The Kitchen Boy The Movie

[Ally Kumari]

There are other things that attract people to the Romanovs not just the mystery. Their lives and the unbelievably love they had for each other, their death alone (not just the mystery of it...but the horror of it), their beauty, etc. There are other reasons people love them. I don't think their appeal will truly fade.

This is exactly what attracted me to Imperial family in the first place. Their story is so amazing - in every possible way - so captivating. One of the greatest stories in history, at least htat´s what I think.

[Imperial_Grounds]

There are other things that attract people to the Romanovs not just the mystery. Their lives and the unbelievably love they had for each other, their death alone (not just the mystery of it...but the horror of it), their beauty, etc. There are other reasons people love them. I don't think their appeal will truly fade.

This is exactly what attracted me to Imperial family in the first place. Their story is so amazing - in every possible way - so captivating. One of the greatest stories in history, at least htat´s what I think.

I agree it is one of the best, more dramatic, tales of royalty. Aleksei's illness, the quiet family life, the love they shared as a family, Nicholas and Alexandra being who're meant to be so in love and wrong to rule(both shy, devoted to faith and God too mcuh and too much belief in the autocratic rule), the mystery of Rasputin and the way their world, and that of Russia, was shattered by revolution that ended in such a tragedy.

For me it was the captivating story too, I came to know them because of Anastasia but one is touched by the tragic story behind the mystery.

____

As for the movie, it could be good but it should be stated that it is only fiction - based on history. But that is probably just dreaming since that would keep intrest even less with the popular audiences.

[Kuna]

I have to admit my first experience of the Romanovs was through the cartoon movie of Anastasia, but I didn't get interested until about 8th grade when we learned about them in school. Of course I was too young then to really pursue it and then about a year and a half ago I read The Kitchen Boy. Maybe that's why I love this book so much. It's really the reason I started looking them up, and reading books about them. I've read it twice now.

I know a lot of people are sick of books that show anyone of the family surviving but I love those books. I know they are untrue and I enjoy reading historically accurate books as well of course, but I find them fun none the less.

[Ladyshiva]

I read the book and loved it. I just hope if they do a movie based on The Kitchen Boy, they do a good job in producing it. Hollywood nowadays has a bad habit of messing up adaptations of books to movies.

[LisaDavidson]

I read the book and loved it. I just hope if they do a movie based on The Kitchen Boy, they do a good job in producing it. Hollywood nowadays has a bad habit of messing up adaptations of books to movies.

Hollywood has never let a good book stop them from making a bad movie!

The fact The Kitchen Boy has been optioned does not mean a film will be made. Some projects stay in development for eons - or many years, depending on how you calculate. But, the option on the book will expire at some point and if no film is made, the rights will go up for sale again.

[Robert_Hall]

So true, Lisa.  Since films began, many liberties are taken.  It needs the right screenplay, actors and  production. Even if it is work of fiction.

[Vecchiolarry]

Hi,

The problem with any historic movie is that they need to condense years into 2 or 2 1/2 hours of film.
Eg - "Nicholas and Alexandra" - even though the film starts in 1904 and ends 14 years later, they still had to cut out most of their life story.

My main complaint with this picture, even though I love the movie as a whole, is having rasputin introduced to Nicholas and Alexandra at a birthday party for Maria Feodorovna in the Anichkov Palace.
MF would never have had such a guest in her home and never ever met the lout!!

But because of this movie, there are people today who think Rasputin was Maria Feodorovna's priest.   Eeek.......

Larry

[Robert_Hall]

Yes, there are several details in N&A that are wrong or misplaced, but those  are not important to the essential story.
 The Kitchen Boy is a work of pure fiction.  There is no limit to liberties than can be taken.   Almost like science fiction.
 

[LisaDavidson]

Yes, there are several details in N&A that are wrong or misplaced, but those are not important to the essential story.
 The Kitchen Boy is a work of pure fiction.  There is no limit to liberties than can be taken.  Almost like science fiction.
 

Very much like science fiction!

One of his granddaughters told me Prince Vasili Alexandrovich was hired by the producers of "Nicholas and Alexandra" as a technical advisor. He found the historical mistakes so upsetting, he got up and left the premier screening of the film!

And of course, when the cartoon "Anastasia" came out, it was really science fiction! When we challenged the producers about the truly ghastly errors in the film they said, "she (Anastasia) and all her relatives are dead". When informed she still had living cousins who remembered her, they didn't care!

[Robert_Hall]

Well, Lisa, that Anastasia cartoon was just another Disney  attraction, I think there was no pretense of being historically accurate. It just got a lot of little girls interested in the fantasy.
 I dislike people who criticise N&A. It was just a movie, after all.  It was made to make money, not teach history. I saw it when it first came out and  have watched it many times since.  I like the film.  Beautifully done. Great acting. But it is still  just a movie.
 As for your Prince, well that was just being a snob.
  However, for The Kitchen Boy, if it gets made at all, I hope it will be a quality production. It is a good story, but just that- a story, told well.  No doubt if it indeed end up on the screen,  there will be plenty here picking it apart.  What a waste of time.

[LisaDavidson]

Well, Lisa, that Anastasia cartoon was just another Disney  attraction, I think there was no pretense of being historically accurate. It just got a lot of little girls interested in the fantasy.
 I dislike people who criticise N&A. It was just a movie, after all.  It was made to make money, not teach history. I saw it when it first came out and  have watched it many times since.  I like the film.  Beautifully done. Great acting. But it is still  just a movie.
 As for your Prince, well that was just being a snob.
  However, for The Kitchen Boy, if it gets made at all, I hope it will be a quality production. It is a good story, but just that- a story, told well.  No doubt if it indeed end up on the screen,  there will be plenty here picking it apart.  What a waste of time.

Actually "Anastasia" was released by Fox, not Disney. If it made no pretense, why then did the producers obtain rights to use the real Anastasia's artwork in the film? I draw the line at mixing truth and fiction in movies marketed to children. I did then, and I do now.

Prince Vasili was hardly "my prince" and was very far from being a snob. His aunt and uncle were in his opinion misrepresented in a film released worldwide. If the depiction of these relatives upset him, he was entitled to his opinion - especially since presumably he had told the filmmakers what they were really like - a person does not have to be a snob to have such an opinion!

You are entitled to dislike people who criticize N & A - I think that's a bit extreme though! People have very different tastes, especially in films.

[Robert_Hall]

  I thought Anastasia was a Disney animation. Oh well,  I have never seen it and have no plans to. From the bits and pieces I have seen of it, it looks Disney, whether it is  or not.  I
 And yes, my opinion is just that- an opinion  just like any others. 
 As for Prince Vailiy,  just how well did he actually know the IF? They were pretty isolated from the rest of the family were thewy not? How old was he to know what they were like.   Just whitch Vasily was he? I can look him up. If he did not even bother to stay and watch the film, to me, it seems pretentious snobbery. Again, IMO, there is not affront to N&A in the movie.  just some historical license was taken. I have met a few Romanovs over the years, and most are over that  nonsense now.

[*Tina*]

  I thought Anastasia was a Disney animation. Oh well,  I have never seen it and have no plans to. From the bits and pieces I have seen of it, it looks Disney, whether it is  or not.

Anastasia was a 20th Century Fox production, as far as I can remember. Although I often hear lots of people confusing in with Disney.

[I am_Tatianochka]

Is this going to be a full length feature film?

[Debelle]

Yes, indeed.  Mr. Alexander's fine novel may become a movie.  I was fortune to recently attend one of his lectures here in Vero Beach Florida.  He was promoting his newest book, The Romanov Bride.  He said the Kitchen Boy may become a movie.  The deal is in the making.That is very exciting.

Mr. Alexander is a gracious and fine individual, not the pompus type that you would expect from a published author.  He is fun to listen to as he recalls his early memories of living in Russia during the Communist rule. His grasp on the N & A period is amazing.  Hard to believe that he omes from Scottish roots, not Russian.  He, however, has a Russian soul.

I gave him copies of my great-grandmother's birth record, a family picture taken around 1904, and a few other family documents.  I was hoping
that he may have been familar with some of the family names.  I haven't heard back from him but realize he is a very busy man.  I'm sure
many fans and readers load him with questions about their long lost relatives.

He is working on another book about the same period.  Can't wait until it hits the book shelves!!

To Robert Alexander....thank you for keeping our past alive!