Rasputin and the Empress

In the waning years of Czar Nicholas II's reign, Prince Paul grows increasingly worried about the plight of the common people and the likelihood of a coming revolution. He voices concern to reform-minded colleagues and tries to read the growing unrest behind the palace walls. The imperial court begins to feel the pressure of a society on edge.

Crown Prince Alexei suffers from a dangerous hemophilia, and a seemingly minor fall could be life threatening. The royal doctors admit their limits, leaving the Empress and court desperate for a miracle. The fate of the dynasty hinges on Alexei's fragile health.

Natasha, Alexandra's lady-in-waiting and Paul's fiancée, suggests Rasputin as a healer for the ailing prince. Rasputin convinces the frantic Empress that he has been sent by God to cure Alexei. Alone with the boy, he hypnotizes him and eases his pain, gaining a dangerous psychological hold.

With the prince's relief, Rasputin begins replacing loyalists with his own men, tightening his grip on the family's inner circle. He leverages the Empress's trust to push his allies into power. The imperial administration becomes increasingly dependent on him.

The new ally, the head of the secret police, fears about his job and seeks Rasputin's protection. Using police dossiers, Rasputin starts blackmailing rivals and expanding his influence. The security apparatus effectively serves his aims.

Paul confronts Rasputin and shoots him after Natasha warns of an assassination attempt. Rasputin survives due to a hidden metal breastplate, leaving the killer and the court stunned. The attempted murder exposes the depth of Rasputin's immunity within the palace.

Nicholas forces Paul to resign after admitting the attempt on Rasputin's life. The resignation marks a shift in power, but Rasputin's influence remains intact. Natasha's loyalty to Rasputin complicates the political balance further.

On the brink of a broader war, Germany issues an ultimatum demanding Russia stop mobilization. The Tsar's advisers are divided, and Rasputin sways Nicholas to reject the ultimatum. The decision propels Russia toward World War I.

Rasputin begins making subtle advances on Grand Duchess Maria, Alexandra's daughter, inflaming Natasha's fury. Natasha accuses him, but Rasputin's hold on Alexandra's faith deepens. Alexandra's late entrance interrupts Natasha's outburst, allowing the truth to surface.

Rasputin boasts that he now wields de facto power, alarming the Empress and the court. Desperate, she sends for Paul, who swears he knows what to do. The palace atmosphere thickens with fear as Rasputin's grip appears unbreakable.

At a lavish party where Rasputin is honored, the palace is searched for enemies. They discover Paul and Dr. Remezov hiding within the house. The atmosphere is tense as the circle narrows around Rasputin's foes.

Rasputin is taken to the cellar to be killed by Paul, who taunts him with the idea that poisoned cakes hid the truth. Rasputin refuses to die, proclaiming that if he dies, Russia will die. The struggle ends with Paul forcibly dragging Rasputin toward the river, beginning the final downfall.

After Rasputin's near-murder, Alexei is freed from the trance and clings to his mother. Nicholas orders Paul into exile as Rasputin's faction remains powerful at court. The old order survives in the shadows while the reformist threads fray.

Rasputin's prophecies appear fulfilled as the empire collapses and the czar's family is shot by the Bolsheviks. The revolution redounds through Russia, ending the dynasty's rule. The final tragedy echoes the doomed prophecy of the old charlatan.

In the closing moments, a light blazes behind a cross as the Russian anthem rises. The choir's English hymn at the end casts a somber note, lingering on the desire for peace amid ruin. The film closes on a note of tragic memory rather than triumph.