{"id":3383,"date":"2007-06-28T16:01:39","date_gmt":"2007-06-28T23:01:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3383"},"modified":"2021-01-09T13:51:53","modified_gmt":"2021-01-09T20:51:53","slug":"rasputin-and-the-empress-1932","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3383","title":{"rendered":"Rasputin and the Empress (1932)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;There&#8217;s something <em>clammy<\/em> about him&#8230; I&#8217;d have the same feeling brushing up against something in the dark night.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Poster-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-30607\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Poster-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Poster-85x128.jpg 85w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Poster.jpg 580w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn the Russian court of Czar Nicholas (Ralph Morgan), Czarina Alexandra (Ethel Barrymore), and Czarevitch Aloysha (Tad Alexander), the duplicitous &#8220;holy man&#8221; Rasputin (Lionel Barrymore) worms his way to the top, while Prince Chegodieff (John Barrymore) does what he can to stop him.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Con-Artists<\/li>\n<li>Edward Arnold Films<\/li>\n<li>Ethel Barrymore Films<\/li>\n<li>Historical Drama<\/li>\n<li>John Barrymore Films<\/li>\n<li>Lionel Barrymore Films<\/li>\n<li>Royalty and Nobility<\/li>\n<li>Social Climbers<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nLike many Hollywood costume dramas, <em>Rasputin and the Empress<\/em> takes ample liberty with historical facts, focusing more on character than veracity: Lionel Barrymore&#8217;s Rasputin is appropriately wild-eyed and scummy, sister Ethel is adequately regal, and brother John provides a consistent voice of reason. The dialogue (by, among others, Charles MacArthur and an uncredited Ben Hecht) and elaborate set designs are enjoyable; otherwise, <em>Rasputin <\/em>remains a rather tepid affair, one which will annoy history buffs and only provide minimal enjoyment to most film fanatics. Watch it simply to see the three Barrymores in action, as well as for its legal notoriety (see note below). <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>All three Barrymore siblings acting together in one film<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Siblings.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Siblings-1024x775.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"484\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62525\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Siblings-1024x775.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Siblings-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Siblings-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Siblings-768x581.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Siblings-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Siblings.png 1375w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Lionel-John.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Lionel-John-1024x772.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"483\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Lionel-John-1024x772.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Lionel-John-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Lionel-John-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Lionel-John-768x579.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Lionel-John-358x270.png 358w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Lionel-John.png 1379w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Sumptuous sets, costumes, and cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Sets-1024x768.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Sets-1024x768.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Sets-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Sets-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Sets-768x576.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Sets-360x270.png 360w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Sets.png 1361w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Cinematography.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Cinematography-1024x764.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"478\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62524\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Cinematography-1024x764.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Cinematography-300x224.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Cinematography-128x95.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Cinematography-768x573.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Cinematography-362x270.png 362w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Cinematography.png 1377w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Rasputin forcing Aloysha to witness an ant and fly battling each other to the death<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Telescope.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Telescope-1024x770.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"481\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Telescope-1024x770.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Telescope-300x225.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Telescope-128x96.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Telescope-768x577.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Telescope-359x270.png 359w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Telescope.png 1369w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Fly-Ant.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Fly-Ant-1024x773.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"483\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-62521\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Fly-Ant-1024x773.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Fly-Ant-300x227.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Fly-Ant-128x97.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Fly-Ant-768x580.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Fly-Ant-357x270.png 357w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/06\/Rasputin-Fly-Ant.png 1365w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo. Although it holds some historical importance as the film which prompted the disclaimer, &#8220;Any resemblance to actual persons&#8230;&#8221; to be added to historical dramatizations, it&#8217;s ultimately not must-see viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0023374\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1932\/12\/24\/archives\/ethel-lionel-and-john-barrymore-in-a-pictorial-melo-drama-called.html\">NY Times Original Review (spoilers alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/fantasticmoviemusings.com\/2015\/09\/07\/rasputin-and-the-empress-1932\/\">SciFilm Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;There&#8217;s something clammy about him&#8230; I&#8217;d have the same feeling brushing up against something in the dark night.&#8221; Synopsis: In the Russian court of Czar Nicholas (Ralph Morgan), Czarina Alexandra (Ethel Barrymore), and Czarevitch Aloysha (Tad Alexander), the duplicitous &#8220;holy man&#8221; Rasputin (Lionel Barrymore) worms his way to the top, while Prince Chegodieff (John Barrymore) does what he can to stop him. Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Con-Artists Edward Arnold Films Ethel Barrymore Films Historical Drama John Barrymore Films Lionel&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3383\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3383","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3383"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3383\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62527,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3383\/revisions\/62527"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}