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Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986) Reviews

Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986)
Member Rating:  
This two-part TV movie recounts the life of Anna Anderson, who until the day she died at age 82 insisted that she was really Anastasia Romanov, daughter of Czar Nicholas. Anna first makes her claim in 1920, when she is an inmate in a Berlin asylum. Her story of escape from the Bolsheviks who killed the rest of her family in 1918 seems so vivid that many Russian expatriates are willing to believe her. The film concludes in 1928, with Anna restating her claim before the surviving Romanovs living in New York. Amy Irving plays the leading character in a lady-or-the-tiger fashion, so that we never know if she truly swallows her own tale or if she's merely a clever charlatan. Olivia DeHavilland, Rex Harrison, Claire Bloom, Omar Sharif and Susan Lucci co-star in this opulent, location-filmed production, which originally aired on December 7 and 8, 1986. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Starring:
Amy Irving
Director(s):
Marvin J. Chomsky
Format(s):
DVD
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Average Ratings

(6 member reviews)  


Member Reviews


James L.

Well I hate to say but I did fast forward through this movie. Amy Irving did so much crying no wonder her eyes were always puffing. The clothes were beautiful but the movie didn't keep me wanting more. I thought Amy Irving's accent that was too phoney for her. With the DNA test proving Anna Anderson was NOT Anastasia it makes you wonder was she really crazy to begin with. It was interesting to see how the family, even after the revolution and relocating to another country, still acted as if they were still in Russia. But one thing that did strike a note in this movie as the part when she was in an antique store and saw articles from the palaces. Can you imagine how that would feel if her story was true? Anyway, I am reading a book about Anna Anderson and will see what this and all the other movies have left out. ~ Susan L.

Yes   |   No


Melissa D.

I rented this movie excited for a different take on the story of Anastasia and Anna Anderson and what I got was a movie that didn't get a single historical fact right. The death scene was completely wrong, the czar was too old, the jewels were in their corsets not their dresses, and no one knew what happened to teh bodies until they were discovered. Some newspapers even reported the family was still alive. Even the years were wrong. And now that all the bodies have been found and Anna Anderson's claim has been dispriven it is hard to view this movie as anything but fiction. If you view this movie has pure fantasy then you may enjoy it, but if you have even the slightest bit of respect for history then I cannot reccomend this movie. For a more entertaining version I reccommend the 1997 animated Anastasia or even the 1956 live action version. To learn the truth about the REAL Anastasia I also reccommend A&E Biography Anastasia.

Yes   |   No


Erika S.

A good film. Very interesting and an insightful tale from a different point of view than the Disney version that I'm used to. Also very sad.

Yes   |   No


Jewell S.

This movie was a tv series turned into a movie, about 4 hours long. It was absolutely beautiful, the story was sad but the movie in general was a very good movie. I cried so much...and my butt hurt when i took a 10 minute break. This is definitely not for children, they won't be able comprehend the story. Watch it with your best friend or if your guy is a softie, watch it with him, keep tissues nearby....and get up every hour lol. This story really touched my heart, I felt the love, the fear, the despair, and the joy. I had only seen the animated version before this, and then was told it was a true story (I'm a teenager) and got curious. The story is completely different of course. No magic, no evil decomposing man...or a talking bat. Great movie, but you have to be able to pay attention.

Yes   |   No


Julian C.

While this was obviously something waiting in the wings to be made until after Anna Anderson's death, while I enjoyed the movie as entertainment, the question of how much creative license with the facts was never far from my mind. Particularly given that, in the 30+ years since the move was made, so much more has come to light about the fate of the Romanov family in general, and Alexei and Anastasia in particular. Amy Irving gives a standout performance, proving (again, as far as I am concerned) that she is much more talented than she has ever been given credit, or offered screenplays, for. Really, the only drawback to the entire thing was that it did come out too soon, not being able to offer a conclusive (?) answer to the riddle of Anastasia/Anna Anderson.

Yes   |   No


Angelica M.

I really enjoyed this film. It leaves you wondering if truly "Ana" was the Grand Duchess Anastasia.

Yes   |   No


 
 
 

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Member Reviews
 
James L.

Well I hate to say but I did fast forward through this movie. Amy Irving did so much crying no wonder her eyes were always puffing. The clothes were beautiful but the movie didn't keep me wanting more. I thought Amy Irving's accent that was too phoney for her. With the DNA test proving Anna Anderson was NOT Anastasia it makes you wonder was she really crazy to begin with. It was interesting to see how the family, even after the revolution and relocating to another country, still acted as if they were still in Russia. But one thing that did strike a note in this movie as the part when she was in an antique store and saw articles from the palaces. Can you imagine how that would feel if her story was true? Anyway, I am reading a book about Anna Anderson and will see what this and all the other movies have left out. ~ Susan L.

Yes   |   No

 
Melissa D.

I rented this movie excited for a different take on the story of Anastasia and Anna Anderson and what I got was a movie that didn't get a single historical fact right. The death scene was completely wrong, the czar was too old, the jewels were in their corsets not their dresses, and no one knew what happened to teh bodies until they were discovered. Some newspapers even reported the family was still alive. Even the years were wrong. And now that all the bodies have been found and Anna Anderson's claim has been dispriven it is hard to view this movie as anything but fiction. If you view this movie has pure fantasy then you may enjoy it, but if you have even the slightest bit of respect for history then I cannot reccomend this movie. For a more entertaining version I reccommend the 1997 animated Anastasia or even the 1956 live action version. To learn the truth about the REAL Anastasia I also reccommend A&E Biography Anastasia.

Yes   |   No

 
Erika S.

A good film. Very interesting and an insightful tale from a different point of view than the Disney version that I'm used to. Also very sad.

Yes   |   No

 
Read All 6 Reviews