Anastasia (1956 movie) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Anastasia
Anastasia (1956) trailer
Directed by	Anatole Litvak
Produced by	Buddy Adler
Written by	Marcelle Maurette (play) Guy Bolton (adaptation) Arthur Laurents
Starring	Ingrid Bergman Yul Brynner Helen Hayes
Music by	Alfred Newman
Cinematography	Jack Hildyard
Distributed by	20th Century Fox
Release date(s)	December 13, 1956 (US release)
Running time	105 min.
Country	US
Language	English / French

Anastasia is a classic movie from 1956 by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by Anatole Litvak. The film stars famous actors like Ingrid Bergman, Yul Brynner, and Helen Hayes. Other actors include Akim Tamiroff and Natalie Schafer. Ingrid Bergman won an Academy Award for her role in this movie.

The True Story Behind Anastasia

The movie is based on the real-life story of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia. She was the youngest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II. Anastasia and her family lost their lives during the Russian Revolution. This happened to stop them from becoming rulers again.

Even though people said the whole family was gone, many did not believe it. Stories spread that one or more of them had escaped. This was because their bodies were hidden for a long time.

Many people came forward saying they were one of the royal children. The most famous was Anna Anderson. She became well-known in the 1920s with her strong claims that she was Anastasia. The movie is mostly based on her story. Anna strongly said she was the heir to the royal family. But many people around her had doubts. Still, her story was very popular with the public.

Today, we know for sure that Anna Anderson was not Anastasia. The bodies of the Romanov family were found in 1991 and 2008. DNA tests proved they were all members of the Romanov family. DNA tests on Anna Anderson also showed she was not a Romanov. She was likely Franziska Schanzkowska, a factory worker from Poland.

What Happens in the Movie?

The movie tells the story of a young, confused woman in France in the 1920s. Ingrid Bergman plays this woman. A group of Russian people who left their country find her. They want her to pretend to be Anastasia. They hope to get the money Anastasia would inherit. The real Anastasia would inherit millions from her father, the Tsar. This money was in an English bank.

The Russians, led by General Bounine (played by Yul Brynner), teach her how to act like Grand Duchess Anastasia. They teach her about Anastasia's childhood. They even teach her to walk like a Duchess by practicing with a book on her head.

When they think she is ready, she meets people who knew Anastasia. At first, none of them believe she is the real Anastasia. The biggest test comes when she meets the Dowager Empress, Maria Feodorovna. She is the Tsar's mother, played by Helen Hayes. The old Empress does not believe the young woman at first. But then Anastasia coughs because she is nervous. The Empress remembers Anastasia used to do this as a child. She then believes the young woman is her granddaughter.

Meanwhile, Prince Paul wants to marry Anastasia. He is interested in the money she might inherit. In the final scene, there is a party. The Dowager Empress plans to announce the engagement between Paul and Anastasia. But Anastasia and General Bounine suddenly disappear. The Dowager Empress realizes Anastasia does not want fame. She just wants love with the man she chooses. The Empress bravely tells the guests that the party is over.

Animated Feature

• An animated musical version of Anastasia was made in 1997. It was produced by Fox Animation Studios.

Images for kids

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  L-R: Sacha Pitoëff, Ingrid Bergman, Akim Tamiroff and Yul Brynner

See also

In Spanish: Anastasia (película de 1956) para niños