Rasputin the Mad Monk (1966)

See the career of Russia's very own "mystery man" as he plots, seduces and brainwashes his way from a poor countryside monestary to the imperial court of Czar Nicholas II Romanov and the good graces of his wife the Czarina.

Since Christopher Lee made his mark playing one of the most notorious figures in English literature, it's only fair that he should also take on one of the most notorious figures in Russian history as well, although certainly the thick aura of legend and mystery surrounding the name and image of Rasputin almost makes him as much of a mythical idol as Dracula. Essentially, both Rasputin and Dracula are remarkably similar, and portraying both involves playing two larger-than-life, darkly powerful yet seductive figures. It is that same type of role which Christopher Lee was born to play. It's also to Christopher Lee's credit that he captures the weird paradox of Rasputin, a man who was apparently both a loud, drunken "peasant"and a brilliant, frightening "holy man."

Of course, no one will (or rather should) watch this for a history lesson on turn-of-the-century Russia. Still, the film does well with what little historical detail it decides to give. Despite the supernatural elements added to the character of Rasputin by the script, his character, from his reputation to the details of his assassination, is fairly accurately portrayed (well, that may be in some ways an overstatement, but I know there's more respect to history here than in five Jerry Bruckheimer productions, but that's also true for the typical third-grade play about Abe Lincoln.) Unfortunately, the film mostly ignores the social and political turmoil of Russia and that time period and only details the implications of Rasputin's influence on the Czarina through small bits of dialogue. While this is better than what I originally feared from the film (I expected that Rasputin would be held responsible for the collapse of the Romanov dynasty, but on the contrary, the film goes out of its way to show that people thought the Czarina was an idiot even before Rasputin showed up), it's still rather disappointing. There's also a strange sense of chronology; in one scene Rasputin is still trying to seduce the Czarina and in the next he becomes her chief advisor.

This film certainly shouldn't disappoint hardcore Christopher Lee fans. While it's not in any way exceptional, it does have a slight historical flair. And there's also the added bonus of seeing Barbara Shelley as Sonia, a lady-in-waiting to the Czarina who becomes Rasputin's key to the imperial court and the victim to his supernatural power (coincidently Barbara was also Christopher Lee's victim in Dracula, Prince of Darkness, made in the same year). Just don't expect a deep history lesson on Rasputin or his Russia, but then again I don't think you would.