Maria in the movies

[dac87]

This is a rather odd observation and I was unsure as to where to put this topic (in films section or Maria's section), but I have noticed that in the many films depicting their lives (save that of the Anastasia films, and the 1971 film Nicholas and Alexandra) Maria is always the more focused on daughter.  Examples:

Rasputin and the Emperess:  Maria is a large part of the film.    She is the only daughter who's character gets developed and other than Anastasia (who had one line) she is the only daughter to talk.

Assassin of the Tsar:  Yet again, Maria is the only daughter with lines and it is her voice that opens the film.  

Lost Prince:  Maria is the pretty blonde girl that Johnny is so mesmirized (sp?) with.  She actually symbolizes The entire Romanov family and the brutality of Revolution.

Rasputin (Rickman version):  She is given more screen time than any of the other daughters.

Knowing that all her life, Maria always felt like the forgotten sister, I think it is kinda neat how the media turned the tables and made her just as important as her other sisters.

[Margarita Markovna]

I think this is for two reasons:

A) She was so good and so pretty

and

B) When the bones were found, she was the first one to be presumed missing from the grave. I think the Russians (correct me if I'm wrong, it's been a while since I read The Final Chapter) still believe Maria is missing.

[RealAnastasia]

For me, the must beatiful of the daughters was Olga. But Maria was a sweet, good creature who wanted to marry and have children, a warm person who didn't wants to hurt anyone. Perhaps is for that that they focused attention on her. I always read that she loved to know details about the life and families of common people. She was a very sympathetic person. And some Russians believes she is missing from the grave (even if doctor Maple said it was Anastasia who is missing), but they didn't know that before 1991, and some of the films you mentioned are older than that.

RealAnastasia (Vanesa)

[Abby]

Hmm...that's true. And in 'The Kitchen Boy', the story was basically written around her.

[ferngully]

i think maybe the otthers were harder to figure out, but marie was nice to everyone, maybe people felt that she was easier to portray?
selina               xxxxxxxxx

[Margarita Markovna]

For me, the must beatiful of the daughters was Olga.
RealAnastasia (Vanesa)

I think I might agree with you, but it's really a matter of opinion.   I know a lot of people believe that Maria is the prettiest one. I myself think she is the healthiest looking one and that might be appealing to filmmakers.

[grandduchess_sofia]

healthiest? don't they usually go for the stick thin ones with big breasts?
sopsxx

[Laura Mabee]

You got some really good points dac87!
Thanks for posting them. Now I am going to watch those movies all over again, just to see what you mean

[RissiaSunbeam1918]

Wow, yeah, now that you mention it, they do all revolve around Maria! And even when it's about Anastasia, there will be more on maria than O and T most likely, just because they were closer.

Yeah, the kitchen boy has a lot to do with her, and Anastasia is only in a few scenes. And in that fictional (and in my oppinion, innacurate) Anastasia diaries they talk a lot about her too....

-Dana

[Margarita Markovna]

healthiest? don't they usually go for the stick thin ones with big breasts?
sopsxx

None of them were Barbie.  

[Georgiy]

Well, in Ventsenosnaya Semya it is Olga who gets the biggest role, with the other 3 about equal. (Though if you had to say it would be in this order: Anastasia, Tatiana and last of all Maria.)  It is the only movie I've seen in which the Tsar's daughters aren't just added in because "they were there too."

[dac87]

*cries*  Please don't rub the fact that you've seen Ventsenosnaya Semya in my face!  lol. I have searched EVERYWHERE and still can't find a copy!

[Georgiy]

Oh! I don't mean to! Don't give up searching - it is well worth the effort.

[Margarita Markovna]

*cries*  Please don't rub the fact that you've seen Ventsenosnaya Semya in my face!  lol. I have searched EVERYWHERE and still can't find a copy!

What is this?

[RealAnastasia]

Maybe is the new Russian film about NAOTMAA murderer?  

RealAnastasia.