Nicholas and Alexandra

Nicholas and Alexandra
by Franklin J. Schaffner

Nicholas and Alexandra
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DVD Cover Information

Actor: Ania Marson, Janet Suzman, Lynne Frederick, Michael Jayston, Roderic Noble
Director: Franklin J. Schaffner
Brand: Sony
Cinematographer: Freddie Young
Producer: Franklin J. Schaffner
Producer: Andrew Donally
Producer: Sam Spiegel
Writer: Edward Bond
Writer: James Goldman
Writer: Robert K. Massie
DVD: 2 Layers, Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Portuguese (Subtitled); Georgian (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); Thai (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
Picture Format: Letterbox, 2.35:1
Running Time: 183 minutes
DVD Release Date: 1999-07-27
Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Sony Pictures

Movie Reviews of Nicholas and Alexandra

Movie Review: fascinating last days of Russia's Tsar
Summary: 5 Stars

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.

Summary of Nicholas and Alexandra

Well-acted chronicle of the last russian czar and his family and the revolution that turned their world upside down. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 05/27/2008 Starring: Michael Jayston Janet Suzman Run time: 189 minutes Rating: Pg

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