Video of Coronation 1896

[Genevieve]

Especially loved seeing the children playing on the Standard.   Great film clip.

[Sergio]

From Wikipedia:

"The film record of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia's coronation remains one of the most historic pieces of newsreel in existence, alongside the film of Alexander I of Yugoslavia's assassination , the funerals of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom and Emperor Franz Josef of Austria, and the assassination of John F. Kennedy."  

Are any others video clips on Internet about the Romanovs?

[ashanti01]

For the coronation to be captured was special enough, but the saddness of knowing it would be last coronation Russia would see somehow brings a deeper beauty and saddness to it.
It all seems almost mystikel in its own way...

[James_Davidov]

FINALLI!!!!  Thanxu sooooooooo much Joanna, Iv been trying to find this clip for ages, they say they have it on that Russian film archiev, its not that much of the actual coronation, but its still awsome.  I'd realli appreciate anyone who knows of any other links?, Iv allready raided the school library and local library, but their video's are like majorly limited

[Robert_Hall]

I am not positive about this, but I was told that there would be no film of the coronation ceremony itself, as cameras would not have been allowed inside the church. Same with weddings.  Not sure it that would be for any relgous reason or just that the camera set-up in those days would have been too disruptive for the religous rites.
I do recall seeing a dramatic re-enactment some years ago, I think it was in a European documentry that I have long forgotten the details about.
Cheers,
Robert

[Forum Admin]

No photographs or film of either the wedding ceremony OR the coronation. No camera were permitted at either.

[Georgiy]

Someone wrote that the clip from 1903 showed GD Olga on her way to her first Communion, but surely that cannot be, because in the Orthodox Church we have Communion right from the time we are baptised, so her fist communion would have been as an infant. We don't generally have confession until we are about seven, however, so maybe she was about to have her first confession.

[Lanie]

Georgiy--you're right, since in 1903 Olga was 7.

[thomasriordan]

This is indeed Ella and GD Serge in 1903, note the absence of Alexei who was only born in 1904 and rarely out of his parents sight. Also note that by 1913 Ella always dressed in the dress of her religious order...this is clearly visible in all the tercentenary footage (the lady dressed head to toe in white) Alexei was higly visible in the 1913 footage in his sailor suit.

[thomasriordan]

And the 1896 coronation is credited as being the first historical event recorded on film. Also the first occasion electric lights were used in an official ceremony on such a scale.

[thomasriordan]

And the best documentary on Catherine the Great is certainly  - The Hermitage - A Russian Odyssey: Catherine the Great, A Lust for Art (1994) (part  1 of a 4 video series). The russian soundtracks by Mussorgsky etc. are excellent. You will not find a better series.