs.
[two chairs are brought in]
Yurovsky: [executioners enter the room] For crimes against Russia the Ural Soviet has hereby sentence you to death. Your life is finished.
Tsar Nicholas II: *What?*
[shooting begins]

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Connections

Version of I Killed Rasputin (1967)

User Reviews

A great movie!

I saw this film because of my love for Russian history and because I am a fan of Nicholas and Alexandra and I continue to rent it because the film never ceases to amaze me.

Alan Rickman is well cast as the maniac monk who becomes a major influence over the Tsar (Ian McKellen) and his wife (Greta Scacci). Ian McKellen gives a stunning performance as Tsar Nicholas II. Greta Scacci is wonderful as Tsarina Alexandra Fyodorovna.

There's only one problem with this film. It focuses too much on Nicholas and Alexandra and not enough on Rasputin like the title of the movie says. Nonetheless, it's a wonderful film and should be seen by every high school world history class and history buff.