How historically accurate is this movie
How historicaly accuratly is the murder of Rasputin in the movie portrayed, you think?
shareNot at all.
Rasputin was killed by Prince Felix Yussupov and Grand Duke Dmitri. They invited Rasputin to a banquet and served him poisoned food. As Rasputin consumed several courses, imbibing a staggering amount of poison, Dmitri and Yussupov grew more and more terrified. Finally Dmitri excused himself, got his gun, came back and shot Rasputin.
The conspirators went to get something with which to take Rasputin's body away. When they got back, Rasputin was gone. They found him outside, staggering away from the house, yelling that he would tell the Czarina everything.
Dmitri and Yussupov shot him several times, after which he finally collapsed. They wrapped his body up and dumped it in the river.
When the body was found, an autopsy revealed that Rasputin died of drowning.
To make things more interesting, Rasputin wrote a letter to the Czarina a few days before his death, predicting that he had only a short while to live. He said that if he was killed by a commoner, all would be well; but if he was killed by a member of the royal family, civil war would erupt in Russia.
A slightly more accurate cinematic portrayal can be seen in NICHOLAS AND ALEXANDRA, starring long-time Dr. Who player Tom Baker as Rasputin. The book on which that film is based will give you the historical facts. However, the Wikipedia article states that recent evidence calls this version of events into question.
Prince Yussupov lived on for many years in exile in England and wrote a memoir about the murder. However, he had given varying accounts of what happened, first in his statement to the police at the time, and later in interviews and still later in his book. So, it's difficult to say exactly what happened.
The fact that Rasputin was so difficult to kill is the basis for most of his legend. He had already survived an assassination attempt the previous year which required extensive surgery.
The Tsarevich Alexis, the heir to the throne, had hemophilia. When Rasputin was introduced to the royal family, he was able to stop Alexis's bleeding where doctors had failed. He was even able to do this over the telephone. Rasputin's ability to do this is perhaps much more remarkable than his strong constitution, which was probably what made him hard to kill. Also, the large quantity of poison that Prince Yussupov and Dmitri used may have reduced its effect; some poisons are known to do this and must be used in small quantities.
We report, you decide; but we decide what to report.
I read somewhere that the poison didn't work because it was taken with sugar which rendered it useless.
shareThere's a lot that's not known. If I recall correctly, the autopsy said there was no poison in Rasputin's stomach. One theory states that the baking called the cyanide to evaporate. And I believe Rasputin's daughter said that he was avoiding sugar at that time so he wouldn't have eaten any of the sweets laced with cyanide any way. Another theory is that he had developed some kind of immunity. Either way, apparently he wasn't actually poisoned.
shareAlso,
Great history, pninson. That was an entertaining read.
There's a later version starring Alan Rickman that brings much of that out.
Also Alexei in the later version had an ongoing illness, and Rasputin was never really able to heal him, just bring about remissions when needed.
There is nothing wrong with Christianity. Only some of the people who practice it.