Search - Nicholas and Alexandra on DVD

MPAA Rating: PG Content Advisory: Violence, Adult Situations, Not For Children Movie Release: 1971 DVD Release: 07/27/1999 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV Edition: Dual Layered Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Korean, Spanish, Thai SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 3 hrs 9 mins Studio: Columbia TriStar Members Wishing: 10 Genres: Epic, Historical Film, Biopic [feature], Historical Epic

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, All Movie Guide

Michael Jayston - Nicholas II
Janet Suzman - Empress Alexandra
Harry Andrews - Grand Duke Nicholas
Irene Worth - Empress Dowager Marie Fedorovna
Jack Hawkins - Count Fredericks
Laurence Olivier - Count Witte
Alan Dalton - Flautist
Michael Redgrave - Sazonov
Alexander Knox - American Ambassador Root
Curd Jürgens - German Consul Sklarz
Ralph Neville - British Ambassador Buchanan

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. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide