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And I do with both feet, watching Anastasia - a film made in 1956, starring Ingrid Bergman (of The Inn of the Sixth Happiness and The Bells of Saint Mary, among others) and Yul Brynner (best known to me for his amazing role in The King and I), and Helen Hayes. Anastasia was directed by Anatole Litvak.
To fully understand this film, one must first know the historical background of this story. The Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna was the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. Tsar Nicholas II was the last Russian czar, and was overthrown in revolt in 1918. At that time, the Tsar and his entire immediate family were taken prisoner and eventually shot by a firing squad. Although it was reported that every member of the family was dead, rumors persisted for decades that Anastasia had somehow survived this great horror. Several impostors came forward, trying to claim that they were the lost princess. The most famous of these was Anna Anderson. While it was eventually decided that she was not Anastasia after all, her claim persisted the longest.
This film plays on Anna Anderson's claim. Although the circumstances of the film are quite different from that of real life, the basic idea is the same. General Bounine (Brynner) - a formerly high-ranking general for the Russian Empire - and his associates had spent several years seeking out women with a reasonable resemblance to Anastasia, with the hopes of having her officially recognized by her grandmother, the Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna (Hayes). Once recognized, she would gain her impressively large inheritance, and presumably share it with Bounine and his associates. Having heard a rumor that a woman recently released from an asylum had claimed that she was Anastasia, Bounine pursues the woman, and quickly persuades her that she would be able to confirm her identity if she works with them. Anna (Bergman) is not interested in money or fame, but only wants to figure out which of her very disjointed memories is reality.
After a great deal of training and time, Anna and Bounine make their way to Copenhagen, where the Empress currently resides. The two attempt several times to see the Empress, but, overwhelmed with heartache and false promises, the Empress refuses to see anyone claiming to be one of the dead Romanovs. They are able to meet with the greedy Prince Paul von Haraldburg - Anastasia's cousin and formerly betrothed - who is interested in also gaining a piece of the inheritance. Anna responds warmly to the false show of affection that Paul shows her, having lived so long with so little love.
After a great deal of time, the Empress realizes that she may be too stubborn, and goes to see Anna, who, by this time, has begun to believe that she is really and truly Anastasia. The Empress flutters between being hurt and sympathetic in their meeting, and finally decides that she is Anastasia when the Empress hears Anna cough because she is frightened - as Anastasia always used to do when she was a child.
When they are ready to declare her as the Duchess, Bounine balks at being part of the ceremony. Refusing to say it aloud, he still goes to the Empress and suggests that he is no longer interested in any reward. The Empress realizes that Bounine is in love with Anastasia, and uncomfortable with the impending engagement between Paul and Anastasia. The Empress then speaks to Anastasia, and discovers she does not love Paul, but rather Bounine. Placing them surreptitiously in the same room right before the ceremony, the Empress realizes that her newly-found granddaughter is lost to her again. Indeed, when the servants go in to find Anastasia, they return with the news that she is gone, and so is Bounine. When asked what she will tell the assembled guests, the Empress replies, "I will tell them that the play is over, now go home."
This movie gives you everything you want. As a viewer, I really wanted Bounine and Anastasia to get together at the end, so I could not be more pleased. In addition, I appreciated that they left the question open - was she Anastasia? Was she not? You are left not knowing, and I appreciate that tactfulness toward the actual story.
The costumes are both functional and lovely - when they should be simple - such as Anna wandering the streets - they are. When they are for the ball at the end of the movie, the costumes are luxurious and fine-looking.
An important note: Ingrid Bergman won the Oscar for Best Actress for this role - and she fully deserved it.
All-in-all, wonderful film. It's a rags-to-riches story with the twist of leaving the lavish for the loving. Highly recommended. Also on the DVD copy I rented, there is a wonderful Biography program on Anastasia in the special features section that is not to be missed.
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