TV Gold

Time to shift my attention to the second disc this time around and reaching the fifth episode entitled ?The Last Tsar? it seems we reach a period of cast and probably location stability, which looking at the accompanying ?viewing notes? booklet, will stretch, I believe, to the thirteenth and final episode. With the first scene opening in a grand entrance lobby complete with stone columns we have a discussion with Tony Jay (Alexander III) and Freddie Jones (Witte). Witte later talks with Milyukov played by David Collins (familiar from Doctor Who and Sapphire & Steel appearances) It is interesting to note, coincidentally that I recently re-watched a second year episode of the enjoyable (in my opinion) Space 1999 in which Freddie Jones appears. In the episode ?Journey to Where? he plays a clearly agitated controller of the Texas City Control Centre who have an ultimately flawed plan to rescue the Moonbase Alpha personnel. With the year now 1894 this episode sees the arrival to the series of Charles Kay and Gayle Hunnicutt as Tsarevich Nicholas and Tsarina Alexandra and it is their deepening love for one another that is a main focus of the episode. However, along the way Nicholas? eye is caught by the ?enchanting? premiere danseuse of the Imperial Ballet, Mathide Ksehessinska and it is indeed welcome to see Jan Francis give an enjoyable performance in her two scenes with Nicholas. I particularly like the ?light and airy? atmosphere created for Ksehessinska?s bedroom which helps to gain the set a relaxed atmosphere. The same can be said regarding the Imperial Estate at Livadia set which features later in the episode. It was only on the second viewing of this episode that I spotted Bernard Kay?s (best known as ?M? from the Bond films) brief appearance as Uncle Serge in a line up meeting Queen Victoria. I believe it is excellent casting for the aging Queen in that not only does actress Mavis Edwards convey an accurate image of the long lived Monarch but there is certainly a similarity between her and her acting role predecessor Perlita Neilson (from the second ?The English Princess? episode). But of course this episode is most notable for the first appearance, in the series, of Patrick Stewart as Vladimir Illyich Ulyanov, more commonly known as Lenin. It is a fairly restrained contribution to the episode but certainly, in his two scenes, a most welcome and important introduction. Lastly, and in the final DVD release chapter we have Alexandra talking with Ella played by Isla Blair. It took me a few moments to remember where I had seen Isla Blair before, the period costumes of both ladies delaying my recollections before I nailed it. Appearing as Sinofar she pervaded a rather lofty high and mighty attitude towards Blake and Travis in the season one Blake?s Seven episode ?Duel?.

There is a scene in this part where Nicholas II and his friends make so much noise, that the police prefect for Petersburg comes to investigate. Nicholsas throws a drink of some sort onto the forehead of the police prefect while he and his drunk friends and the ballerina, Mathide Ksehessinska look on laughing. Suddenly, what appears to be a picture of man flashes on the screen and it looks as if that person has been shot in the head. What does this scene mean. The morning after this incident, Nicholas' mother rebukes him for his conduct, but says she has also rebuked General (Sounds like Volaire for his conduct). I would appreciate any help anyone might offer. Thanks

Further to your enquiry I had another brief look at this episode this morning and located the scene to which you refer (occurring ten and a half minutes into the episode, during chapter two).

Clearly Nicholas II was in a highly inebriated, excitable state enjoying the drunken celebrations that he and his friends were having and was incensed to such a degree at the intrusion of the Prefect of the City that led to his sloshing the interloper in the face with the contents of his wine glass. The sudden and violent impact that he caused on the man?s face caused a personal history childhood déjà vu type flashback in the Russian leader whom, clearly from his features, is traumatised by this. The subsequent and very brief archive painting of a man?s face blown apart by a similarly graphic splattering effect was undoubtedly Nicholas II?s grandfather. I believe this is borne out by his conversation in bed, in the next scene, with Ksehessinska where he talks about a (waking) dream he had about the death of his grandfather. As we hear this involved someone throwing a bomb at his carriage in an assassination attempt. From the vividness of his memories he appeared to be nearby at the time and, at the tender age of twelve it had a lasting effect on him not just from the pain of losing a favoured relative but possibly wondering if the same grizzly fate may one day befall him!

The subsequent sequence you refer to, that of his morning meeting with his mother has her saying that she has also rebuked General Wahl (I put on the subtitle option for this!). Clearly she feels that both he and her son have to act responsibly due to the high profile positions the hold.

I hope this helps to clarify things for you!

With best wishes

Sarah

What a brilliant answer. I went through that scene a number of times, on super slow speed, and I freeze framed the pic, and thought to myself: I recognize that person. Finally, in comparing a picture of Alexander II, I think it is one and the same person as I froze, which if true, further proves what you have said. Thanks again