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{{short description|1966 film}} {{Short description|1966 British film by Don Sharp}}
{{For|the 1932 John Barrymore film|Rasputin and the Empress}} {{For|the 1932 John Barrymore film|Rasputin and the Empress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2014}}
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| producer = ] | producer = ]
| writer = ] | writer = ]
| narrator = | narrator =
| starring = ]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />]<br />] | starring = {{ubl|]|]|]|]|]|]|]}}
| music = ] | music = ]
| cinematography = ] | cinematography = ]
| editing = Roy Hyde | editing = Roy Hyde
| studio = ]<br />] | studio = ]<br>]
| distributor = ] | distributor = ]
| released = 6 March 1966 | released = {{Film date|1966|03|06|df=yes}}
| runtime = 91 min. | runtime = 91 min.
| country = United Kingdom | country = United Kingdom
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| budget = £100,000 (approx)<ref name="hearn">Marcus Hearn & Alan Barnes, ''The Hammer Story: The Authorised History of Hammer Films'', Titan Books, 2007 p. 96</ref> | budget = £100,000 (approx)<ref name="hearn">Marcus Hearn & Alan Barnes, ''The Hammer Story: The Authorised History of Hammer Films'', Titan Books, 2007 p. 96</ref>
}} }}
'''''Rasputin the Mad Monk''''' is a 1966 ] ] directed by ] and starring ], ], ], ], ], ] and ].<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Rasputin the Mad Monk |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150032893 |access-date=16 August 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref>


'''''Rasputin the Mad Monk''''' is a 1966 ] ] directed by ] and starring ] as ], the ]n ]-] who gained great influence with the ] prior to the ]. It also features ], ], ], ], ] and ]. The story is largely fictionalized, although some of the events leading up to Rasputin's assassination are very loosely based on ]'s account of the story. For legal reasons (Yusupov was still alive when the film was released), the character of Yusupov was replaced by Ivan (Matthews). It is the largely fictionalized story of ], the ]n ]-] who gained great influence with the ] prior to the ], although some of the events leading up to Rasputin's assassination are very loosely based on ]'s account of the story. For legal reasons (Yusupov was still alive when the film was released), the character of Yusupov was replaced by Ivan (Matthews).{{Citation needed|date=August 2024}}


The emphasis is on Rasputin's terrifying powers both to work magic and to seduce women. The emphasis is on Rasputin's terrifying powers both to work magic and to seduce women.


==Plot== ==Plot==
In the Russian countryside, Rasputin heals the sick wife of an innkeeper, but seduces the innkeeper's daughter. A young man tries to kill him, but Rasputin cuts off his hand and then tries to rape the screaming daughter. People come from the inn and attack him, but he escapes to his monastery.
⚫ In the Russian countryside, Rasputin heals the sick wife of an innkeeper (]). When he is later hauled before an ] ] for his sexual immorality and violence, the innkeeper springs to the monk's defence. Rasputin protests that he is sexually immoral because he likes to give God "sins worth forgiving" (loosely based on Rasputin's ] to ], an obscure Christian sect which believed that those deliberately committing fornication, then repenting bitterly, would be closer to God). He also claims to have healing powers in his hands, and is unperturbed by the bishop's accusation that his power comes from ].


⚫ When he is later hauled before an ] ] for his sexual immorality and violence, the innkeeper springs to the monk's defense. Rasputin protests that he is sexually immoral because he likes to give God "sins worth forgiving".{{efn|This is loosely based on Rasputin's ] to ], an obscure Christian sect which believed that those deliberately committing fornication, then repenting bitterly, would be closer to God.}} He also claims to have healing powers in his hands, and is unperturbed by the bishop's accusation that his power comes from ].
⚫ Rasputin heads for ], where he forces his way into the home of Dr Zargo (Pasco), from where he begins his campaign to gain influence over the Tsarina (Asherson). He manipulates one of the Tsarina's ladies-in-waiting, Sonia (Shelley), whom he uses to satisfy his voracious sexual appetite and gain access to the Tsarina. He places her in a trance and commands her to cause an apparent accident that will injure the czar's young heir Alexei, so that Rasputin can be called to court to heal him. After this success, he hypnotizes the Tsarina to replace her existing doctor with Zargo (who has previously been struck off after a scandal).


⚫ Rasputin heads for ], where he forces his way into the home of Dr Zargo, from where he begins his campaign to gain influence over the Tsarina. He manipulates one of the Tsarina's ladies-in-waiting, Sonia, whom he uses to satisfy his voracious sexual appetite and gain access to the Tsarina. He places her in a trance and commands her to cause an apparent accident that will injure the czar's young heir Alexei, so that Rasputin can be called to court to heal him. After this success, he hypnotizes the Tsarina to replace her existing doctor with Zargo (who has previously been struck off after a scandal).
⚫ However, Rasputin's ruthless pursuit of wealth and prestige, and increasing control over the royal household, attracts opposition. When Rasputin rejects Sonia saying that she has served her purpose, she tries to kill him. Rasputin places Sonia in a trance telling her to destroy herself. Sonia's brother, Peter (Landen), finds Sonia dead from cutting her wrists and is so enraged by Rasputin's seduction and killing of his sister, he enlists the help of Ivan to bring about the monk's downfall. Peter, in challenging the monk, is horribly scarred by acid thrown in his face, and suffers a lingering death.


⚫ However, Rasputin's ruthless pursuit of wealth and prestige, and increasing control over the royal household, attracts opposition. When Rasputin rejects Sonia saying that she has served her purpose, she tries to kill him. Rasputin places Sonia in a trance telling her to destroy herself.
⚫ Tricking Rasputin into thinking his sister Vanessa (Farmer) is interested in him, Ivan arranges a supposed meeting. However, Zargo has poisoned the wine and chocolates, which the Monk starts to consume. Soon Rasputin collapses, but the poison is not enough to kill him. In the ensuing struggle between the three men, Zargo is stabbed by Rasputin and quickly dies. Ivan manages to throw Rasputin out of the window to his death.

Sonia's brother, Peter, finds Sonia dead from cutting her wrists and is so enraged by Rasputin's seduction and killing of his sister, he enlists the help of Ivan, brother of Vanessa, a beautiful handmaiden of the Tsarina who has attracted Rasputin's attention, to bring about the monk's downfall. Peter, in challenging the monk, is horribly scarred by acid thrown in his face, and suffers a lingering death.

⚫ Tricking Rasputin into thinking his sister Vanessa is interested in him, Ivan arranges a supposed meeting. However, Zargo has poisoned the wine and chocolates, which the monk starts to consume. Soon Rasputin collapses, but the poison is not enough to kill him. In the ensuing struggle between the three men, Zargo is stabbed by Rasputin and quickly dies, though not before grabbing onto Rasputin's leg and turning the battle against him. Ivan manages to throw Rasputin out of the window to his death.


==Cast== ==Cast==
*] as ] * ] as ]
*] as Sonia * ] as Sonia Vasilyevna
*] as Dr Boris Zargo * ] as Dr. Boris Zargo
*] as Ivan * ] as Ivan Kesnikov
*] as Vanessa * ] as Vanessa Kesnikova
*] as Peter * ] as Peter Vasilyevich
*] as ] * ] as ]
*] as Innkeeper * ] as the innkeeper
*] as The Abbot * ] as the abbot
*] as The Bishop * ] as the bishop
*] as ] * Robert Duncan as ]
*] as Patron * ] as patron
*] as Vassily * ] as Vassily
*] as Vassily's Father * ] as Vassily's father


==Production== ==Production==
''Rasputin the Mad Monk'' was filmed back-to-back in 1965 with '']'', using the same sets at Hammer's ]. Lee, Matthews, Shelley and Farmer appeared in both films. In some markets, it was released on a double feature with '']''. ''Rasputin the Mad Monk'' was filmed back-to-back in 1965 with '']'', using the same sets at Hammer's ]. Lee, Matthews, Shelley and Farmer appeared in both films. In some markets{{Which|date=August 2024}}, it was released on a double feature with '']'' (1966).


It was the third collaboration between Christopher Lee and Don Sharp, following ''The Devil Ship Pirates'' and ''The Face of Fu Manchu''.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/unsung-aussie-filmmakers-don-sharp-top-25/|magazine=Filmink|title=Unsung Aussie Filmmakers: Don Sharp – A Top 25|date=July 27, 2019}}</ref> It was the third collaboration between Christopher Lee and Don Sharp, following ''The Devil Ship Pirates'' and ''The Face of Fu Manchu''.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/unsung-aussie-filmmakers-don-sharp-top-25/|magazine=Filmink|title=Unsung Aussie Filmmakers: Don Sharp – A Top 25|date=July 27, 2019}}</ref>
Line 62: Line 67:
"I think it's the best thing Chris Lee's ever done," said Sharp in 1992. "Rasputin was supposed to have had this ability to hypnotise people, well Chris practically developed that ability."<ref>Murphy p 23</ref> "I think it's the best thing Chris Lee's ever done," said Sharp in 1992. "Rasputin was supposed to have had this ability to hypnotise people, well Chris practically developed that ability."<ref>Murphy p 23</ref>


Filming started 8 June. Don Sharp says the budget was cut during filming, causing the loss of several key scenes. He also claims Yusopov's lawyers threatened Hammer shortly before filming was to commence, necessitating last minute rewriting of the script.<ref>Koetting p 11</ref> Filming started 8 June. Don Sharp says the budget was cut during filming, causing the loss of several key scenes. He also claims Yusupov's lawyers threatened Hammer shortly before filming was to commence, necessitating last minute rewriting of the script.<ref>Koetting p 11</ref> Filming occurred at ] in Berkshire.<ref name="Maxford 2019 70">{{cite book|author=Howard Maxford|title=Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lfp1DwAAQBAJ&pg=PA70|date=8 November 2019|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-2914-8|pages=27}}</ref>


A scene of Sonia's suicide was filmed but not shown.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Fangoria_298_2010/page/n53?q=%22don+sharp%22|magazine=Fangoria|date=2010|page=60|title=Fangs for the Memories Part 2}}</ref> A scene of Sonia's suicide was filmed but not shown.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Fangoria_298_2010/page/n53?q=%22don+sharp%22|magazine=Fangoria|date=2010|page=60|title=Fangs for the Memories Part 2}}</ref>
Line 69: Line 74:


Sharp says the final fight scene between Francis Matthews and Christopher Lee was greatly cut by Tony Keys when Sharp had to leave the film during editing. Sharp had greatly enjoyed the experience of making his first two Hammer films - ''Kiss of the Vampire'' and ''Devil Ship Pirates'' - but not ''Rasputin''.<ref>Koetting p 11</ref> However he did feel the film was "one of the best things Chris Lee's ever done".<ref name="donfour">{{cite interview |last=Sharp |first=Don |subject-link= |interviewer= Sharp says the final fight scene between Francis Matthews and Christopher Lee was greatly cut by Tony Keys when Sharp had to leave the film during editing. Sharp had greatly enjoyed the experience of making his first two Hammer films - ''Kiss of the Vampire'' and ''Devil Ship Pirates'' - but not ''Rasputin''.<ref>Koetting p 11</ref> However he did feel the film was "one of the best things Chris Lee's ever done".<ref name="donfour">{{cite interview |last=Sharp |first=Don |subject-link= |interviewer=
Teddy Darvas and Alan Lawson |title=Don Sharp Side 4|work= |date=2 November 1993 |publisher=History Project |location=London |url= https://historyproject.org.uk/interview/don-sharp|access-date=14 July 2021}}</ref> Teddy Darvas and Alan Lawson |title=Don Sharp Sides 1-8|work= |date=2 November 1993 |publisher=History Project |location=London |url= https://historyproject.org.uk/interview/don-sharp|access-date=25 October 2022}}</ref>


As a child in the 1920s, Lee had actually met Rasputin's killer, ]. In later life Lee met Rasputin's daughter ]. As a child in the 1920s, Lee had actually met Rasputin's killer, ]; in later life Lee met Rasputin's daughter ].c


A ] of the film was written by ] as part of his 1967 book ''The Second Hammer Horror Film Omnibus''. A ] of the film was written by ] as part of his 1967 book ''The Second Hammer Horror Film Omnibus''.


==Reception== ==Reception==

{{expand section|date=June 2019}}
=== Critical ===
'']'' wrote: "The Rasputin legend is enough of a blend of historical fact and embroidered myth to merit something more than this undistinguished melodrama has to offer. Don Sharp's direction makes little attempt to capture the essence of the crumbling splendour of the Tsarist court, and Christopher Lee's towering presence is at odds with the ordinariness of the script. Only in the final sequence, with Rasputin pacing restlessly round a room picking at a box of poisoned chocolates while his assassins cower in the shadows, is any life injected into the proceedings. For the most part the film moves at a determinedly leisurely pace, never getting anywhere near the real Rasputin. And we are reminded that this is a Hammer production by gratuitous shots of a hacked-off hand and a face scarred by acid burns. The sets have an artificial gloss, the interiors are shot in garish colours, and with the exception of Richard Pasco, who lends some depth to his performance as Rasputin's drunken doctor colleague, the players parade round the settings like a row of sore thumbs. "<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1966 |title=Rasputin the Mad Monk |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305825903 |journal=] |volume=33 |issue=384 |pages=63 |id={{ProQuest|1305825903}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref>

'']'' wrote: "This British import, to be released as top-half of a double bill with ''The Reptile'' is a worthy entry, if not a classic, for the shocker market. As the screen peccadilloes of Russia's bad boy have, in ithe past, wound up in court, producer Anthony Nelson Keys had scripter John Elder take a somewhat fanciful (and unbelievable) approach to the subject. As a result, the dastardly villain has been given some attributes that are certainly colorful. Actually, this Hammer Film effort's surface appeal, in its really first-class color photography, art direction and professional casting, makes the thin plot immaterial. Christopher Lee's Rasputin is completely in character – huge, deep-voiced, compelling stare – oh, he's a proper rascal – and this variation makes him also a dancer (not that one ever sees a long shot of dancing. It's usually his upper half, then cut to a real dancer's feet, then back).&nbsp;...The shocker mood is set early when the libertine holy man, fighting off a young assailant, chops off his hand with a scythe. ... Don Banks' score is also a big assist in underscoring suspense and action."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=27 April 1966 |title=Rasputin the Mad Monk |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1017129859 |journal=] |volume=242 |issue=10 |pages=6 |id={{ProQuest|1017129859}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref>

The film has a 43% rating on ], based on 7 reviews. Lee receives praise for his performance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rasputin, the Mad Monk - Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rasputin_the_mad_monk |access-date=2023-11-03 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>

=== Box office ===
According to Fox records, the film and ''The Reptile'' needed to earn $1,200,000 in rentals to break even and made $1,645,000, meaning it made a profit.<ref>{{cite book|page=|title=The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox|url=https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv|url-access=registration|last=Silverman|first=Stephen M|year=1988|publisher=L. Stuart|isbn=9780818404856}}</ref> According to Fox records, the film and ''The Reptile'' needed to earn $1,200,000 in rentals to break even and made $1,645,000, meaning it made a profit.<ref>{{cite book|page=|title=The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox|url=https://archive.org/details/foxthatgotawayt00silv|url-access=registration|last=Silverman|first=Stephen M|year=1988|publisher=L. Stuart|isbn=9780818404856}}</ref>

⚫ ==Notes==
{{notelist}}


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}

==Additional sources==
⚫ * {{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Hammer_Horror_004_1995.Marvel/page/n9?q=%22don+sharp%22|magazine=Hammer Horror|date=1995|first=Christopher|last=Koetting|title=Costume Dramas}}
⚫ * {{cite magazine|first=Mike|last=Murphy|url=https://archive.org/details/Dark_Terrors_04/page/n21|title=Rasputin the Mad Monk|magazine=Dark Terrors|pages=22–24|date=July–August 1992}}
⚫ * {{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Hammer_Horror_004_1995.Marvel/page/n25/mode/1up?q=rasputin+|magazine=Hammer Horror|date=1995|number=4|title=Rasputin the Mad Monk - Report on the Whole Film|pages=23–31}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{wikiquote}} {{wikiquote}}
*{{IMDb title|0059635}} * {{IMDb title|0059635}}
*{{tcmdb title|87711|Rasputin the Mad Monk}} * {{TCMDb title|87711|Rasputin the Mad Monk}}
* at Letterbox DVD * at Letterbox DVD
* at BFI * at BFI


⚫ ==Notes==
⚫ *{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Hammer_Horror_004_1995.Marvel/page/n9?q=%22don+sharp%22|magazine=Hammer Horror|date=1995|first=Christopher|last=Koetting|title=Costume Dramas}}
⚫ *{{cite magazine|first=Mike|last=Muprhy|url=https://archive.org/details/Dark_Terrors_04/page/n21|title=Rasputin the Mad Monk|magazine=Dark Terrors|pages=22–24|date=July–August 1992}}
⚫ *{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Hammer_Horror_004_1995.Marvel/page/n25/mode/1up?q=rasputin+|magazine=Hammer Horror|date=1995|number=4|title=Rasputin the Mad Monk - Report on the Whole Film|page=23-31}}
{{Don Sharp}} {{Don Sharp}}
{{Grigori Rasputin in popular culture}} {{Grigori Rasputin in popular culture}}
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] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 04:39, 22 December 2024

1966 British film by Don Sharp For the 1932 John Barrymore film, see Rasputin and the Empress.

Rasputin, the Mad Monk
Original French film poster
Directed byDon Sharp
Written byAnthony Hinds
Produced byAnthony Nelson Keys
Starring
CinematographyMichael Reed
Edited byRoy Hyde
Music byDon Banks
Production
companies		Hammer Film Productions
Seven Arts
Distributed byWarner-Pathé Distributors
Release date
  • 6 March 1966 (1966-03-06)
Running time91 min.
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget£100,000 (approx)

Rasputin the Mad Monk is a 1966 Hammer horror film directed by Don Sharp and starring Christopher Lee, Barbara Shelley, Francis Matthews, Suzan Farmer, Richard Pasco, Dinsdale Landen and Renée Asherson.

It is the largely fictionalized story of Grigori Rasputin, the Russian peasant-mystic who gained great influence with the Tsars prior to the Russian Revolution, although some of the events leading up to Rasputin's assassination are very loosely based on Prince Yusupov's account of the story. For legal reasons (Yusupov was still alive when the film was released), the character of Yusupov was replaced by Ivan (Matthews).

The emphasis is on Rasputin's terrifying powers both to work magic and to seduce women.

Plot

In the Russian countryside, Rasputin heals the sick wife of an innkeeper, but seduces the innkeeper's daughter. A young man tries to kill him, but Rasputin cuts off his hand and then tries to rape the screaming daughter. People come from the inn and attack him, but he escapes to his monastery.

When he is later hauled before an Orthodox bishop for his sexual immorality and violence, the innkeeper springs to the monk's defense. Rasputin protests that he is sexually immoral because he likes to give God "sins worth forgiving". He also claims to have healing powers in his hands, and is unperturbed by the bishop's accusation that his power comes from Satan.

Rasputin heads for Saint Petersburg, where he forces his way into the home of Dr Zargo, from where he begins his campaign to gain influence over the Tsarina. He manipulates one of the Tsarina's ladies-in-waiting, Sonia, whom he uses to satisfy his voracious sexual appetite and gain access to the Tsarina. He places her in a trance and commands her to cause an apparent accident that will injure the czar's young heir Alexei, so that Rasputin can be called to court to heal him. After this success, he hypnotizes the Tsarina to replace her existing doctor with Zargo (who has previously been struck off after a scandal).

However, Rasputin's ruthless pursuit of wealth and prestige, and increasing control over the royal household, attracts opposition. When Rasputin rejects Sonia saying that she has served her purpose, she tries to kill him. Rasputin places Sonia in a trance telling her to destroy herself.

Sonia's brother, Peter, finds Sonia dead from cutting her wrists and is so enraged by Rasputin's seduction and killing of his sister, he enlists the help of Ivan, brother of Vanessa, a beautiful handmaiden of the Tsarina who has attracted Rasputin's attention, to bring about the monk's downfall. Peter, in challenging the monk, is horribly scarred by acid thrown in his face, and suffers a lingering death.

Tricking Rasputin into thinking his sister Vanessa is interested in him, Ivan arranges a supposed meeting. However, Zargo has poisoned the wine and chocolates, which the monk starts to consume. Soon Rasputin collapses, but the poison is not enough to kill him. In the ensuing struggle between the three men, Zargo is stabbed by Rasputin and quickly dies, though not before grabbing onto Rasputin's leg and turning the battle against him. Ivan manages to throw Rasputin out of the window to his death.

Cast

Production

Rasputin the Mad Monk was filmed back-to-back in 1965 with Dracula: Prince of Darkness, using the same sets at Hammer's Bray Studios. Lee, Matthews, Shelley and Farmer appeared in both films. In some markets, it was released on a double feature with The Reptile (1966).

It was the third collaboration between Christopher Lee and Don Sharp, following The Devil Ship Pirates and The Face of Fu Manchu.

Lee later said, "The only way you can present him is the way he was historically described. He was a lecher and a drunk, and definitely had healing powers. So he was a saint and a sinner... There were very few good sides to him. Rasputin is one of the best things I’ve done. "

"I think it's the best thing Chris Lee's ever done," said Sharp in 1992. "Rasputin was supposed to have had this ability to hypnotise people, well Chris practically developed that ability."

Filming started 8 June. Don Sharp says the budget was cut during filming, causing the loss of several key scenes. He also claims Yusupov's lawyers threatened Hammer shortly before filming was to commence, necessitating last minute rewriting of the script. Filming occurred at Bray Studios in Berkshire.

A scene of Sonia's suicide was filmed but not shown.

The original ending had the lifeless Rasputin lying on the ice with his hands held up to his forehead in benediction. However, it was considered controversial for religious reasons, and was removed. Stills of the original ending still exist.

Sharp says the final fight scene between Francis Matthews and Christopher Lee was greatly cut by Tony Keys when Sharp had to leave the film during editing. Sharp had greatly enjoyed the experience of making his first two Hammer films - Kiss of the Vampire and Devil Ship Pirates - but not Rasputin. However he did feel the film was "one of the best things Chris Lee's ever done".

As a child in the 1920s, Lee had actually met Rasputin's killer, Felix Yusupov; in later life Lee met Rasputin's daughter Maria.c

A novelization of the film was written by John Burke as part of his 1967 book The Second Hammer Horror Film Omnibus.

Reception

Critical

The Monthly Film Bulletin wrote: "The Rasputin legend is enough of a blend of historical fact and embroidered myth to merit something more than this undistinguished melodrama has to offer. Don Sharp's direction makes little attempt to capture the essence of the crumbling splendour of the Tsarist court, and Christopher Lee's towering presence is at odds with the ordinariness of the script. Only in the final sequence, with Rasputin pacing restlessly round a room picking at a box of poisoned chocolates while his assassins cower in the shadows, is any life injected into the proceedings. For the most part the film moves at a determinedly leisurely pace, never getting anywhere near the real Rasputin. And we are reminded that this is a Hammer production by gratuitous shots of a hacked-off hand and a face scarred by acid burns. The sets have an artificial gloss, the interiors are shot in garish colours, and with the exception of Richard Pasco, who lends some depth to his performance as Rasputin's drunken doctor colleague, the players parade round the settings like a row of sore thumbs. "

Variety wrote: "This British import, to be released as top-half of a double bill with The Reptile is a worthy entry, if not a classic, for the shocker market. As the screen peccadilloes of Russia's bad boy have, in ithe past, wound up in court, producer Anthony Nelson Keys had scripter John Elder take a somewhat fanciful (and unbelievable) approach to the subject. As a result, the dastardly villain has been given some attributes that are certainly colorful. Actually, this Hammer Film effort's surface appeal, in its really first-class color photography, art direction and professional casting, makes the thin plot immaterial. Christopher Lee's Rasputin is completely in character – huge, deep-voiced, compelling stare – oh, he's a proper rascal – and this variation makes him also a dancer (not that one ever sees a long shot of dancing. It's usually his upper half, then cut to a real dancer's feet, then back). ...The shocker mood is set early when the libertine holy man, fighting off a young assailant, chops off his hand with a scythe. ... Don Banks' score is also a big assist in underscoring suspense and action."

The film has a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 7 reviews. Lee receives praise for his performance.

Box office

According to Fox records, the film and The Reptile needed to earn $1,200,000 in rentals to break even and made $1,645,000, meaning it made a profit.

Notes

  1. This is loosely based on Rasputin's rumoured connection to Khlysty, an obscure Christian sect which believed that those deliberately committing fornication, then repenting bitterly, would be closer to God.

References

  1. Marcus Hearn & Alan Barnes, The Hammer Story: The Authorised History of Hammer Films, Titan Books, 2007 p. 96
  2. "Rasputin the Mad Monk". British Film Institute Collections Search. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  3. Vagg, Stephen (27 July 2019). "Unsung Aussie Filmmakers: Don Sharp – A Top 25". Filmink.
  4. Timpone, Anthony (November 2003). "Christopher Lee The Last Horro Legend". Fangoria. p. 71.
  5. Murphy p 23
  6. Koetting p 11
  7. Howard Maxford (8 November 2019). Hammer Complete: The Films, the Personnel, the Company. McFarland. p. 27. ISBN 978-1-4766-2914-8.
  8. "Fangs for the Memories Part 2". Fangoria. 2010. p. 60.
  9. Koetting p 11
  10. Sharp, Don (2 November 1993). "Don Sharp Sides 1-8" (Interview). Interviewed by Teddy Darvas and Alan Lawson. London: History Project. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  11. "Rasputin the Mad Monk". The Monthly Film Bulletin. 33 (384): 63. 1 January 1966. ProQuest 1305825903 – via ProQuest.
  12. "Rasputin the Mad Monk". Variety. 242 (10): 6. 27 April 1966. ProQuest 1017129859 – via ProQuest.
  13. "Rasputin, the Mad Monk - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  14. Silverman, Stephen M (1988). The Fox that got away : the last days of the Zanuck dynasty at Twentieth Century-Fox. L. Stuart. p. 325. ISBN 9780818404856.

Additional sources

External links

Films directed by Don Sharp
Grigori Rasputin in popular culture
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