No one would have dared. Alexander Knox. ‘Nicholas and Alexandra’ movie review: Opulent 1971 spectacle lacks emotional core, Old-fashioned mix of history lesson and melodrama, Phony, conventional melo redeemed by real life horror. [9], Nicholas and Alexandra was nominated for three Golden Globes including Best Supporting Actor and Most Promising Newcomer for Baker and Most Promising Newcomer for Suzman. As a result of Franklin J. Schaffner’s old-fashioned direction,[1] and James Goldman’s part-history lesson, part-daytime soap screenplay, most of the Nicholas and Alexandra cast act out their roles instead of living them. The Tsarina Alexandra, a German princess, is disliked by the Russian imperial court. Timothy West. This FAQ is empty. In addition to his familial turmoil, the Tsar must also deal with popular discontent over a long-running war against Japan for control of the Korean peninsula, and with social disturbances caused by a wrecked economy and a lack of democratic institutions. Additional dialogue by Edward Bond. Massie later wrote a continuation, The Romanovs: The Final Chapter. Nagorny is taken away and shot. Alexei recovers and Rasputin returns. Nicholas and Alexandra is a 1971 British biographical film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and written by James Goldman, based on Robert K. Massie's 1967 book of the same name, which is a partial account of the last ruling Russian monarch, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra.It stars Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman, with a number of major actors in supporting roles. This film is also available for sale or rent as a video online download through both Amazon and Apple's iTunes Store, with Amazon's online file containing the six more minutes of scenes and dialogue that Apple's iTunes file doesn't.[14]. Concerned about Rasputin's influence, Grand Duke Dmitri and Prince Felix Yusupov invite Rasputin to a party in December 1916 and eventually murder him despite several unsuccessful attempts. Twenty years after the film debuted, the Soviet Union was dissolved and the records of the Romanovs were released. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction, and won two, Best Costume Design and Best Art Direction.[13]. Cast: Michael Jayston. Pioneer - Rebel - Genius. John Forbes-Robertson. Guy Rolfe. Maurice Denham. Nicholas executes the assassins and closes the Duma, allowing police to terrorize many peasants. Nicholas and Alexandra movie cast information via the IMDb. The Blu-ray featured three featurettes on the production of the film covering the makeup, costume designs and actresses playing the Tsar's daughters in the film. After seeing Patton, Goldman recommended Franklin J. Schaffner. Spiegel had alienated Lean when the two worked together on the film Lawrence of Arabia, pressing the perfectionist director in order to get the movie finished on time. A comprehensive and compelling history of the United States immediately following the Civil War. Production designer John Box’s elaborate sets, Yvonne Blake’s equally elaborate costumes, Richard Rodney Bennett’s lush musical score, and frequent David Lean collaborator Freddie Young’s richly textured cinematography provide the perfect period atmosphere for this historical epic. Roy Dotrice. Alexei, the only son of Nicholas II and heir apparent to the throne, is diagnosed with hemophilia, a life-threatening disease. Make sure your comment adds something relevant to the discussion: *Thoughtfulness* and *at least a modicum of sanity* are imperative. Lastly, links found in submitted comments will generally be deleted. I made this trailer, for Nicholas and Alexandra. Laurence Olivier, for his part, is so over the top that his climactic “the end is near” speech comes across as parody. In the meantime, the empress soothes her pain with the assistance of the mystic Rasputin (Tom Baker, replacing original choice Peter O’Toole), who seems to have mysterious powers that keep her frail son alive. But it is Irene Worth’s Queen Mother who, with her commanding presence, manages to steal every scene in which she appears. Nicholas and Alexandra received a home video release on VHS in 1987 by RCA/Columbia Pictures Home Video and reissued in the 1990s by Columbia Tristar Home Video. Check out some of the IMDb editors' favorites movies and shows to round out your Watchlist. Tsar Nicholas II is warned by his cousin Grand Duke Nicholas and the Prime Minister Count Sergei Witte that the war is futile and costing too many lives. Despite their power and prestige, you get to LIKE them, if not for their good points, then for their human frailties. John Shrapnel. From Robert K. Massie’s 1967 historical novel. Aside from a few theatrical moments, the stage-trained Michael Jayston actually fares better than most of the movie-veteran cast members, conveying Nicholas’ failings as well as his strengths in a generally believable and at times quite touching manner. The army is ill supplied, and starving and freezing workers revolt in St. Petersburg in March 1917. A good film isn’t just about actors and sets, it’s also about audience response. It also contained the original theatrical trailer as well as an isolated music score. But the problem is that it didn't have David Lean directing it, and without his particular knack for setting complex character studies against sweeping backdrops, the thing feels like a lumbering, boring pageant. Tsar Nicholas II, the inept last monarch of Russia, insensitive to the needs of his people, is overthrown and exiled to Siberia with his family. Watching Worth’s no-nonsense elder queen, one realizes that had she been the ruler of all Russias in 1917, there would have been no revolution. Nicholas and Alexandra begins when, after several unsuccessful attempts, Tsar Nicholas II (Michael Jayston) finally becomes the father of a boy. Nicholas and Alexandra is surely one of the most sumptuous film productions ever made. He had wanted Peter O'Toole as Rasputin and Vanessa Redgrave as Alexandra but was constrained. Tom Baker. Nicholas & Alexandra: The Letters They make it sound like Lenin and the Bolsheviks were a godsend. Brian Cox. For the role of Alexandra, eventually played by South African-born Janet Suzman, Spiegel had wanted Vanessa Redgrave or The Lion in Winter Oscar winner Katharine Hepburn. [6], Halliwell's Film and Video Guide described Nicholas and Alexandra as an "inflated epic of occasional interest, mainly for its sets" and "generally heavy going", awarding it one star from a possible four. In 1915, with the war going badly for Russia, he decides to take personal command of the troops and leaves for the front, taking over from his experienced cousin, Grand Duke Nicholas. Stolypin had been assassinated in 1911, two years before the Romanov dynastic tercentenary. The entire program is suggesting a justification for the murder of the czar and his family. Roderic Nobel. The fall of the last Russian czar is the subject of this lavish, Oscar(r)-winning epic. The 1913 Romanov Tercentenary celebrations occur and a lavish Royal Tour across Imperial Russia ensues, but crowds are thin. Worsening matters, an ill-fated decision to send troops to the western border leads to a declaration of war from Germany and the beginning of World War I. Stephen Greif. Add the first question. Under harsher conditions they are guarded by the cold-blooded Yakov Yurovsky. One gets a sense of who the couple was, of their love for one another, of their concerns for Russia. In the early hours of 17 July 1918, the Bolsheviks awaken the family and Dr. Botkin, telling them they must be transferred again. Janet Suzman. Through the private and revealing letters of Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra, this two part docudrama, presented by Dr. Suzannah Lipscomb, explores their complex love story and their role leading to the Russian Revolution of 1917. In 1905, Alexandra befriends Grigori Rasputin, a Siberian peasant passing as a holy man, hoping he will heal Alexei. Martin Potter. It stars Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman, with a number of major actors in supporting roles. Production designer John Box’s elaborate sets, Yvonne Blake’s equally elaborate costumes, Richard Rodney Bennett’s lush musical score, and frequent David Lean collaborator Freddie Young’s richly textured cinematography provide the perfect period atmosphere for this historical epic. Search for "Nicholas & Alexandra: The Letters" on Amazon.com, Title: (2018– ). Spiegel turned to former collaborators John Box for production design, and cinematographer Freddie Young (Lawrence of Arabia) to give the production the epic touch he felt it needed. Dedicated to the Romanovs. [2] Among Sam Spiegel’s film credits are: Screenplay: James Goldman. Alexandra is left in charge at home and, under Rasputin's influence, makes poor decisions. In 1913 the family holidays at the Livadia Palace in the Crimea. With Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, Roderic Noble, Ania Marson. A less conventional approach could have turned Nicholas and Alexandra into a masterful historical drama. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The Blu-ray release was limited to only 3,000 copies. The producers trivialize the difficulties faced. The family with Dr. Botkin and attendants leave Tsarskoye Selo and are exiled by Kerensky to Tobolsk in Siberia in August 1917 after Nicholas is told that none of Russia's Allies, including Nicholas' own cousin George V of the United Kingdom, will grant them sanctuary because of Nicholas' past abuses of power over his people. Abusive, inflammatory, spammy/self-promotional, baseless (spreading mis- or disinformation), and just plain deranged comments will be zapped, and, if we deem appropriate, reported. The film won Academy Awards for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (Art Direction: John Box, Ernest Archer, Jack Maxsted and Gil Parrondo; Set Decoration: Vernon Dixon) and Best Costume Design (Yvonne Blake and Antonio Castillo). Nicholas is visited by his mother Dowager Empress Feodorovna, who is critical of his incompetence. They live guarded by more decent guards but under less grand conditions. Eight days, three hours, 18 minutes, 35 seconds. Alexander the Great Movie: ‘Gay Hero’ in Bloated + Fetishistic Oliver Stone Epic. Although Robert Massie wrote the book upon which this film was based, he did not have complete information because the Soviet government at the time would not permit the release of all relevant records. Michael Redgrave. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. Harry Andrews. Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman Nicholas and Alexandra images: Columbia Pictures. Ian Holm. Other national festivities and Church celebrations go ahead, but at an event at the Kiev Opera House, Prime Minister Stolypin is assassinated. Wolfgang was ... See full summary ». You may also click on the Accept button on the right to make this notice disappear. And in uncredited roles: Robin Askwith. They also tell him there is a rising demand by the Russian people for representative government, health care, voting, and workers' rights, but Nicholas wants to maintain the autocracy. That too elicits human empathy in viewers. The film opens in 1904 with Alexei's birth during the Russo-Japanese War.

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