Derek Winnert

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This article was written on 27 Dec 2016, and is filled under Reviews.

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Nicholas and Alexandra **** (1971, Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, Lynne Frederick, Fiona Fullerton, Harry Andrews, Laurence Olivier, Tom Baker, Michael Redgrave, Irene Worth, Jack Hawkins, Alexander Knox) – Classic Movie Review 4,811

Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman grab their movie star opportunities to shine as the Russian royal pair Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra in director Franklin J Schaffner’s 1971 film Nicholas and Alexandra.

Those distinguished actors Michael Jayston and Janet Suzman grab their movie star opportunities to shine as the Russian royal pair Tsar Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra in director Franklin J Schaffner’s film Nicholas and Alexandra, a careful, level-headed 1971 historical epic about the final days of the tsars. It is a double Oscar-winner.

Jayston and Suzman are supported by an extremely fine all-star cast of the day, and among those enjoying themselves most are Tom Baker in the showy role of mad monk Rasputin and Irene Worth as the Queen Mother Marie Fedorovna.

This sumptuous movie was expensively and gorgeously photographed by cinematographer Freddie Young in Yugoslavia and Spain. But, alas, not enough people bought tickets to recoup the $11 million cost.

James Goldman [screenplay] and Edward Bond [additional dialogue]’s literate, historical-minded screenplay, adapting the book by Robert K Massie, is a strong asset. And so are the handsome production by designer John Box and those guest appearances of seemingly all of British Equity from Laurence Olivier (as Count Witte) down.

Also in the marvellous cast are Roderic Noble, Ania Marson, Lynne Frederick, Candace Glendenning, Fiona Fullerton as Anastasia, Harry Andrews, Michael Redgrave, Jack Hawkins, Alexander Knox as The American Ambassador, Timothy West, Katherine Schofield, Jean-Claude Drouot, John Hallam, Guy Rolfe, John Wood, Eric Porter, Maurice Denham, Ralph Truman, Gordon Gostelow, John McEnery, Vivian Pickles, Brian Cox, James Hazeldine, Stephen Greif, Martin Potter as Prince Yussoupov, Richard Warwick as Grand Duke Dmitry, Vernon Dobtcheff as Dr Lazovert, Steven Berkoff as Pankratov, Ian Holm as Yakovlev, Alan Webb as Yurovsky, Leon Lissek as Avadeyev, David Giles as Goloshchekin, Ralph Neville, George Rigaud, Curd Jürgens, Julian Glover, John Shrapnel, Diana Quick, John Forbes-Robertson, Robin Askwith, Jeremy Brett and Roy Dotrice as General Alexeiev.

The superb Best Art Direction-Set Decoration (John Box, Ernest Archer, Jack Maxsted, Gil Parrondo, Vernon Dixon) and Best Costume Design (Yvonne Blake, Antonio Castillo) won Oscars.

RIP Spain’s Gil Parrondo, double Oscar-winning art director for Patton and Nicholas and Alexandra, who died on 24 December 2016 in Madrid, aged 95.

RIP Roy Dotrice (1923–2017).

RIP Michael Jayston (born Michael James  29 October 1935 – 5 February 2024),

He played Peter Guillam opposite Alec Guinness in the series Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in 1979.

His films include Cromwell as Henry Ireton (1970), Nicholas and Alexandra – Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (1971), Follow Me! – Charles (1972), Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – Charles Dodgson (1972), Bequest to the Nation – Captain Hardy (1973), The Homecoming – Teddy (1973), Tales That Witness Madness – Brian (segment 3 “Mel”) (1973), Craze – Detective Sgt Wall (1974), The Internecine Project – David Baker (1974), Dominique – Arnold Craven (1978), Zulu Dawn – Col. Crealock (1979), From a Far Country – Narrator (1981), Highlander III: The Final Dimension – Jack Donovan (1994) and Element of Doubt – Kirk (1996).

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4,811

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

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