An interesting personality prior to the Russian Monarchy's fall was Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin and his seemingly mystic control of the Empress Alexandra. Over the years there would be many motion pictures on the subject of the Monk who held sway over the most powerful woman in Russia. This is a look at a few of those films, but starting with a little background on the real Rasputin.
Above a very rare color photograph of Григорий Ефимович Распутин (Gigori Yefimovich Rasputin)
BEGINNINGS
Rasputin was born in the peasant village of Pokrovskoye, located along the Tura River, in the Tobolsk Govemorate, present day Thymen Oblast, in Siberia. The date under the old style Russian calendar was January 9, 1869, but under the present day calendar, the date becomes January 29, 1869. The boy was Christened and named for "Saint Gregory of Nyssa" on January 10, 1869, old style calendar.
The above photograph was taken in 1912.
His father was Yefim Rasputin, a peasant farmer, born in 1842 in Pokrovskoye, and was also a church elder. His mother was Anna Parshukova and she married Yefim in 1863. The couple had another seven children, but all died in childhood. Stories persist that there may have been a ninth child, a girl named Feodosiya. Whom Grigori became the Godfather to her children. However, according to historian Douglas Smith, in his 2016 work, "Rasputin: Faith, Power, and the Twilight of the Romanov's", although there are many stories of Grigori's youth. No real records exist of this period to actually confirm them.
What we do know as fact, is that in 1886, Rasputin traveled to the town of Abalak, a rural settlement, located now in the Tobolsky District, Tyumen Oblast. There Grigori courted for several months a peasant girl named, Praskoyva Dubrovina. They would be married in February 1887, and have seven children, but only three survived into adulthood. Praskoyva would remain faithful to her husband throughout his travels, while in the Romanov court, and until his death. The family lived with Grigori's father.
Above a photo of Grigori Rasputin with three of his children. Which of the seven these are, I could not locate.
In 1897, Rasputin developed a renewed interest in religion and left his wife of ten years, one child and one on the way, and made a spiritual pilgrimage. There are many stories about his reasons and none can really be confirmed. Although, several revolve around the mythos that was to develop later in life and after his death.
Whatever the true reason, when he returned home, Grigori was a changed man. He had sworn off alcohol, was now a vegetarian, and prayed more than anyone ever saw him do.
THE ROAD TO THE ROMANOV'S
The next few years saw Rasputin leaving his family for more religious pilgrimages. Again, there are stories within stories and speculation around the facts, but, what those facts are is another question altogether.
What is confirmed, is that by 1900, Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin had a small religious following. One of the persistent rumors was that he had joined the "Khlysts". An underground religious sect that had split from the Russian Orthodox Church back in the 1600's and survived into the beginnings of the 1900's. Again, this was never truly proven, but added to Rasputin's mystical story.
At some point in either late 1904, or early 1905, Grigori Rasputin traveled to the city of Kazan, the capitol city of the Republic of Tatarstan. At this time, he developed a very high reputation as an "Elder of the Eastern Orthodox Church". Even though the stories of him having sex with his female followers was spreading. Whatever, the truth, the Archbishop Andrei recommended Grigori to Bishop Sergei, the rector of the "St. Petersburg Theological Seminary", located within the Alexander Nevsky Monastery", and paid his travel expenses to go there. At the Seminary, Grigori Rasputin was introduced to the powerful Archbishop Theofan. Who became his mentor and introduced the Monk to Russian society.
Above, Archbishop Theofan, in the center, and Grigori Rasputin, to his right. Rasputin was involved with the alternative religious movements of spiritualism and theosophy (occultism).
On November 1, 1905, Rasputin was first introduced to Tsar Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov II, at the "Peterhof Palace". The Tsar's diary contains the following entry:
made the acquaintance of a man of God – Grigory, from Tobolsk province
Below the "Peterhof Palace".
THE MYSTIC MONK AND THE ROYAL FAMILY
Rasputin would return to his home in Pokrovskoye in July 1906.
As to when Grigori Yefimovitch Rasputin was introduced to the Tsar and Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna as a healer is debatable. Some sources state it was also on November 1, 1905. Others, July 18, 1906, and some speculate it wasn't until October of the year.
Whatever, the correct date, at some point Rasputin became aware of the Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaaevich Romanov's hemophilia. The boy was born on August 12,1904, on the new calendar, or July 30, 1904, on the old style. Alexi was the youngest of the five Romanov children and the only boy. Making him the heir to the throne. The disease came from Alexi's mother's side of the family and only affecting the males, It had been past to the Tsarina from Alexandra's maternal grandmother, Queen Victoria of England.
It would be Alexi's parent's belief that faith healing could cure their son. That would lead to Grigori Rasputin's control of the Empress and, through her, the Royal family.
Above, Tsar Nicholas II and below Tsarina Alexandra.
Below, Tsesarevich Alexei Nikolaaevich
Above, Prince Felix Yusupov, below, Grand Duke Dimitri Pavlovich
Below, Vladimir Purishkevich
Above, Yakov Yurovsky, and below, the Royal Family.
Left to right, Olga, Maria, Nicholas II, Alexandra, Fyodorovna, Anastasia, Alexi and Tataina in 1913. The rumors, that somehow Anastasia survived the execution, made an interesting tale and I will address that later.
Note:
Left to right, Rasputin, Bishop Hermogen and Iliodor.
The other interesting thing about this picture, is that its Producer and Director, Herbert Brenon, wanted to keep his film up to date. So, even after its initial release. Brenon kept adding footage and eventually in October, 1918, added scenes of the execution of the Romanov family.
The story takes place prior to the start of the Russian Revolution and the end of Rasputin's influence on the Empress. As I mentioned, the story line kept changing, and the film's running time expanding, as events in Russia actually took place. In any form, this motion picture is considered a "Lost Film".
Trivia:
Next came two German motion pictures from 1928.
RASPUTINS LIEBESABENTEUR (RAPUTINS LOVE ADVENTURE) aka: RASPUTIN THE HOLY SINNER aka: THE HOLY SINNER released in Germany on September 26, 1928
The motion picture turned Rasputin into a sympathetic peasant. Who was being exploited by the "boorish upper classes". The Tsar and Tsarina learn of Rasputin's "miracles" and elevated him to their spiritual adviser. His control over Nicholas and Alexandra grows and members of the Russian hierarchy plot his assassination. As a means of freeing the Royal family from Rasputin's control.
The role of "Rasputin" was portrayed by Nikolai Malikoff, seen in the above poster. Of note is that Max Schreck cast as the fictional "Nikolai Nikolajewitch". Schreck will always be known for his portrayal of the vampire in 1922's "Nosferatu". An unauthorized version of Bram Stoker's "Dracula". Apparently, per the cast listing, there was no actor playing either the Tsar or the Tsarina.
DORENWEG EINER FURSTIN (A DUCHESS'S THORN TRAIL) aka: RASPUTIN aka: RASPUTIN THE PRINCE OF SINNERS released in Germany on November 12, 1928
What makes this film interesting, is that it was a German and Russian co-production. Because of this, the film was shot in, or close to the actual places the events took place. The portrayal of Rasputin was completely opposite the earlier German release.
As the earlier film, the cast listing does not indicate any actor portraying members of the royal family.
RASPUTIN, DAMON DER FRAUEN (RASPUTIN, DEMON WITH WOMEN) released in Germany on February 19, 1932
Immediately, lovers of silent German Horror films recognize the name Conrad Veidt, on the above poster, portraying "Rasputin". Veidt portrayed the somnambulist "Cesare" in the 1920 classic "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari". He was also seen in Universal Pictures, 1928 production, of Victor Hugo's "The Man Who Laughs", and 1942's, "Casablanca", starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart.
In this feature, Hermine Sterler portrayed the "Zarin Alexandra" and, Paul Otto portrayed "Zar Nikolaus II, Romanov".
Above Conrad Veidt with Kenny Rieve as "Zarewitsch Alioscha" (Alexi)".
In the tradition of Hollywood fiction based upon real people came:
RASPUTIN AND THE EMPRESS that premiered in New York City, on December 23, 1932. The year of the films release is often moved to 1933, because the General Audience released wasn't until March 24, 1933
The screenplay was by Charles MacArthur. MacArthur turned a Rudyard Kipling poem into a story outline that became the screenplay for the Cary Grant, Victor McLagen and Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., classic 1939 motion picture, "Gunga Din". Also, in 1939, was his screenplay for the Lawrence Olivier, Merle Oberon and David Niven version of Emily Bronte's, "Wuthering Heights", Directed by William Wyler.
All persons fictitious
or a variation of those words.
The Main Cast
As stated, on the above poster, the MGM Publicity Department had a field day with the first, and only, motion picture to feature the three Barrymore siblings together. All three were known stars of the legitimate stage, silent, and now sound motion pictures.
Ethel Barrymore portrayed the "Czarina Alexandra". Ethel first appeared on the motion picture screen in 1914, but by 1932, she was still appearing mainly on her first love, the legitimate stage. It wouldn't be until 1944, that Ethel Barrymore made her next motion picture, "None But the Lonely Heart", co-starring Cary Grant and Barry Fitzgerald. Then it would be another two years, before the Horror Mystery, 1946's, "The Spiral Staircase", starring Dorothy McGuire and George Brent, and her actual motion picture career began in earnest.
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2015/02/captain-nemo-motion-picture-star.html
John Barrymore portrayed "Prince Paul Chegodieff". Among "The Great Profile's" movies are, 1920's, "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", 1922's, "Sherlock Holmes", 1926's, "The Sea Beast", as "Captain Abhab" and the sound remake, 1930's, "Moby Dick". Then another classic, 1931's, "Svengali".
Ralph Morgan portrayed "Czar Nicholai Alexander". Morgan had been acting since 1911, and was always getting confused with his brother Frank, 1939's, "The Wizard of Oz". Ralph was a solid character actor and while his brother was in "Oz". Among seven 1939 features, saw Ralph portray "Stephen F. Austin" in Richard Dix's "Man of Conquest". In 1940, Morgan was in the Basil Rathbone, Ellen Drew and John Howard, Thriller, "The Mad Doctor", and in 1942, Ralph Morgan was "The Night Monster".
Above, Diana Wynyard and John Barrymore.
Above, the real Princess Irina Yusupov.
The motion picture implied that she was a rape victim of Rasputin, which never happened. There were two monetary settlements. In an English Court, the Princess was awarded $127,373, and there was an additional out-of-court settlement with MGM of $250,000. The total at the time of this writing would equate to $7,244,845. Additionally, MGM had to remove the scene of the rape from the all prints and this caused audience confusion over the character as the story progressed.
The "Czar" and the "Empress" are unaware that a revolution is brewing, but "Prince Paul" knows and is very concerned over the plight of the common people. The heir to the throne, "Prince Alexi", played by Tad Alexander, is beloved of the people, but has hemophilia and falls causing a life threatening emergency. The royal physician, "Dr. Remezov", played by Edward Arnold, can't stop the bleeding. "Prince Paul" and his wife, "Natasha" suggest the monk "Rasputin", a known healer, to the royal couple. "Rasputin" is sent for and out of sight of "Nicholas" and "Alexander", he hypnotizes the young "Czarevitch" and stops his pain.
"Prince Paul" fears what "Rasputin" is attempting to do will lead to the downfall of Russia and the Monarchy. However, even his wife "Natasha" believes in "Rasputin". but even so. "Paul" attempts an assassination, but it fails. As the monk was wearing a steel breastplate that stops the bullet. "Nicholas", believing fully in the good of "Grigori Rasputin", forces "Prince Paul Chegodieff" to resign his position at the Royal Court.
"Rasputin" now makes advances toward the "Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna Romanov", played by Jean Parker. Below, "Alexi" and his sister "Maria" in "Rasputin and the Empress".
Below, the real "Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna Romanov" in 1914. At the time of the scene in the motion picture, she would have been 15 years old,
A big party takes place with "Grigori Rasputin" as the guest of honor. However, he recognizes one of the servants, who brought him his favorite small cakes, as being "Paul's" servant and becomes suspicious. The Monk now orders his men to search the house and they find both "Prince Paul" and "Dr. Remezov". At gunpoint, "Rasputin" takes "Prince Paul" to the cellar so that he can personally kill his "greatest enemy".
In the cellar, "Prince Paul" starts to taunt "Grigori Rasputin", by telling him the cakes he ate were full of poison. "Paul" leaps at "Rasputin" and a struggle begins, but the Monk just refuses to die.
The film ends with "Rasputin's" prophecy to "Prince Paul" coming true. As the Russian Revolution breaks out and the Bolsheviks execute the entire Romanov family.
One would think that the story of Grigori Rasputin would be a very serious subject. However, one overlooks Rudolf Carl Ising who was both the Director and main animator to Warner Brothers studios "Merrie Melodies" cartoon series.
WAKE UP THE GYPSY IN ME released May 13, 1933
Returning to live action was:
LA TRAGEDIE IMPERIALE (THE IMPERIAL TRAGEDY) aka: RASPUTIN released in France on January 28, 1938
Above, Harry Bauer as "Rasputine (Rasputin)" and Carine Nelson as "Ania Kitina".
I could not locate a specific story line other than its follows "Grigori Rasputin's" rise and his fall. The following are stills from the motion picture. The first still, far right, shows co-star Marcelle Chantal as "Tsarine Alexandra" and Jean Worms as Tsar Nicholas II".
RASOUTINE (RASPUTIN) released in France on July 19, 1954
Once again all I could locate about the screenplay was that it's about Rasputin's rise to power and fall. However, in this version, it is the fictional, "La Princesse Dikvona", played by Denise Grey, that introduces "Gregory Lefimovich Raspoutine", played by Pierre Brasseur, to the "La Tsarine Alexandra", played by Isa Miranda, and "Le Tsar Nicholas II", played by Robert Burnier.
For Italy the film was entitled:
L'ULTIMO ZAR (THE LAST TSAR) released in Italy on May 12, 1960
For France the film was entitled:
LES NUITS DE RASPOUTINE (RASPUTIN NIGHTS) released in France on July 29, 1960
For the English language release the title, like many French and Italian movies of the period, depended upon where you lived, because there were three basic ones.
John Drew Barrymore portrayed "Prince Felix Yousoupoff". He was the son of John and father of Drew, but to me he was one under appreciated actor. He made Westerns with Robert Preston and George C. Scott, appeared in forgotten motion pictures with Russ Tamblyn and Steve McQueen. However, it were those 1960's Peplum and Historical films, like this one, from Italy, that I loved in my teens. My article, "A Fan Remembers the Films of JOHN DREW BARRYMORE", is available to read at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/03/a-fan-remembers-films-of-john-drew.html
Jany Clair portrayed "Irina Yousoupoff". Among Clair's films are 1959's "Legions of the Nile", starring Linda Cristal as "Cleopatra". The Italian Science Fiction film, 1962's, "The Planets Around Us", 1963's, "Conquest of Mycene", starring Gordon Scott, and the 1964 Spaghetti Western, "The Road to Fort Alamo"
This is actually a superior version of the events compared to the two French productions that proceeded it and 1932's, "Rasputin and the Empress". The picture concentrates on the plot to murder Rasputin and "Prince Felix Yousoupoff (Yusupov)". Rather than attempting to give a history of "Grigori Rasputin's" life and basically starts when it appears "Alexi" is cured.
RASPUTIN THE MAD MONK released in the United Kingdom on March 6, 1966
I said, if Hinds, son of Hammer Films founder William Hinds, wrote it, because he was known to pay others to write a screenplay and then place his name, or Tony Hinds and John Elder, on the screenplay and film credits. He used John Elder on this picture.
The picture was filmed immediately after, 1966's, "Dracula: Prince of Darkness", using the same sets, and starring the four stars of the "Dracula" feature film.
Christopher Lee portrayed "Grigori Rasputin". He would appear in two more 1966 releases, "Circus of Fear" aka: Psycho-Circus" and ""The Brides of Fu Manchu". In the November 2002 issue of "Fangoria", Lee said of this role:
The only way you can present him is the way he was historically described. He was a lecher and a drunk, and definitely had healing powers. So he was a saint and a sinner... There were very few good sides to him. Rasputin is one of the best things I’ve done.
My article, "BARBARA SHELLEY: Hammer Pictures Horror Queen". will be found at:
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2019/06/barbara-shelley-hammer-pictures-horror.html
The film opens with "Grigori Rasputin" healing the "Wife", played by Mary Quinn, of an "Innkeeper", played by Derrek Francis. Rasputin is brought before an "Orthodox Russian Abbott", played by John Welsh, and claims he acts sexually immoral to give God more sins to forgive. The innkeeper defends the Monk, who claims he can heal people with his hands. The Bishop claims, "Rasputin's" power must come Satan.
Above, Richard Pasco, and below, Renee Asherton
There is no hemophilia for "Alexi", played by Robert Duncan, but an accident the hypnotized "Sonia" causes. Allowing "Rasputin" being brought to the court to heal the boy.
They confront the Monk, but "Peter" has acid thrown in his face and will die a slow death.
J'AI TUE RASPUTINE (I KILLED RASPUTIN) first shown at the Cannes Film Festival on April 12, 1967
Gert Frobe, as Gert Froebe, portrayed "Grigori Rasputin". Although, German actor Frobe, had been appearing in German motion pictures since 1942. Although the actor was in the American made, 1953, "Man on a Tightrope", starring Frederic March, Terry Moore and Gloria Graham. Had a small role in Darryl F. Zanuck's, 1962 World War 2 epic, "The Longest Day". It was Frobe, in the title role and as a "James Bond" villain, in 1964's, "Goldfinger". Which brought him Worldwide recognition.
Geraldine Chaplin portrayed "Mounia Golovine". Chaplin was the daughter of Oona O'Neil Chaplin, making her the granddaughter of playwright Eugene O'Neil, and the "Little Tramp", himself, Charlie Chaplin. Her first role was as the little girl on the steps, in her father's classic 1952, "Limelight". She had 3rd billing in Director David Lean's, 1965, "Dr. Zhivago", co-starring with Omar Sharif and Julie Christie. Then some minor, non-credited roles until this feature.
Peter McEnery portrayed "Prince Felix Yusupov". McEnery had just starred in Walt Disney's, 1966, "The Fighting Prince of Donegal"
In the above scene as the plotters prepare to murder "Rasputin", Peter McEnery is second from the left.
Princess Virginia von Furstenberg portrayed "Irina Yusupova". Yes, the German actress, jewelry designer and socialite, is a real Princess. She's seen with Peter McEnery below.
NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA had a Royal Premiere in London, on November 29, 1971
Goldman's screenplay for "Nicholas and Alexandra", with mostly historical accuracy, names Thirty-eight actual people. Who are divided up into Four Groups per Robert K. Massey's work:
"The Royal Family", "The Royal Household", "The Statesmen" and "The Revolutionaries". Which include, Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin.
Michael Jayston portrayed "Tsar Nicholas II". Jayston was a British television actor prior to this motion picture. He was in the Richard Harris and Sir Alec Guinness, 1970, British biography motion picture, "Cromwell" and appeared in a television production of William Shakespeare's, "Macbeth", in the title role that same year.
Janet Suzman portrayed "Tsarina Alexandra". Suznan also came from the World of British television dramas and portrayed "Lady Macbeth" opposite Michael Jayston. She would return to those Historical and Literature based television dramas.
Above, Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman.
Harry Andrews portrayed Nicholas' cousin, "The Grand Duke Nicholas (Nikolasha)". Andrews was a familiar face in British television and motion pictures. Just in 1956, Andrews was seen as "Hector" in Robert Wise's "Helen of Troy", "Darius" in the Richard Burton feature, "Alexander the Great", and "Stubb" in John Huston's version of Melville's, "Moby Dick".
http://www.bewaretheblog.com/2017/12/sir-arthur-conan-doyles-hound-of_13.html
Jack Hawkins portrayed "Count Adolf Andreas Woldemar Freededreicksz, Minister of the Imperial Court". Hawkins was another familiar face in British motion pictures. Although, he portrayed the builder of the "Great Pyramid", the "Pharaoh Khufu" in Howard Hawks', 1955, "Land of the Pharaohs". In 1957, he was in David Lean's, "The Bridge on the River Kwai", he was "General Allenby" in David Lean's, 1962, "Lawrence of Arabia" and was in the cast of the Sean Connery, Euro-Western, 1968's, "Shalako", based upon a Louis L'Amour novel.
The story opens in 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War and the birth of the "Tsesarevich Alexi", played by Roderic Noble, in one of his only two on-screen appearances.
Switch to January 1905, "Alexandra", who is German, is disliked by the majority of Russians and especially those in the court. "Alexi" is diagnosed with hemophilia and the Russian doctors can not deal with it properly. The Tsarina hears of a healer Monk, a Serbian peasant, named "Grigori Rasputin". She has "Rasputin" brought to court and he claims he can heal her son.
At the Royal Hunting Lodge in the town of Spala, "Alexi" falls and starts bleeding heavily. "Alexandra" writes to "Rasputin" and he responds with a letter of comfort as her son recovers.
In 1915, the war appears to be going badly for Russia and "Nicholas" decides to take charge of the troops himself. He goes to the front, bringing his experienced cousin the "Grand Duke Nicholas". He leaves the "Czarina Alexandra" in charge of Russia's Home Front.
"Alexandra" reinstates "Grigori Rasputin" at court and he becomes her main advisor. As a result the Czarina starts making bad decisions creating more unrest for the working class.
Above the "Romonov Family" in happier times and below, the family in July 1918 with the family physician "Yevgeny Sergeyevich Botkin aka: Dr. Eugene Botkin", played by Timothy West. Botkin would also be executed with the Romanov's.
The picture was Directed and Produced by Elem Klimov. He would direct 14 motion pictures between 1959 and 1985 in the Soviet Union.
It should be noted that Elem Kimov fought the Russian government over the release of this motion picture. In September 1982, the film was an entry in the Venice, Italy Film Festival, on January 14 1983, the picture opened in East Germany and on February 19th, was shown in the Berlin Film Festival on the Western side. It would slip into the United States as "Rasputin", on October 1985, at the Chicago Film Festival.
Ian McKellen portrayed "Tsar Nicholas II". Back in 1966, the actor starred in a British mini-series as Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield". In 1995, McKellen stared in a reimaging of William Shakespeare's, "Richard III", set in 1930. In 2000, Ian McKellen would become "Eric Lehnsherr: Magneto" in "X-Men". In 2001, McKellen portrayed "Gandalf" in the first of Director Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Ring's Trilogy".
This made for television movie had a very interesting and unusual beginning. It starts with the discovery in 1991 of the remains of both "Tsar Nicholas II", "Tsarina Alexandra" and their family except "Alexi" and "Maria". Then the voice of the "Tsarevich Alexi Nikolaevich", played by Freddie Finlay, starts to narrate the events.
Note: The actual remains were located in 1979, but this was not revealed until 1991. In 2007, the remains of "Alexi" and "Maria" were discovered. The total identified were the seven Romanov's and four servants. As to the legend that the 17 years old "Grand Duchess Anastasia" escaped I mentioned earlier. The person mostly associated with the tale was Anna Anderson. However, after her death, DNA evidence proved she was not related to the Romanov's. For those interested, the following link takes my reader to an article about the discovery of the remains of the Royal Family.
https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/ny-romanov-family-bones-20200719-n7nnyvftdvb5fn2dp4o36bybve-story.html
The story switches to 1883 in Western Serbia, as "Rasputin's" father asks the "Young Rasputin", played by Tamas Toth, to perform magic. He has a vision that one of the on-lookers is a horse thief, his father slaps him for such a statement, but the man turns out to be a horse thief.
Switch to 1903, and "Rasputin" has a vision of the "Virgin Mary". She tells him to become a priest, "Rasputin" becomes famous in Serbia and even a Bishop asks for the new Priest to bless him.
"Alexandra" asks to see a spiritual healer to possibly help "Alexi" and "Grigori Rasputin" arrives in St. Petersburg. At "Alexi's" bedside, "Rasputin" startles "Nicholas" and "Alexandra" by asking "Alexi" about his leg, because no one has told him of "Alexi's" exact illness. "Rasputin" places his hand on the boy's leg and makes him relax by seeing images of boats sailing. The Tsarevich is now resting easy as the Tsarina watches the healer limp away. She is given the impression that the Priest has absorbed her son's pain into his own body.
The next day "Alexi" awakes in perfect health and claims that "Rasputin" has cured him. While, "Dr. Botkin" claims it was the result of the treatment he began the week before.
This starts "Alexandra's" belief in and trust of "Grigori Rasputin". She visits him and he questions her faith in God and puts the blame of her son's weakness on her. "Rasputin" is invited to move into the palace.
"Dr. Botkin" tells "Prime Minister Pyotr Stolypin", played by John Wood, what he believes is happening and "Stolypin" orders detectives to investigate "Grigori Rasputin". The detectives report back, confirming the stories being told about the Priest. "Stolypin" now goes to "Nicholas" with his findings and the stories that are circulating throughout Russia about "Rasputin's" closeness to the Imperial Family and especially "Alexandra". That same night, a drunken "Grigori Rasputin" is brought before "Tsar Nicholas", after being heard to be making obscene comments about the Imperial Family. "Nicholas" banishes him, but before he leaves. "Rasputin" prophesizes a terrible future for Russia and the assassination of "Prime Minister Stolypin". A month later, "Stolypin" is murdered during the "Romanov Tercentenary" and "Nicholas" is informed of the start of the First World War.
"Alexi" now suffers another major bleeding spell and "Alexandra" begs "Nicholas", whose leading his troops, to bring back "Rasputin". This is done, while millions of Russian soldiers are dying in the war.
A group of men led by "Prince Felix Yusupov", played by James Frain, decide to murder "Grigori Rasputin". They invite the Priest to "Yusupov's" palace for a party on December 30, 1916. During the party, the Priest is given his favorite cakes laced with poison, but it seems he has a resistance to it.
"Yusupov" shoots "Rasputin", but he still doesn't die. "Grigori Rasputin" leaves the house, stumbles through the courtyard and is shot another four times. The Priest finally collapses, dies and his body is thrown into the Malaya Nevka River.
"Alexandra" is given a note written by "Rasputin". In it he states his knowledge that he would be killed and warns her, if it was by Nobles. Then within the next two years the Imperial Family will also be killed.
In 1917, "Tsar Nicholas II" is forced to abdicate and the Imperial Family, "Dr. Botkin", and some servants are sent into exile.
On July 17, 1918, the Imperial Family is executed as predicted by "Grigori Rasputin".
RASPUTIN released September 4, 2010 at the Venice Italy film festival
Below is the one scene from the film I found, and it is obviously from a gun history page. It's apparently "Jusupov" shooting "Rasputin".
RASPOUTINE was released in France on December 20, 2011. The Russian release date was June 29, 2013 at the Moscow Film Festival. The motion picture never came to the United States.
Gerard Depardieu portrayed "Grigori Raspoutine". French actor Depardieu would be voiced by
Russian actor Sergei Garmash in the Russian language release.
Vladimir Mashkov portrayed "Nicolas II"
Above, is Russian actor Filipp Yankovskiy as "Prince Felix Youssoupova".
Below the real Zinaida Yusupova.
"Princess Zinaida" convinces her son to murder "Raspoutine" for the good of "Mother Russia" and the film concludes with that event.
As of this writing the above are all the films I could locate about Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin.
ANNA ANDERSON
Before the DNA Evidence, there would be several women coming forth to claim to be the Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna Romonav. Based upon the ever present rumors of her escape going through the late 1960's.
Anastasia in 1914 at age 13.
Her birth name was Franziska Schanzkowska, or was it? Over the years she would be known as Fraulein Unbekannt, Anna Tschaikovsky, Anatasia Tschaikovsky, Anatasia Manahan, from a 1968 marriage, and Anna Anderson. She was the most popular impersonator of Anastasia Romonov.
As she had no identification papers and refused to tell her name. The woman was admitted as Fraulein Unbekannt (Miss Unknown). She would be transferred to a mental hospital in Dalldorf, now Wittenau, Germany. She remained there for two full years.
In early 1922, another patient, Clara Peuthert started claiming that "Miss Unknown" was in reality the Grand Duchess Tatiana of Russia, the second daughter of "Czar Nicholas" and "Czarina Alexandra", seen below.
Upon her release, Clara Peuthert, told Russian émigré Captain Nicholas von Schwabe that she saw Tatiana alive. Schwabe visited the unknown woman and apparently accepted her as Tatiana Romanov. He passed on the news to the Russian émigré community and Baroness Sophia Buxhoeveden visited the women in question, but stated she was too short to be Tatiana. The subject was closed, but a nurse at Dalldorf claimed that in 1921 the young woman claimed her first name was Anastasia.
Apparently, in May 1922, Peuthert, von Schwabe and another émigré, Zinaida Tolstoy, no relation to the author, now believed the young woman was actually the Grand Duchess Anastasia. While, Buxhoeveden, again, claimed otherwise, and made her views known to the Russian émigré population.
In 1927, a private investigation into the woman know calling herself, Anna Anderson, was started by "Tsarina Alexandra's" brother, Ernest Louis, Grand Duke of Hesse. His investigation identified Anna Anderson as Franziska Schanzkowska.
Every Russian émigré knows that there is ten million English pounds being held in a bank in England in Anastasia's name. Bounine has his associates locate the young woman and when he approaches her. Calling the young woman the Grand Duchess Anastasia. She eludes him and attempts to kill herself in the River Seine and he saves her from drowning.
First, "Anna" and "Bounine" realize they love each other.
Second, "Anna" meets in private with "Anastasia's" grandmother. As the two talk, "Anna" reveals things that only the real "Anastasia Romonov" would know and no way could "General Bounine's" teaching have taught her.
There was another version of the Anna Anderson story, but this was an animated musical from Producers and Directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman.
ANASTASIA released November 14, 1997
The screenplay for the animated feature started out in late 1994 as a very adult and fact based story, but Bluth and Goldman decided that the history of the Romanov's was too dark. In 1995, changes began to be made with the first of five writers, including a non-credited Carrie Fisher, toward a more family oriented story. However, the two producers still needed a villain and didn't want to use Lenin. They decided to use Grigori Rasputin and change his history as they would do with Anastasia's.
The story starts out in 1916, in Petrograd, aka; St Petersburg, Russia, at the Romanov Tercentenary. Anastasia is supposedly 8 years old at the time. However, having been born in 1901, she should have been 15 years old, and two years prior to her death in reality.
Ten years later, Dimitri is a conman, and hears about the 10-million-ruble reward for finding Anastasia offered by the Dowager Empress. In a variation of the 1956 motion picture, he meets a girl named Anya and turns her into Anastasia. Neither realizing that's who she is, but again the historical problem with the screenplay, is that it's now 1928. Anastasia is 18 years old, Rasputin didn't drown as thought, or was murdered back in 1916. In this story he's back and out for revenge, but true love conquerors all.
Anastasia and Dimitri elope and she sends a letter to her grandmother, promising to return some day.
There was another motion picture, a Horror Film with Science Fiction touches, that had an obvious version of Rasputin.
GRIGORI RASPUTIN MEETS THE THING FROM ANOTHER WORLD
This is a true version of John W. Campbell, Jr's novella, "Who Goes There?", made in Spain. As the above poster indicates, the motion picture stars British actors Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. Along with American actor Telly Savalas.
The story takes place in Czarist Russia in 1906 and mainly on-board "Trans-Seberian Railroad". One person the alien takes possession of, is a Rasputin-like monk.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=1972+horror+express&docid=608041281841154957&mid=7B3C0B58441048516EA47B3C0B58441048516EA4&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
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