Anastasia - The Mystery Of Anna
The true story of Anna Anderson, who in 1919 was dragged from a Berlin river after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. After months of amnesia, something triggers her memory. Gradually she reveals that she believes she is Anastasia, the youngest daughter of the last Czar of Russia. Read more
| Starring | Amy Irving, Olivia De Havilland, Omar Sharif, Rex Harrison |
|---|---|
| Director | Marvin J. Chomsky |
| Genres | Drama |
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Anastasia - The Mystery Of Anna
The true story of Anna Anderson, who in 1919 was dragged from a Berlin river after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. After months of amnesia, something triggers her memory. Gradually she reveals that she believes she is Anastasia, the youngest daughter of the last Czar of Russia.
| Starring | Amy Irving, Olivia De Havilland, Omar Sharif, Rex Harrison, Edward Fox, Claire Bloom, Elke Sommer, Jan Niklas |
|---|---|
| Director | Marvin J. Chomsky |
| Studio | PRISM LEISURE |
| Run time | DVD: 3 hrs 7 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | English |
| Released | DVD: 01 Sep 2001 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews
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Directed by Marvin J Chomsky, who made a far superior TV movie about Ted Bundy called The Deliberate Stranger, this umpteenth version of the Anastasia tale was originally a TV mini-series. Amy Irving (Carrie) is out of her depth as the mysterious woman who claims to be the presumed-dead daughter of the Russian Tsar, but Rex Harrison, Edward Fox, Olivia de Havilland and Omar Sharif inject some much needed class. This edited-down version is slightly jarring, but this is still worth a look for all fans of period romps. (The costumes are particularly magnificent.)
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Most helpful member's review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Suprisingly good
When I added this dvd to my list I actually thought it was the cartoon one so was a little suprised when I started to watch it. However it was a really well written, moving and informative film, with an ending that I didnt expect. Worth a watch!
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Most recent members' review
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
Surprisingly insightful
My greatest complaint about this film is that rather than beginning when the amnesiac Anna is found in Germany, it gives us a sort of prologue where Nicholas II's immediate family are portrayed in an unconvincingly sympathetic way - like the Russian equivalent of the Waltons or something - in the run up to their execution. For this section, Anna is played by a young actress so physically unlike Amy Irving (who plays the adult Anna) that it actually lends weight to the Romanov family's doubts later on!
However, once this section is over with, this turns into a surprisingly enjoyable film. Although it does become slightly melodramatic occasionally.
Anna's struggle to gain acceptance from the surviving Romanovs is especially fascinating, because the world she wants entry to doesn't really exist any more. The Romanovs are wary of unsettling things because they are truly struggling to maintain their royal fantasy in the world post WW1.
The love interest - Eric - is a German prince, but he has accepted his new place in the world (in a post-Kaiser Germany), and has adjusted to limit his spending, cut his staff, and to rent out his country house. This is a step the Russian aristocracy find impossible (remember Chekhov's Cherry Garden?).
The DVD also missed the opportunity for some good extra features - there must be a 'straight' documentary out there somewhere which could have been patched on! -
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Anastasia - The Mystery Of Anna
The true story of Anna Anderson, who in 1919 was dragged from a Berlin river after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. After months of amnesia, something triggers her memory. Gradually she reveals that she believes she is Anastasia, the youngest daughter of the last Czar of Russia....
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