Nicholas and Alexandra

Director: Franklin J. Schaffner Franklin J. Schaffner

Overview

"Franklin J. Schaffner's epic about Russian aristocracy comes to DVD with a widescreen transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Mono. English, Spanish, and French subtitles are accessible. This disc offers the original full-length version of the film, talent files, a theatrical trailer, never-before-seen footage, and an interesting featurette made at the time of the film's production. Anyone with a taste for epics will want to take a look at this fine disc."

Product Details

Release Date:	07/27/1999
UPC:	0043396032958
Original Release:	1971
Rating:	PG
Source:	SONY PICTURES
Region Code:	1
Presentation:	[Wide Screen]
Sound:	[monaural]
Language:	English
Time:	3:09:00

Special Features

Digitally remastered audio & video; Production notes; Interactive menus; Langauge: English [mono]; Subtitles: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, Thai; Theatrical trailer; Scene selections; Talent and filmographies; Original featurette

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Michael Jayston	Nicholas
Janet Suzman	Alexandra
Tom Baker	Rasputin
Harry Andrews	Grand Duke Nicholas (Nikolasha)
Roderic Noble	Alexis
Ania Marson	Olga
Lynne Frederick	Tatiana
Candace Glendenning	Marie
Fiona Fullerton	Anastasia
Irene Worth	the Queen Mother
Jack Hawkins	Count Fredericks
Timothy West	Dr. Botkin
Katharine Schofield	Tegleva
Jean-Claude Drouot	Gilliard
John Hallam	Nagorny
Guy Rolfe	Dr. Fedorov
Laurence Olivier	Count Witte
Eric Porter	Stolypin
Michael Redgrave	Sazonov
Maurice Denham	Kokovtsov
Ralph Truman	Rodzianko
Gordon Gostelow	Guchkov
John McEnery	Kerensky
Michael Bryant	Lenin
Vivian Pickles	Mme. Krupskaya
Brian Cox	Trotsky
James Hazeldine	Stalin
Stephen Greif	Martov
Steven Berkoff	Pankratov
Eric Chapman	Plekhanov
Ian Holm	Yakovlev
Alan Webb	Yurovsky
Leon Lissek	Avadeyev
David Giles	Goloshchekin
Roy Dotrice	Gen. Alexeiev
Martin Potter	Prince Yussoupov
Richard Warwick	Grand Duke Dmitry
Vernon Dobtcheff	Dr. Lazovert
Alexander Knox	American Ambassador Root
Ralph Neville	British Ambassador Buchanan
Jorge Rigaud	French Ambassador Paleologue
Curt Jurgens	German Consul Sklarz
Julian Glover	Gapon
John Shrapnel	Petya
Diana Quick	Sonya
John Forbes-Robertson	Col. Volkov
Alan Dalton	Flautist
Penny Sugg	Young Opera Singer
David Baxter	Young Bolshevik
John Wood	Col. Kobylinsky
Richard Rodney Bennett	Composer

Technical Credits

Edward Bond

James Goldman

Eddie Fowlie	Special Effects
Franklin J. Schaffner	Director
Sam Spiegel	Producer
Andrew Donally	Producer
Edward Bond	Screenwriter
James Goldman	Screenwriter

Editorial Reviews

In this 1971 Academy Award-winning film, the cinematography of Freddie Young contrasts the pomp and ceremony of the Russian court of Czar Nicholas II (Michael Jayston) and his beloved wife, Czarina Alexandra (Janet Suzman), with the misery and despair of the czar's poverty-stricken subjects. The result is a visual triumph that captures the supreme elegance of a Russian ball and the abject horror of a czarist assault on ragged peasantry. Although the film's three-hour length and methodical development displeased many critics, aficionados of history, epic spectacle, and larger-than-life characters may find this production an exciting journey through an age in turmoil. The history is accurate, the settings and costumes authentic, and the acting excellent. Jayston is appropriately handsome and haughty, and Suzman both regal and human. Tom Baker is mesmerizing as Rasputin, although his sharp wit and urbanity are historically inaccurate. The film gets an extra kick from old pros Laurence Olivier as Count Witte, Jack Hawkins as Count Fredericks, and Michael Redgrave as Sazonov. The film won Oscars for art and set direction and for costume design. It won Oscar nominations for Best Picture, Best Actress (Suzman), and Best Cinematography.