Ingrid Bergman won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role in "Anastasia", which cemented her Hollywood comeback following her scandalous affair with Italian director Roberto Rosellini. The film was based on the Marcelle Maurette play, and also provided good roles for bald-headed, fiery-eyed Yul Brynner and noted stage actress Helen Hayes.
Anastasia, youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II,
was murdered by the Bolsheviks following the
Russian Revolution. Or did she somehow survive?
Someone apparently believes so, or they wouldn't
have a ten million dollar trust fund waiting for
her to show up to claim it.
It is the early 1920s, and Brynner is conspiring
with Akim Tamiroff and Sacha Pitoeff to produce a
credible Anastasia so that the account can be
defrauded. Bergman, a woman without an identity
who bears a physical resemblance to Anastasia, is
rescued from a suicide attempt by Brynner. He
then coldly trains her to pass as Her Majesty.
But there are many skeptics, and to succeed
Bergman must convince Anastasia's still-living
grandmother (Hayes). Along the way, it becomes
obvious that Bergman really is Anastasia. She
also must choose between two suitors, pleasant
rogue Prince Paul (Ivan Desny) and imposing,
abrupt Brynner.
The best thing about "Anastasia" is the dense
script. There are many clever lines that reveal
the idiosyncrasies of the characters. Bergman,
Hayes and Brynner are well cast. The biggest
problem with "Anastasia" is the ending; there is
no romantic chemistry between Bergman and
Brynner, and it is difficult to believe that
Brynner would forgo his hard-won jackpot and that
Bergman would pass up a chance to play Princess.
(73/100)
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