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 |
loading...
-
Critics' reviews
View all -
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.)
-
Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
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!
-
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! -
UNINSPIRED
WOODEN ACTING IN THIS ALL ROUND SECOND RATE MOVIE
-
Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
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! -
Interesting
An interesting and moving account. The film is a little bit dated but I didn't think it lost anything for that.
-
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!
-
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! -
UNINSPIRED
WOODEN ACTING IN THIS ALL ROUND SECOND RATE MOVIE
-
Interesting
An interesting and moving account. The film is a little bit dated but I didn't think it lost anything for that.
-
The Story of Anna Anderson???
Very, VERY loosely based on the story of Anna Anderson - with the emphasis on the word 'loose'! If you have read any of the books depicting Anna Anderson's life, don't get over-excited about this. You'll be disappointed, to say the least. The order of events is somewhat changed - in some cases, key events - and some of the main characters names have changed (Gleb Botkin suddenly becomes Sergei Markov, to give just one example!).
If, on the other hand, you have never read any of the factual events - then take a huge pinch of salt, watch this - and then get to your local library as soon as possible to see read what actually happened - the actual story is so much more mesmerising.
- < Prev
- 1
- Next >
Critics' reviews
-
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.)
Buy from the LOVEFiLM shop
-
-
-
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....
-
Celebrity collection
Chris Rock (4)
53.6% from 17 members
Related user collection
Otto Part's top - Teen films (28)
70% from 4 members
