Nicholas and Alexandra
Updated: 12/16/2025, 8:52:32 PM Wikipedia source
Nicholas and Alexandra is a 1971 British epic historical drama film directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, from a screenplay by James Goldman and Edward Bond based on Robert K. Massie's 1967 book of the same name. It tells the story of the last ruling Russian monarch, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia (Michael Jayston), and his wife, Tsarina Alexandra (Janet Suzman), from 1904 until their deaths in 1918. The ensemble cast includes Tom Baker as Grigori Rasputin, Laurence Olivier as Sergei Witte, Brian Cox as Leon Trotsky, Ian Holm as Vasily Yakovlev, Vivian Pickles as Nadezhda Krupskaya, and Irene Worth as The Queen Mother Marie Fedorovna. The film was theatrically released on 13 December 1971 by Columbia Pictures to mixed reviews and commercial failure, grossing $7 million on a $9 million budget. Regardless, the film received six nominations at the 44th Academy Awards, including for Best Picture and Best Actress (Suzman), and won two: Best Art Direction and Best Costume Design.
Infobox
Directed by
Franklin J. Schaffner
Screenplay by
James Goldman
Based on
Nicholas and Alexandra1967 bookby Robert K. Massie
Produced by
Sam Spiegel
Starring
mw- Michael Jayston Janet Suzman Laurence Olivier Tom Baker Harry Andrews Irene Worth Jack Hawkins
Cinematography
Freddie Young
Edited by
Ernest Walter
Music by
Richard Rodney Bennett
Productioncompany
Horizon Pictures
Distributed by
Columbia-Warner Distributors
Release dates
29 November 1971 (Royal Command Performance) 13 December 1971 (1971-12-13)
Running time
188 minutes
Country
United Kingdom
Languages
EnglishFrenchGermanRussian
Budget
$9 million
Box office
$7 million (rentals)
Tables
· Reception › Awards and nominations
Academy Awards
Academy Awards
Award
Academy Awards
Category
Best Picture
Nominee(s)
Sam Spiegel
Result
Nominated
Best Actress
Best Actress
Award
Best Actress
Category
Janet Suzman
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Art Direction
Best Art Direction
Award
Best Art Direction
Category
Art Direction: John Box, Ernest Archer, Jack Maxsted, and Gil Parrondo; Set Decoration: Vernon Dixon
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Cinematography
Best Cinematography
Award
Best Cinematography
Category
Freddie Young
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Yvonne Blake and Antonio Castillo
Nominee(s)
Won
Best Original Dramatic Score
Best Original Dramatic Score
Award
Best Original Dramatic Score
Category
Richard Rodney Bennett
Nominee(s)
Nominated
British Academy Film Awards
British Academy Film Awards
Award
British Academy Film Awards
Category
Best Art Direction
Nominee(s)
John Box
Result
Nominated
Best Costume Design
Best Costume Design
Award
Best Costume Design
Category
Yvonne Blake and Antonio Castillo
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Award
Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
Category
Janet Suzman
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Golden Globe Awards
Golden Globe Awards
Award
Golden Globe Awards
Category
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominee(s)
Tom Baker
Result
Nominated
New Star of the Year – Actor
New Star of the Year – Actor
Award
New Star of the Year – Actor
Category
Nominated
New Star of the Year – Actress
New Star of the Year – Actress
Award
New Star of the Year – Actress
Category
Janet Suzman
Nominee(s)
Nominated
Grammy Awards
Grammy Awards
Award
Grammy Awards
Category
Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special
Nominee(s)
Richard Rodney Bennett
Result
Nominated
National Board of Review Awards
National Board of Review Awards
Award
National Board of Review Awards
Category
Top Ten Films
Nominee(s)
6th Place
| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Academy Awards | Best Picture | Sam Spiegel | Nominated | |
| Best Actress | Janet Suzman | Nominated | ||
| Best Art Direction | Art Direction: John Box, Ernest Archer, Jack Maxsted, and Gil Parrondo; Set Decoration: Vernon Dixon | Won | ||
| Best Cinematography | Freddie Young | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design | Yvonne Blake and Antonio Castillo | Won | ||
| Best Original Dramatic Score | Richard Rodney Bennett | Nominated | ||
| British Academy Film Awards | Best Art Direction | John Box | Nominated | |
| Best Costume Design | Yvonne Blake and Antonio Castillo | Nominated | ||
| Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles | Janet Suzman | Nominated | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Tom Baker | Nominated | |
| New Star of the Year – Actor | Nominated | |||
| New Star of the Year – Actress | Janet Suzman | Nominated | ||
| Grammy Awards | Best Original Score Written for a Motion Picture or a Television Special | Richard Rodney Bennett | Nominated | |
| National Board of Review Awards | Top Ten Films | 6th Place | ||
References
- NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRAhttps://web.archive.org/web/20161007172850/http://bbfc.co.uk/releases/nicholas-and-alexandra-1970-1
- Nicholas and Alexandra, Notes. TCM. Retrieved May 20, 2018.https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/343/nicholas-and-alexandra#notes
- "All-time Film Rental Champs", Variety, 7 January 1976, pg 44.
- The New York Timeshttps://web.archive.org/web/20090305125141/http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/35163/Nicholas-and-Alexandra/awards
- Film…
- Fraser-Cavassoni, p 289
- catalog.afi.comhttps://catalog.afi.com/Film/54099-NICHOLAS-AND-ALEXANDRA?cxt=filmography
- Grace of Monaco : an interpretive biographyhttps://archive.org/details/graceofmonacoint00engl/page/289/mode/1up?q=%22nicholas+and+alexandra%22+%22sam+spiegel%22+schaffner
- "Tom Baker turns 80: Doctor Who legend's best screen moments"http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a545281/tom-baker-turns-80-doctor-who-legends-best-screen-moments.html#~peB4CmbFNfyfTo
- Kirgo, Julie "Nicholas and Alexandra" booklet, Twilight Time, 2013
- "National Board of Review"http://oscarsijmen.freehostia.com/NBR70.htm
- Nicholas and Alexandrahttps://www.metacritic.com/movie/nicholas-and-alexandra
- Variety Film Reviews 1971-74https://archive.org/details/varietysfilmrevi0013unse/page/n166/mode/1up?q=%22nicholas+and+alexandra%22+%22sam+spiegel%22+schaffner
- Rogerebert.comhttps://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/nicholas-and-alexandra-1972
- Halliwell's Film and Video Guide
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2013/jun/14/nicholas-and-alexandra-reel-history
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/film/kj7zy/nicholas-and-alexandra/
- Living Images Film Comment and Criticism
- Quotes from General Alexander Spiridovitch, "Murder of Prime Minister Stolypin in Kiev 1911" (1929) translated by Rob Mohttp://www.alexanderpalace.org/palace/stolypin-murder-1911-kiev.html
- Fraser-Cavassoni, p 302
- "The 44th Academy Awards (1972) Nominees and Winners"http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1972
- "BAFTA Awards: Film in 1972"http://awards.bafta.org/award/1972/film
- "Nicholas and Alexandra"https://www.goldenglobes.com/film/nicholas-and-alexandra/
- "15th Annual GRAMMY Awards"https://www.grammy.com/awards/15th-annual-grammy-awards
- "1971 Award Winners"https://nationalboardofreview.org/award-years/1971/
- "Screen Archives Entertainment"http://www.screenarchives.com/display_results.cfm?category=546