Rasputin: The Mad Monk
Directed by Don Sharp
Written by Anthony Hinds
1966/UK
Hammer Films/Seven Arts Productions
First viewing/Netflix rental
[box] Grigori Rasputin: When I go to confession I don’t offer God small sins, petty squabbles, jealousies… I offer him sins worth forgiving![/box]
It’s lousy as a history of Rasputin’s role in the downfall of the Romanoffs. On the other hand, it’s a solid Hammer Horror entry lifted by one of Christopher Lee’s very best performances in the lead.
Rasputin (Lee) is a very worldly monk with heavy drinking and womanizing among his many sins. His hypnotic powers eventually attract Sonya, a lady-in-waiting to the Czarina, whom he has arrange an accident for the little tsarovich Alexis in the icy Neva. Rasputin then cures the lad of a fever and earns a place at court through the gratitude of Tsarina Alexandra. The plot has plenty of room for Hammer’s trademark glossy period production, graphic violence, legs, and cleavage.
Christopher Lee totally occupies his role as Rasputin and is on screen for almost every minute of this movie. His performance alone makes the film worth seeing. On the other hand, my husband watched because of an interest in the history and was disappointed. I’m giving it a recommendation to fans of the genre, studio, or Lee.
