Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny Movie Review 1996

Charismatic Russian peasant/mystic Grigori Rasputin (a mesmerizing Rickman), having received a vision of the Virgin Mary, comes to St. Petersburg in order to relieve the suffering of young hemophiliac, Prince Alexei (Findlay). Tsarina Alexandra (Scacchi) approves of anyone who can help her stricken son while Tsar Nicholas II (McKellen) tentatively agrees to accept the self-proclaimed holy man into the Russian court. Fine performances and beautiful photography. Filmed in St. Petersburg.

Distribution

HBO, 1100 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, Phone: (212)512-7400, Fax: (212)512-7498, URL: http://www.hbo.com, Remarks: Online sales through www.store.hbo.com

Available on VHS
Running time 120 minutes.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Historical Drama, This Is Your Life, Royalty, Russian, True Stories, Period Piece: 20th Century, Disease of the Week, Monks

Screenplay

Peter Bruce

Cast

Alan Rickman, Ian McKellen, Greta Scacchi, Freddie Findlay, David Warner, John Wood, James Frain, Diana Quick, Ian Hogg, Peter Jeffrey, Ian McDiarmid, Julian Curry

Cinematography

Elemer Ragalyi

Director

Uli Edel

Music

Brad Fiedel

Producer

Nick Gillott, David Kirkpatrick, HBO Pictures, Rysher Entertainment