Nicholas and Alexandra (1971)

69% of critics liked it
(13 reviews)
75% of users liked it
(1,520 ratings)

Nicholas and Alexandra covers the rise and fall of the last of the Russian Romanovs. We first meet Czar Nicholas (Michael Jayston) and his German bride Alexandra (Janet Suzman) at their 1894 wedding. Though Nicholas is devoted to Alexandra, the Russian populace is less politely inclined to having a… More Nicholas and Alexandra covers the rise and fall of the last of the Russian Romanovs. We first meet Czar Nicholas (Michael Jayston) and his German bride Alexandra (Janet Suzman) at their 1894 wedding. Though Nicholas is devoted to Alexandra, the Russian populace is less politely inclined to having a "foreigner" as their Czarina. Alexandra gains favor when she gives birth to the much-loved Prince Alexis (Roderick Noble). Alas, Alexis suffers from hemophilia, a disease which strikes every second generation of Alexandra's family. When all conventional medical ministrations fail, Alexandra puts the fate of her son in the hands of mystical holy man Rasputin (Tom Baker, later famous for his portrayal of Doctor Who). As Rasputin's influence and power grows, the Russian peasantry becomes more restless and disgruntled. They are now willing to listen to the speeches of such rabble-rousers as Lenin (Michael Bryant) and Trotsky (Brian Cox), who sow the seeds of revolution. Even after the murder of Rasputin, the Bolsheviks are unsatisfied: The revolution finally comes to pass in October of 1917. At first, the moderate Kerensky (John McEnery) pleads with his followers to allow the Romanovs safe passage out of Russia. But the radicals seize control, and on July 16, 1918, the royal family is summarily executed. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 3 hr. 3 min.
Directed By: Franklin J. Schaffner
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 13, 1971 Wide
On DVD: Aug 24, 1999
Studio: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Variety Staff, Variety
Sam Spiegel comes up with a rarity: the intimate epic, in telling the fascinating story of the downfall of the Romanovs.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
One can be more or less hypnotized by the spectacle of their downfall, but it's difficult to be really moved by it.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The problem with Nicholas and Alexandra is that it considers the Russian Revolution from, in some ways, the least interesting perspective.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
When James Goldman's script hits one of its frequent dead spots, Schaffner's camera is there to take up most of the slack with elegantly designed wide-screen compositions.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
While it remains a treat for the eyes, Nicholas and Alexandra suffers from the filmmakers' attempts to tell too much.
David Parkinson, Empire Magazine
A lengthy, visually impressive period piece with little in the way of new material or fresh spins on history to distinguish it.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
This lavish but a bit stale and overlong epic about the tragic fate of Ruusia's last czar and his wife (well acted by Janet Suzman) was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.
Tom Milne, Time Out
Old-fashioned, overlong costume epic.
Tim Robey, Daily Telegraph
Stodgy, but intermittently absorbing.
, Film4
Production values are high, but it lacks momentum.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
[Features] eye-pleasing production design and costumes.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Approrpriately stately, visually beautiful but pondrous version of the tragic story of the doomed Russian royal family. The acting for the most part is fine but the canvas of events is so large that even at the extensive length almost all other characters excepting the two leads pass… More
Approrpriately stately, visually beautiful but pondrous version of the tragic story of the doomed Russian royal family. The acting for the most part is fine but the canvas of events is so large that even at the extensive length almost all other characters excepting the two leads pass through without much depth. An interesting film but never compelling.

Cast

            Michael Jayston as Nicholas II

            Janet Suzman as Empress Alexandra

            Harry Andrews as Grand Duke Nicholas

            Irene Worth as Empress Dowager Marie Fedorovna

            Jack Hawkins as Count Fredericks

            Laurence Olivier as Count Witte

            Tom Baker as Rasputin

            Steven Berkoff as Pankratov

            Michael Bryant as Lenin

            Maurice Denham as Kokovtsov

            Vernon Dobtcheff as Dr. Lazovert

            Roy Dotrice as Gen. Alexeiev

            Jean-Claude Drouot as Gilliard

            John Forbes-Robertson as Col. Volkov

            Lynne Frederick as Tatiana

            Fiona Fullerton as Anastasia

            Candace Glendenning as Marie

            Julian Glover as Gapon

            Stephen Greif as Martov

            John Hallam as Nagorny

            James Hazeldine as Stalin

            Ian Holm as Yakovlev

            Curd Jürgens as German Consul Sklarz

            Alexander Knox as American Ambassador Root

            Leon Lissek as Avadeyev

            John McEnery as Kerensky

            Roderic Noble as Alexis

            Vivian Pickles as Mme. Krupskaya

            Martin Potter as Prince Yussoupov

            Diana Quick as Sonya

            Michael Redgrave as Sazonov

            George Rigaud as French Ambassador Paleologue

            Guy Rolfe as Dr. Fedorov

            Katherine Schofield as Tegleva

            John Shrapnel as Petya

            Ralph Truman as Rodzianko

            Richard Warwick as Grand Duke Dmitry

            Alan Webb as Yurovsky

            Timothy West as Dr. Botkin

            Brian Cox as Trotsky

            Eric Porter as Stolypin

            John Wood as Col. Kobylinsky

            Ania Marson as Olga

            Penny Sugg as Young Opera Singer

            Gordon Gostelow as Guchkov

            Eric Chapman as Plekhanov

            Alan Dalton as Flautist

            Ralph Neville as British Ambassador Buchanan

            David Giles as Goloshchekin

            David Baxter as Young Bolshevik
See full cast