Rough List of Romanovs on DVDs and VHS

[Robert_Hall]

Well, Alix was not looking her best at the end of her life, and with all the magic of movies, why not?  Also Glenda Jackson as  the Dowager but, sadly she has retired from acting.
The GDs would be pretty easy to cast today, but Alexei ?

[Jane]

I love Dame Judi, too, Robert, but I have to go with Silja here--She just is too old for the part; unfortunately, too, because she is just fab as an actress.  Maybe as Miechen instead?  Who were you thinking of OTMA, though?

I do like Anna's suggestion of Anthony Hopkins as Sergei Witte, but I personally think Sean Connery would be better as Vladimir.  

Jane

P.S. Should we ask the Forum Administrator to move these posts to a new thread?  I hope no one minds that we are hijacking the thread here, but I am having loads of fun and it beats working!

[Janet Whitcomb]

Judi Dench would have the necessary combination of charm and vinegar to take on the role of the Dowager Empress.  By the way, Irene Worth, the wonderful actress who played the Dowager Empress in Nicholas and Alexandra died not too long ago.  She was terrific in the role, and one could see exactly why she and her daughter-in-law would lock horns, and why her son would both love her and want to avoid her!

[anna]

Yes, I remember the scene in N&A, the birthday-party given for Marie (Irene Worth). The way she looked at Alix, lingering her eyes over her jewels. Fantastic!! If looks could kill.

And Wow! Glenda Jackson would make a great performance ( I hope not as white as she appeared in Elizabeth R long time ago).

What do you think about Ralph Fiennes as Felix Youssoupov?
To begin with the daughters: Helena Bonham Carter and
Reese Witherspoon ?

Gwyneth Paltrow as a devote Ella and Haley Joel Osment as Alexei. Only a thought.

[Louise]

This is fun, so my choices would be for Alix, Natasha Richardson, or Emma Thompson. I can see Joan Allen as GD Ella. Ralph Fiennes would be a great Sergei.

As the Dowager Empress, I would cast Julia Ormond. She has already played Catherine the Great, and I think she would be lovely as the mature but still young looking Minnie.

Liam Neeson as Alexander III. The rest of the cast I have to ponder.

Louise

[Robert_Hall]

not quite the build, but Russel Crowe should be in ther somewhere.

[Robert_Hall]

and Johnny Depp as eithet Dimitri or Felix.

[Greg_King]

Hi again,
I´m looking over the press book of my dvd. I think the scene you told of Alexey with the pony is that i wrote before and was shot in La Granja of Segobia. I don´t know where is the palace used for the Bloody Sunday scene...could be some kind of scenery? there´s a lot of frog...but it´s supposed that everything was filmed in Spain and the interiors were done in the Sevilla Studios. They were filming from november 30th of 1970 to April 17th of the following year.
Antonio.

As an irrelevant but interesting aside: the two old pullman cars used as the Imperial train in "Nicholas and Alexandra" (purchased for the production and refurbished) can also been seen in the 1972 Spanish horror flick "Horror Express" (AKA "Panic on the Trans-Siberian") starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee.  The director purchased the two cars and built a quite interesting film round having them.

Greg King

[Janet_Ashton]

not quite the build, but Russel Crowe should be in ther somewhere.

As Alexander III - no question!

Brad Pitt actually has the right facial characteristics for Nicholas, but somehow I can't see him do it....

As far as Alexandra goes, two names mentioned in this thread had often gone through my mind as being the sort of people cast in her role (though personally I don't think they'd be right): i.e. Meryl Streep and Emma Thompson. A while ago I read that Jessica Lange was wanting to play her too....

How about Benicio del Toro as Rasputin? now that WOULD be ridiculous...:-)  

Janet

[anna]

Oh no! Brad Pitt is too young playing Nicholas!!. And Louise, I think you mean "Miranda Richardson"? she'll do.

Yesterday I saw the "draughtman's contract" by Peter
Greenaway (beautiful) again. With my favorit actress
Janet Suzman!!!
I was thinking Anthony Higgins would be nice (only what
character?)

Greg,
I too wanted to post a note about the imperial train they
used again in a horror movie, but you were first.

[Janet Whitcomb]

I think the best dramatization would feature relative unknowns. It would also depend on who was the focus--Rasputin? N & A? The children?

Grace Kelly was originally asked to play Alexandra in the 1971 film, and while that would have indeed been a landmark, I am glad the principal characters were played by non-household names.  

A new version would have to be justified by something that could be done better than the 1971 version. The best reason I can think of is probable access to the actual locations. The other reason would be a new vantage point; we have seen it from that of Nicky and Alix, and that viewpoint was done--in my opinion--very, very well!

[Robert_Hall]

I tend to agree, Janet, a new outlook might work. However, it seems some real Hollywood trash is being  remade now-a-days, anything is possible.
As a stage production, NOT an opera,  I think something along the lines of Les Mis. or Martine Guerre  could actualy work.  It would have to be unique, though, not the same music, new story.  I have it ! Start out "Sunset Blvd" end up "Miss Saigon"?

[Robert_Hall]

Oh, btw,  by the time any of these fantasies got produced, half the cast would be dead & Brad Bitt WOULD be old enough !
Elijah wood as Alexei ?

[FunBobbyNY]

Okay, here's my suggestion for the cast.

Nicholas-Robert Redford (Out of Africa)
Alexandra-Meryl Streep (Out of Africa)
Olga N.-Claire Danes (Little Women, Brokedown Palace)
Tatiana N.-Natalie Portman (Cold Mountain, Beautiful Girls)
Marie N.-Mandy Moore (Walk to Remember, How to Deal
Anastasia-Jenna Malone (Stepmom, Cold Mountain)
Alexei-Haley Joel Osmond (Artificial Intelligence, Sixth Sense
Ella- Annette Bening (American President)
Rasputin-Alan Rickman (Harry Potter)
Dowager Marie-Judi Dench

Any other suggestions???

[Janet Whitcomb]

Anna, I believe that you are the one who corresponds with Ms. Suzman? If so, please let her know how so many of us contributing to this forum appreciate her fine performance as Alexandra.  I remember seeing an interview with her at the time the film was being promoted, and I appreciated her focus and genuine interest in the character and the times.  Since that time I've seen her in a number of other film performances, and she has always been superb!