Re: New Nicholas & Alexandra Video - Mini Series? Part II

[Kalafrana]

Very good.

Ann

[JamesAPrattIII]

I am glad you like it Ann

I am having second thoughts on who shot Rasputin in the head. I think Nelpa may have been right in her book. It was pointed out on this site that Rasputin had a 6mm hole in his head that could have only come from Yussopovs 6.35mm pistol not Purishevich 7.65mm pistol. HoweverI must point out after some thought:

Balistics and forensics are not exact sciences.

We don't know how decomposition ect effected the size of the hole.

round nose bullets sometimes pucker up the hole behind them.

So Purishevich could have shot Rasputin in the head with his pistol after the body was dragged back inside. I would like to change the scene where instead of Yussopov shooting  Rasputin in the head to Purishevich shooting Rasputin in the head.

[edubs31]

I didn't find it all that necessary to show Rasputin getting shot in the head at all. Some things are better off implied only...and the sound of shots among the panic & chaos makes for compelling enough cinema IMO.

[TimM]

As long as the scene is depicted accurately, I think most wouldn't have a big problem with it.

[Kalafrana]

I agree with Tim.

You can show the shot being fired, without it actually hitting.

Ann

[JamesAPrattIII]

That's fine with me eb

here is another scene from the books Alexander III and Pogrom;

8 March 1881 The Malchite Room in the Winter Palace Alexander III is meeting to discuss the fate of Russia with the council of ministers and others:

Minister of the Interior Loris-Melikov has just finished reading his report he submitted to Alexander II

(Alexander II turns to General_Adjutant Sergei Stroganov)
Alexander III: what are your thoughts on what your have just heard

Stroganov:"Your majesty, Your proposed measure is not only inopportune during these present circumstances, requiring special energy, but it is harmful.'...this path is leading towards a constitution, which I do not desire for You, not for Russia."

Alexander III: "I also fear that this is the first step towards a constitution."

Count Peter Valuyev President of the Committee of Ministers: "Our debate is not about the constitution. There is not even a shadow of one...I allow myself  to fiercely support loris-Melikov's propsals."

Alexander Abaza Minister of finance: "in the current troubled times, sedition does not come from the people but from a group of rogues..the distrust of society and the entire nation is not needed to fight them, nor anger about one's legacy, but through completely different meaausres."

Constantine Podenonestev head of the Holy Synod: Your Majesty due to my obligation to the Oath and my conscience, I am obliged to speak out about everything that is in my soul...Russia used to be strong thanks to mutual unlimited trust and tight connections between the people and its tsar. Such a connection by the Russian tsar with the people is an inestimable good...the so-called zemstva representatives only disconnect the tsar from the people...Anyhow general rural and city institutions were opened-at which the chatterboxes did not preform real tasks...but chatted about leading state questions...Then the new court institutions opened up-new chatterboxes, chatting advocates who thanks to them, the most terrible offenses-murder and other misdeeds go without punishment.
 Finally, the press was given freedom-these are the worst chatterboxes...spread violence and blame the authority, sow...discord and disharmony among peaceful people, inflame fear, incite the people towards scandalous lawlessness... we are all guilty in that despite the unrelenting continuing assassination attempts on the life of our benefactor, we by our inaction and our apathy were unable to protect the righteous. Upon all of us lies a permanent mark of shame that has fallen on Russian soil. We must all repent!"

Alexander III (weeping): "I am hearing the truth, we are all guilty, I blame myself first,"

Pobedonostev: "In these difficult times sovereign, it is crucial not to consider the establishment of new chatterboxes, from where there be new depraved speeches, but of issues. We must act!"

Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich:"I am convinced that we cannot go backwards, therefore we must take a step forwards...allow yourMajesty to accept that it would be helpful to reassess this project. But to vote it down in my opinion is not advisable."

(Scene shift a vote is held 9 in favor and 4 against)

(Scene shift again 21 April 1881)

Alexander III is writing : "Loris, Milyutin and Abaza fully continue with the same politics and want in this way or another lead us towards a representational government, but until I am convinced that this is necessary for the good of Russia, but then of course this will not happen, I will not allow it."

(to be continued)

[JamesAPrattIII]

part 2:

Narrator: so instead of a path towards a constitution Russia not for the first or last time turned in the opposite direction. later that year a harsh new law was passed dealing with terrorism the; Confirmed Imperial Position concerning measures for the preservation of government order and public tranquility.
 In May 1882 in part do the outbreak of Pogroms against Jews a new set of anti-Semitic laws were past. They were called the May Laws or Temporary Laws. Some Russians complained these laws were easily circumvented. Jews complained of there capricious interpretations.

(Scene fades)