A wonderful indictment of incestuous monarchies
Added 10/13/2009
Nicholas and Alexandra is a great movie. It is great not only for the costumes and the acting but also for the depiction of the tragedy that befell the Russian people due to the ineptness of Tsar Nicholas II and the stupidity, gullibility and lack of sense of his wife, Alexandra.
Nicholas and Alexandra were probably the two stupidest people ever to be put in positions of absolute power in history.
Nicholas was the son of Tsar Alexander III and Princess Dagmar of Denmark, later Empress Maria Feodorovna. Alexander's (called Sashsa by family) father, Alexander II tried to institute reforms in Russia. He was murdered by a bomb thrower in 1881. Alexander III responded by revoking all reforms and crushing all dissent in Russia. As the nineteenth century approached its end, the life of the average Russian peasant was worse than ever. Alexander III died in 1894 at age 49. His son Nicholas became Tsar and a husband at the same time.
Nicholas was married to Alexandra, daughter of a minor German prince but, more importantly, granddaughter of Britain's Queen Victoria. Nicholas himself was related to Victoria's family because his mother, Dagmar of Denmark, was the sister to Princess Alexandra who was married to Edward, Prince of Wales. Edward's sister, Alice, was the mother of Nicholas's wife, Alexandra. Edward became King Edward VII of Great Britain. He was "Uncle Bertie" to both Nicholas and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. This relationship is not portrayed in the film.
The film concentrates on three things: 1. The love Nicholas and Alexandra have for each other; 2. Alexandra's fear, guilt and paranoia regarding her son Alexis's hemophilia, and ; 3. the collapse of Russia under the pressure of internal dissent and World War I.
Nicholas and Alexandra obviously loved each other very much. Their love was blind and stupid. Nicholas, as Tsar and Autocrat of all of Russia, failed to secure the welfare of his people, opting instead to follow his wife and her crazy priest, Rasputin.
Alexandra cared little for Russia and its people. She was a German princess. Her only concern was for her son to whom she had transmitted hemophilia. Because of inbreeding hemophilia was very present in the monarchies of Europe in the late 19th century. Alexandra's grandmother, Queen Victoria, gave it to her daughter Alice who gave it to Alexandra who gave it to her son. Alexis's hemophilia, and the search for a cure, consumed Alexandra. She worshipped the Siberian peasant, Rasputin, because she believed he could help. Rasputin manipulated her and she manipulated Nicholas, as weak a monarch as there ever was.
Finally, the film shows how Lenin and the Bolsheviks rose to power. It was all avoidable. The Tsar refused even the most modest of reforms. His troops slaughtered demonstrators at the winter palace. In exile during WW I Lenin became even stronger.
Russia was not ready for WWI. The film shows this in dramatic fashion with the great Sir Laurence Olivier, as one of Nicholas's ministers, pleading with the Tsar to avoid war. Nicholas, the product of inbreeding married to and subject to a wife who was equally the product of inbreeding, ignores his minister. Russia marches off to war in 1914 with disastrous results.
Russia collapses and Nicholas is forced to abdicate. In the chaos Lenin and the Bolsheviks take power. The Tsar and his family are prisoners. Civil war erupts in Russia and Lenin fears that the Tsar will be used by his opponents to take power away from him.
The film ends with a great climax: the murder of Nicholas and Alexandra and their 5 children in a basement in Siberia. It is a great tragedy. We are meant to feel sad for the Romanov family.
While the murder of the Tsar and his family in so ignoble a fashion is tragic, the fate of the country that he led was far worse. Nicholas II had many opportunities to turn his country around. He failed every time. His son's hemophilia, while certainly a family tragedy, need not have affected the monarchy. As Tsar he could have easily overturned the edict enacted by Tsar Paul in 1796 that only males could inherit the throne. Nicholas failed to do this because Alexandra insisted that her son be the next Tsar.
Because of this Nicholas sold everything to Alexandra's obsession with curing Alexis, a cure that was not possible.
This led to the rise of Rasputin, and disaster.
"Without Rasputin there could have been no Lenin."- Alexander Karensky
The film is great as far as it goes.
WalterS
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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Turgid Historical Tableux
Added 9/15/2009
When this film was first released in the early 70s, I was anxious to see it, since I'd loved Massey's book on which it's based. I was tremendously disappointed at the time, but recently decided to try it again on DVD. Unfortunately, thirty-five-plus years did nothing to improve it.
On the positive side, as a number of other reviewers have noted, it appears for the most part to be historically accurate (though the scene in which one of the Grand Duchesses -- the fact that one can't remember which one says something about the depth of characterization -- bares her breasts to a young guard because she wants a man to desire her is both culturally anachronistic and an insult to the memory of the murdered young woman in question).
The problems are numerous. They include: a clumsy, leaden script, a "grand" style of direction which manages to turn even intimate moments into turgid tableux, and for the most part truly terrible acting, with Jayston's Nicholas the worst offender on this score -- he leans toward the bug-eyed, immobile school of emoting. For a film which sells itself in part as historical spectacle, it also has a remarkably cheesy look for the most part -- interiors are consistently overlit, which gives them a fake appearance, and the Tsar's palaces seem remarkably understaffed.
This is one to rent before you invest in purchasing the DVD. Better yet, read the book.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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One of My Very Favorites
Added 7/23/2009
I was enthralled the very first time I saw this film. Jayston and Suzeman do a great job and for me and have BECOME Nicholas and Alexandra in my mind when I visualize them. European monarchs have always been of interest to me. So, when a coworker found a VHS copy of N&A at the local library, naturally I loved it. The DVD is great and uncut as well with an extra scene or two. One in particular is just after Alexei was born. Victoria & Albert by A&E/BBC is wonderful as well. I would pay $100 each for them when or if they are ever released on blu-ray.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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fascinating last days of Russia's Tsar
Added 2/14/2009
Based on Robert K. Massie's meticulously researched book (adapted by screenwriters James Goldman and Edward Bond), NICHOLAS & ALEXANDRA (1971) paints a vivid portrait of Russia's final royal rulers. Although it milks sympathy at every possible opportunity, it's not hard to find pity and anger in this shocking chapter of history.
I need not waste time by summarising the plot (earlier reviewers have already done so); though the film follows the Imperial family from the birth of fifth child Alexei, through the disastrous war years which toppled their rulership, finally ending on the night in 1918 when they were executed by the Bolsheviks.
In a bold move, producers cast stage actress Janet Suzman (in her movie debut) as Alexandra and Michael Jayston as Nicholas; and surrounded them with a galaxy of esteemed talents in the supporting roles (chiefly among them Irene Worth as the Dowager Empress, Michael Redgrave as Sazonov, Laurence Olivier as Count Witte, and Tom Baker as a chilling Rasputin). Lynne Frederick, Candace Glendenning, Fiona Fullerton and Ania Marson do what they can with the relatively minor roles of the royal daughters; and Roderic Noble adds untold depths in a very solid performance as Alexei.
Fans and followers of Anastasia will be a little disappointed that her role in the story is no bigger than the rest of the daughters; though Fiona Fullerton is charming in the part (she'd be reunited the following year with Michael Jayston in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" with Jayston playing author Lewis Carroll to her Alice in the opening and closing scenes of the movie).
The film garnered well-deserved Academy Awards for 'Best Art Direction' (John Box, Ernest Archer, Gil Parrondo, Vernon Dixon); and 'Best Costume Design' (Yvonne Blake, Antonio Castillo). It should be noted that designer John Box was already quite familiar with the subject at hand, having already earned the 1965 'Best Colour Art Direction' award for his work in "Doctor Zhivago", another story cemented in the Russian Revolution.
Further Viewing: I'd definitely recommend the 1986 miniseries "Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna" as a followup to viewing this movie. Based on the fascinating book by Peter Kurth (and also scripted by James Goldman), this story follows Anna Anderson, by far the most notorious claimant of the Romanov family fortune. Amy Irving leads a star-studded international cast.
1 out of 1 people found this helpful.
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Incredibly good
Added 1/20/2009
An opulent, rewarding, deeply stirring and fascinating review of the tragic reign of Nicholas and Alexandra. I think Michael Jayston is very impressive and compelling as Nicholas. He seems to get such little credit for the strength of this film. The story itself, certainly one of the more disturbing aspects of 20th century history. Mostly because it is just very sad and their deaths so pointlessly cruel. But then I suppose I'm one of only few that still believe there's a purpose and transcendental value to aristocracy and monarchy. I even have grudging respect for the divine right of kings. That's mostly because life is so lacking in dignity these days. We tend to elevate and ritually sacrifice CELEBRITIES instead, and what a poor compromise they are for our diminished senses. Presidents, senators, judges and business tycoons are a poor substitute as well. But in other parts of the globe, persons of royal lineage are still comfortable navigating a wealth of public rituals and duties, with values seemingly instilled at birth. Prince Harry is an embarrassing exception, but I think the Thai Monarchy, the Japanese Imperial Family, or Kingdom of Jordan are good examples. A pretty rare view, but precisely why this movie makes both a deep impression and creates an insatiable longing for the pageantry and traditions of seemingly lost eras.
1 out of 2 people found this helpful.
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A wonderful indictment of incestuous monarchies
Added 10/13/2009
Nicholas and Alexandra is a great movie. It is great not only for the costumes and the acting but also for the depiction of the tragedy that befell the Russian people due to the ineptness of Tsar Nicholas II and the stupidity, gullibility and lack of sense of his wife, Alexandra.
Nicholas and Alexandra were probably the two stupidest people ever to be put in positions of absolute power in history.
Nicholas was the son of Tsar Alexander III and Princess Dagmar of Denmark, later Empress Maria Feodorovna. Alexander's (called Sashsa by family) father, Alexander II tried to institute reforms in Russia. He was murdered by a bomb thrower in 1881. Alexander III responded by revoking all reforms and crushing all dissent in Russia. As the nineteenth century approached its end, the life of the average Russian peasant was worse than ever. Alexander III died in 1894 at age 49. His son Nicholas became Tsar and a husband at the same time.
Nicholas was married to Alexandra, daughter of a minor German prince but, more importantly, granddaughter of Britain's Queen Victoria. Nicholas himself was related to Victoria's family because his mother, Dagmar of Denmark, was the sister to Princess Alexandra who was married to Edward, Prince of Wales. Edward's sister, Alice, was the mother of Nicholas's wife, Alexandra. Edward became King Edward VII of Great Britain. He was "Uncle Bertie" to both Nicholas and Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. This relationship is not portrayed in the film.
The film concentrates on three things: 1. The love Nicholas and Alexandra have for each other; 2. Alexandra's fear, guilt and paranoia regarding her son Alexis's hemophilia, and ; 3. the collapse of Russia under the pressure of internal dissent and World War I.
Nicholas and Alexandra obviously loved each other very much. Their love was blind and stupid. Nicholas, as Tsar and Autocrat of all of Russia, failed to secure the welfare of his people, opting instead to follow his wife and her crazy priest, Rasputin.
Alexandra cared little for Russia and its people. She was a German princess. Her only concern was for her son to whom she had transmitted hemophilia. Because of inbreeding hemophilia was very present in the monarchies of Europe in the late 19th century. Alexandra's grandmother, Queen Victoria, gave it to her daughter Alice who gave it to Alexandra who gave it to her son. Alexis's hemophilia, and the search for a cure, consumed Alexandra. She worshipped the Siberian peasant, Rasputin, because she believed he could help. Rasputin manipulated her and she manipulated Nicholas, as weak a monarch as there ever was.
Finally, the film shows how Lenin and the Bolsheviks rose to power. It was all avoidable. The Tsar refused even the most modest of reforms. His troops slaughtered demonstrators at the winter palace. In exile during WW I Lenin became even stronger.
Russia was not ready for WWI. The film shows this in dramatic fashion with the great Sir Laurence Olivier, as one of Nicholas's ministers, pleading with the Tsar to avoid war. Nicholas, the product of inbreeding married to and subject to a wife who was equally the product of inbreeding, ignores his minister. Russia marches off to war in 1914 with disastrous results.
Russia collapses and Nicholas is forced to abdicate. In the chaos Lenin and the Bolsheviks take power. The Tsar and his family are prisoners. Civil war erupts in Russia and Lenin fears that the Tsar will be used by his opponents to take power away from him.
The film ends with a great climax: the murder of Nicholas and Alexandra and their 5 children in a basement in Siberia. It is a great tragedy. We are meant to feel sad for the Romanov family.
While the murder of the Tsar and his family in so ignoble a fashion is tragic, the fate of the country that he led was far worse. Nicholas II had many opportunities to turn his country around. He failed every time. His son's hemophilia, while certainly a family tragedy, need not have affected the monarchy. As Tsar he could have easily overturned the edict enacted by Tsar Paul in 1796 that only males could inherit the throne. Nicholas failed to do this because Alexandra insisted that her son be the next Tsar.
Because of this Nicholas sold everything to Alexandra's obsession with curing Alexis, a cure that was not possible.
This led to the rise of Rasputin, and disaster.
"Without Rasputin there could have been no Lenin."- Alexander Karensky
The film is great as far as it goes.
WalterS
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
Turgid Historical Tableux
Added 9/15/2009
When this film was first released in the early 70s, I was anxious to see it, since I'd loved Massey's book on which it's based. I was tremendously disappointed at the time, but recently decided to try it again on DVD. Unfortunately, thirty-five-plus years did nothing to improve it.
On the positive side, as a number of other reviewers have noted, it appears for the most part to be historically accurate (though the scene in which one of the Grand Duchesses -- the fact that one can't remember which one says something about the depth of characterization -- bares her breasts to a young guard because she wants a man to desire her is both culturally anachronistic and an insult to the memory of the murdered young woman in question).
The problems are numerous. They include: a clumsy, leaden script, a "grand" style of direction which manages to turn even intimate moments into turgid tableux, and for the most part truly terrible acting, with Jayston's Nicholas the worst offender on this score -- he leans toward the bug-eyed, immobile school of emoting. For a film which sells itself in part as historical spectacle, it also has a remarkably cheesy look for the most part -- interiors are consistently overlit, which gives them a fake appearance, and the Tsar's palaces seem remarkably understaffed.
This is one to rent before you invest in purchasing the DVD. Better yet, read the book.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
|
One of My Very Favorites
Added 7/23/2009
I was enthralled the very first time I saw this film. Jayston and Suzeman do a great job and for me and have BECOME Nicholas and Alexandra in my mind when I visualize them. European monarchs have always been of interest to me. So, when a coworker found a VHS copy of N&A at the local library, naturally I loved it. The DVD is great and uncut as well with an extra scene or two. One in particular is just after Alexei was born. Victoria & Albert by A&E/BBC is wonderful as well. I would pay $100 each for them when or if they are ever released on blu-ray.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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