Nicholas and Alexandra
Nicholas and Alexandra is a 1971 British epic historical drama film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, from a screenplay by James Goldman and Edward Bond based on Robert K. Massie's 1967 book of the same name. It tells the story of the last ruling Russian monarch, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (Michael Jayston), and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra (Janet Suzman), from 1904 until their deaths in 1918. The ensemble cast includes Tom Baker as Grigori Rasputin, Laurence Olivier as Sergei Witte, Brian Cox as Leon Trotsky, Ian Holm as Vasily Yakovlev, and Vivian Pickles as Nadezhda Krupskaya.
Plot
In 1904, Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna, wife of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, gives birth to their fifth child and first son, Alexei. Despite pleas from Grand Duke Nicholas and Count Sergei Witte, Nicholas refuses to end the Russo-Japanese War or accept demands for a constitutional monarchy, believing that doing either will make him look weak. The following year, Alexandra meets Grigori Rasputin, a self-proclaimed holy man, at a gala celebrating the birthday of Dowager Empress Marie Feodorovna. She later turns to Rasputin for spiritual guidance after court physician Dr. Eugene Botkin diagnoses Alexei with haemophilia.
Awards
Cast
- Alan Webb
- Alexander Knox
- Ania Marson
- Brian Cox
- Candace Glendenning
- Curd Jürgens
- David Giles
- Diana Quick
- Eric Porter
- Fiona Fullerton
- Frank Braña
- George Rigaud
- Gordon Gostelow
- Guy Rolfe
- Harry Andrews
- Ian Holm
- Irene Worth
- Jack Hawkins
- Jaime de Mora y Aragón
- James Hazeldine
- Janet Suzman
- Jean-Claude Drouot
- Jeremy Brett
- John Forbes-Robertson
- John Hallam
- John McEnery
- John Shrapnel
- John Wood
- Julian Glover
- Katherine Schofield
- Laurence Olivier
- Leon Lissek
- Lynne Frederick
- Martin Potter
- Maurice Denham
- Michael Bryant
- Michael Jayston
- Michael Redgrave
- Ralph Neville
- Ralph Truman
- Richard Warwick
- Robin Askwith
- Roderic Noble
- Roy Dotrice
- Stephen Greif
- Steven Berkoff
- Timothy West
- Tom Baker
- Vernon Dobtcheff
- Vivian Pickles