January 27 - Peter the Great

Today’s movie is a historical drama with a scene that happens today – January 27. I hope you will enjoy this film and watch it tonight.

PETER THE GREAT             

In 1682 Peter’s half-sister Sophia tries to use the Strelsi, a powerful military group to murder both Peter and his half–brother Ivan, so she can become ruler of Russia, by claiming Peter’s mother, Natalia wants to kill Ivan, and make Peter sole ruler. This plot fails, but Sofia is made regent instead of Natalia. Peter and Ivan are both crowned as Tsars of Russia. Later, Sophia pushes a plan to attack Azov, a fortress that controls access to the Black Sea that belongs to the Turks. Peter becomes interested in all things western.  His mother finds a bride for him and they are married on January 27, 1689. [1:08:15 to 1:18:46]  He and his wife don’t get along and he takes a mistress, Anna Mons from among the foreign colony. Peter exposes the fact that Sophia’s attack on Azov was totally crushed, instead of being the victory she proclaimed. Peter survives an assassination attempt and becomes a father to Alexis. Sophia tries to get rid of Peter again, but the troops remain loyal to him, and she is exiled. The church claims he’s possessed by the devil.  Peter’s mother dies. He builds a fleet and uses it to attack and capture Azov. Peter and his wife don’t get along at all. Due to opposition to his policies, Peter sets up the secret police. He goes on a tour of Western Europe and selects a wife for Alexis. People opposed to Peter try to use his son Alexis against him. Sophia and Peter’s wife form a conspiracy against Peter. They convince Alexis that Peter intends for his illegitimate daughter with Anna Mons to become Czarina. Peter returns and stops the attempted coup.  Alexis marries Charlotte, while Peter divorces his wife. He wants everyone to adopt European customs and clothing. Peter’s meeting with Charles XII of Sweden ends in failure and war begins. Peter arouses opposition by expropriating church bells for use in making cannon. Peter is defeated at Narva by Charles XII due to Russian traitors informing the Swedes of his plans. The war continues, with the Russians adopting a scorched earth policy until they finally crush the Swedes at Poltava. Alexis and his mistress flee to Vienna when his involvement in the anti-Peter plot is exposed. Peter sends agents who persuade him to return to Russia. Alexis renounces his right to the throne. He is extensively interrogated about the plot. Alexis is executed for treason.

An interesting and surprisingly well done historical drama about a man and an era that are little known in this country. The acting, sets and costumes are fantastic. It is even mostly historically accurate.

Peter the Great: A Biography by Lindsey Hughes (Yale University Press, London, 2002) at page 63 gives the date of the battle

Producer - Marvin J. Chomsky

Director - Marvin J. Chomsky and Lawrence Schiller

Screenplay - Edward Anhalt

Running Time - 6 hours 11 minutes

Released - February 2, 1986

Awards: The film won the Outstanding Miniseries, Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition for a Miniseries or a Special (Dramatic Underscore), and Outstanding Costumes for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special Emmys. It was also nominated for the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie (Redgrave), Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Special and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries or a Special Emmys at the 38^th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Starring -         

Maximilian Schell as Peter the Great

Jan Niklas as Peter the Great (as a young man)

Vanessa Redgrave as Sophia Romanov

Omar Sharif as Prince Feodor Romodanovsky

Laurence Olivier as William III of England

Trevor Howard as Sir Isaac Newton

Mel Ferrer as Frederick I of Prussia

Elsie Sommer as Queen Charlotte

Ursula Andress as Athalie

Renee Soutendijk as Anna Mons

Natalya Andreychenko as Eudoxia Lopukina

Christoph Eichorn as Charles XII of Sweden

Boris Plotnikov as Tsarevich Alexis