Stars: Ingrid Bergman, Yul Brynner

Director: Anatole Litvak

Summary: Anastasia, the daughter of the last Russian Czar, is at a party when the evil monk Rasputin places a curse on the Romanov family. Anastasia escapes with her grandmother, but is left alone when she falls and bangs her head. Brought up in an orphanage, can the Romanov family survive?

In 1917, Russian revolutionaries overthrew the last czar, Nicholas, imprisoning him and his family and executing them one year later. Shortly thereafter, rumours began to spread that one of the czar's daughters, Anastasia, was still alive. In 1928, a woman surfaced claiming to be Anastasia. Based on the play, and the fictionalized account of actual events, ANASTASIA tells the story of Anna (Ingrid Bergman), the impoverished, suicidal Russian woman living in Paris who believes she may be Anastasia. When ex-military leader General Bounin, deftly played by Yul Brynner, and his cohorts discover Anna, they convince her, through grueuling training sessions, that she is, in fact, the real princess. Yet Anna's own unmistakable memories unnerve even the general who, upon finding her, believed she was only a fake. The climax of the film, in which the Dowager Empress (Helen Hayes), who is still alive, meets Anastasia, is poignant and riveting. Shot on location in Paris, director Anatole Litvak commands incomparable performances from Bergman, Hayes, and Brynner in this captivating tale of lost identity. Bergman won her second Oscar for her winning portrayal that introduces just the right regal note of doubt about her real heritage.

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Stomping out their usual cuteness and carbon copying Disney's grand animation style to a tee, directors Don Bluth and Gary Goldman (An American Tail) create a successful musical comedy from the story of the lost Russian princess. Adapting the story of imperialism and revolution is tricky, and subsequently the film's opening is weak. Once Anya (voiced by Meg Ryan, sung by Liz Callaway) is a teenager and on her own (suffering from some degree of amnesia), Anastasiais quite pleasing though never refreshingly new.

20th Century Fox's big-money gamble to horn in on Disney's realm is worthy. The songs, especially the recurrent "Once Upon a December" by Broadway team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, are better than Disney's recent efforts. It's worth picking up the soundtrack. The mix of cell animation and computer work is vivid. The collection of vocal talent is also strong, from John Cusack (as Dimitri, who wants to earn the reward by bringing Anya to Paris) to Hank Azaria as an amusing albino bat. Kelsey Grammer helps turn a roly-poly sidekick into a warm and strong supporting character.

The biggest drawback is Bluth/Goldman's insistence on having a typical villain. Surprisingly, the story would be strong enough without one and the undead corpse of Rasputin (Christopher Lloyd) is unneeded and unoriginal. --Doug Thomas

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Year:	1956
Release Date:	July 4, 2005
Runtime:	101 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	0104001009
Label:	Studio Classics
Keywords:	Anastasia, General, Drama, Period
Genre:	Drama