''The Story of Anastasia'' and in the UK, ''Is Anna Anderson Anastasia?'' (German: ''Anastasia, die letzte Zarentochter''), is a German film directed by

Falk Harnack Falk Harnack (2 March 1913 – 3 September 1991) was a German director and screenwriter. During Germany's Nazi era, he was also active with the German Resistance and toward the end of World War II, the partisans in Greece. Harnack was from a fam ...

. The 1956 film is based on the true story of

Anna Anderson Anna Anderson (born Franziska Schanzkowska, 16 December 1896 – 12 February 1984) was an impostor who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia of Russia. Anastasia, the youngest daughter of the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia, Nicholas II an ...

, who was pulled from the

Landwehr Canal The Landwehr Canal (german: Landwehrkanal), is a canal parallel to the Spree river in Berlin, Germany, built between 1845 and 1850 to plans by Peter Joseph Lenné. It connects the upper part of the Spree at the eastern harbour () in Friedri ...

in Berlin in 1920 and later claimed to be

Anastasia Anastasia (from el, Ἀναστασία, translit=Anastasía) is a feminine given name of Greek origin, derived from the Greek word (), meaning "resurrection". It is a popular name in Eastern Europe, particularly in Russia, where it was the most ...

, the youngest daughter of

Tsar Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East Slavs, East and South Slavs, South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''Caesar (title), caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" i ...

Nicholas II of Russia Nicholas II or Nikolai II Alexandrovich Romanov; spelled in pre-revolutionary script. ( 186817 July 1918), known in the Russian Orthodox Church as Saint Nicholas the Passion-Bearer,. was the last Emperor of Russia, King of Congress Pola ...

. The entire family was executed in the

Russian Revolution The Russian Revolution was a period of Political revolution (Trotskyism), political and social revolution that took place in the former Russian Empire which began during the First World War. This period saw Russia abolish its monarchy and ad ...

, but this was not confirmed until their graves were discovered in 1991 and 2007. The American film ''

'', directed by

Anatole Litvak Anatoly Mikhailovich Litvak (russian: Анатолий Михайлович Литвак; 21 May 1902 – 15 December 1974), better known as Anatole Litvak, was a Ukrainian-born American filmmaker who wrote, directed, and produced films in vari ...

and featuring

Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman (29 August 191529 August 1982) was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films, television movies, and plays.Obituary ''Variety'', 1 September 1982. With a career spanning five decades, she is often ...

appeared the same year."The Problem of Anastasia: Two films on a single pitiful theme", ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'' (February 20, 1957), p. 11

Cast

Lilli Palmer Lilli Palmer (; born Lilli Marie Peiser; 24 May 1914 – 27 January 1986) was a German actress and writer. After beginning her career in British films in the 1930s, she would later transition to major Cinema of the United States, Hollywood produ ...

/ Anastasia *

Ivan Desny Ivan Desny (born Ivan Nikolaevich Desnitskij; 28 December 1922 – 13 April 2002) was a Chinese-born actor of Russian descent. Early life Desny was born in Peking, China. Career Desny was a film actor. Bilingual in French and German, he acted ...

as Gleb Botkin *

Rudolf Fernau Rudolf Fernau (7 January 1898 – 4 November 1985) was a German film actor. He appeared in 53 films between 1936 and 1982. He was born and died in Munich, Germany. Selected filmography * '' The Traitor'' (1936) - Fritz Brockau * '' In the ...

as Serge Botkin *

Tilla Durieux Tilla Durieux (born Ottilie Godeffroy; 18 August 1880 – 21 February 1971) was an Austrian theatre and film actress of the first decades of the 20th century. Early Years Born Ottilie Helene Angela Godeffroy on 18 August 1880, she was the daug ...

as the Tsar's mother *

Dorothea Wieck Dorothea Wieck, born Dora Bertha Olavia Wieck (3 January 1908 in Davos, Switzerland – 20 February 1986 in Berlin, West Germany), was a German theatre and film actress. Early years Dorothea Wieck was born Dora Bertha Olavia Wieck and grew up ...

as Grand Duchess Olga Romanov *

Ellen Schwiers Ellen Schwiers (11 June 1930 – 26 April 2019) was a German actress of stage, film, and television. She was featured in world premieres of plays by Dürrenmatt and Frisch at the Schauspielhaus Zürich, and appeared as Buhlschaft in '' Jed ...

as ''Princess Katharina'' ( Xenia Leeds) *

Käthe Braun Käthe Braun (11 November 1913 – 9 September 1994) was a German stage and film actress. She was married to director Falk Harnack and acted in several of his films. Career Katharina Braun was born in Wasserburg am Inn. After studying actin ...

as Frau von Rathleff-Keilmann *

Margot Hielscher Margot Hielscher (29 September 1919 – 20 August 2017) was a German singer and film actress. She appeared in over fifty films between and 1939 and 1994. Hielscher was born in Berlin. In 1957, she was chosen to represent Germany at the Eurovis ...

as Crown Princess Cecilie *

Otto Graf Otto Graf (28 November 1896 – 22 February 1977) was a German actor. He appeared in more than 50 films and television shows between 1935 and 1970. Partial filmography * ''Nacht der Verwandlung'' (1935) as René Duval * '' The Traitor'' ( ...

Duke of Leuchtenberg Duke of Leuchtenberg was a title created twice by List of rulers of Bavaria, the monarchs of Bavaria for their relatives. The first creation was awarded by Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria to his son Maximilian Philipp Hieronymus, upon whose death ...

Franziska Kinz Franziska Kinz (21 February 1897, Kufstein, Austria-Hungary (now Austria) – 26 April 1980, Meran, Italy) was an Austrian film actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the fl ...

as Duchess of Leuchtenberg *

Hans Krull Hans may refer to: __NOTOC__ People * Hans (name), a masculine given name * Hans Raj Hans, Indian singer and politician ** Navraj Hans, Indian singer, actor, entrepreneur, cricket player and performer, son of Hans Raj Hans ** Yuvraj Hans, Punjabi a ...

as Friedrich Ernst, Prince of Saxon-Altenburg *

Adelheid Seeck Adelheid Seeck (3 November 1912 – 17 February 1973) was a German film actress. She appeared in 27 films between 1941 and 1972. She starred in '' The Last Ones Shall Be First'', which was entered into the 7th Berlin International Film Fest ...

as Princess Irene of Prussia *

Fritz Tillmann Fritz Tillmann (December 13, 1910 – October 30, 1986) was a German actor. Selected filmography * ''Hoegler's Mission'' (1950) - Fritz Rottmann * '' The Council of the Gods'' (1950) - Dr. Hans Scholz * '' Master of Life and Death'' (1955) - Dr ...

as Baron von Pleskau *

Alice Treff Alice Martha Treff (4 June 1906 – 8 February 2003) was a German film actress. She appeared in more than 120 films between 1932 and 2001. She was born and died in Berlin, Germany. Selected filmography * '' Peter Voss, Thief of Millions'' ...

as Baroness von Seekendorf *

Erik von Loewis Erik von Loewis (1904–1986) was a German stage actor and director. He also acted in film and television.Giesen p.186 Born in Estonia, he was of Baltic German heritage. Partial filmography * '' Fridericus'' (1937) - Stabsoffizier * '' Don't Pro ...

as Baron Valepp * Susanne von Almassy as Frau Stevens * Eva Bubat as Gertrud Schanzkowsky *

Berta Drews Berta Emilie Helene Drews (; 19 November 1901 – 10 April 1987) was a German stage and film actress. She appeared in more than 60 films from 1933 to 1983. She was married to actor Heinrich George. The couple had two sons, including actor G� ...

as Fräulein Peuthert *

Maria Sebaldt Maria Katharina Helene Sebaldt (26 April 1930 in Berlin- Steglitz) is a German actress. Life The daughter of a department head of the Paramount film distribution company took private acting lessons from 1946 to 1949 and passed an acting examina ...

as Trollop *

Reinhold Bernt Reinhold Bernt (19 December 1902 – 26 October 1981) was a German film actor. Bernt was born Reinhold Bienert in Berlin and died in West Berlin. Career Bernt's acting career began in Stuttgart with a theater debut. Soon after, he traveled to B ...

Land Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of the planet Earth that is not submerged by the ocean or other bodies of water. It makes up 29% of Earth's surface and includes the continents and various islan ...

policeman *

Paul Bildt Paul Hermann Bildt (19 May 1885 – 13 March 1957) was a German film actor. He appeared in more than 180 films between 1910 and 1956. He was born and died in Berlin, Germany. Selected filmography * ''Devil in Silk'' (1956) * ''Ich suche Di ...

as Volkov *

Emmy Burg Emmy Burg (1903–1982) was a German film and television actress.Rentschler p.326 Selected filmography * '' The Beaver Coat'' (1949) * ''Homesick for You'' (1952) * '' Bon Voyage'' (1954) * ''The Witch'' (1954) * ''Before God and Man'' (1955) * ...

as Nurse Schwarzkopf *

Peter Carsten Peter Carsten (30 April 1928 – 20 April 2012) was a German actor and film producer. He appeared in 90 films between 1953 and 1999, including in supporting roles, ''Dark of the Sun'' (1968), ''Hannibal Brooks'' (1969), ''Madame Bovary'' (1 ...

as Soldier Tchaikovski *

Erika Dannhoff Erika Dannhoff (2 December 1909 – 18 June 1996) was a German actress. She played the female lead in the 1935 mountain film ''Demon of the Himalayas''. Selected filmography * ''The Model from Montparnasse'' (1929) * ''The Man with the Frog'' (1 ...

as Frau von Pleskau * Fritz Eberth as Yurovski *

Kurt Heintel Kurt Heintel (1924–2002) was an Austrian film and television actor.Fritsche p. 241 Selected filmography * ''Vagabonds'' (1949) * '' A Devil of a Woman'' (1951) * '' Hannerl'' (1952) * '' The Monastery's Hunter'' (1953) * '' The Poacher'' (1953 ...

as Kotov *

Lucie Höflich Lucie Höflich (born Helene Lucie von Holwede; 20 February 1883 – 9 October 1956) was a German actress, teacher and head of the Staatliche Schauspielschule (State Drama School) in Berlin.

as Frau Bäumle * Karl Klüsner as Dr. Kersten *

Reinhard Kolldehoff Reinhard Kolldehoff (29 April 1914 – 18 November 1995) was a German film actor. He appeared in 140 films between 1941 and 1988. He was born and died in Berlin, Germany. Selected filmography * '' The Gasman'' (1941) - Polizeibeamter (uncr ...

as Fichte *

Stanislav Ledinek Stanislav Ledinek (26 June 1920 – 30 March 1969) was a German film actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1953 and 1968. He died in Istanbul, Turkey. Selected filmography * '' Such a Charade'' (1953) * ''Red Roses, Red Lips, Re ...

as Voroneff *

Robert Meyn Robert Meyn (16 January 1896 – 2 March 1972) was a German stage, film and television actor.Fehrenbach p.103 Partial filmography * '' The Sinner'' (1951) - Von Hernsdorf - Marinas Stiefvater / Marina's Stepfather * ''Kommen Sie am Ersten'' (19 ...

as German lawyer *

Marina Ried Marina Ried ( Rsjevskaja; 1921–1989) was a Russian-born German stage and film actress.Cowie & Elley p.167 The niece of the film star Olga Chekhova, she was born in Moscow but moved to Germany as a child. She was married to actor Rudolf Platte ...

as Doris Wingender *

Traute Rose Traute is a Germanic feminine given name derived from "trud" meaning "strength". The name is now most commonly found in Germany and German-speaking countries. It is often used as a diminutive of the given names ending in -traud, -traut and -trud ...

as Charwoman *

Edgar Ott Edgar is a commonly used English given name, from an Anglo-Saxon name ''Eadgar'' (composed of '' ead'' "rich, prosperous" and ''gar'' "spear"). Like most Anglo-Saxon names, it fell out of use by the later medieval period; it was, however, rev ...

as Ranger *

Peter Capell Peter Capell (3 September 1912 – 3 March 1986) was a German actor who was active on screen from 1945 until 1985. Apart from a lengthy film career, he appeared in many television series and mini-series. He appeared in many old time radio pr ...

Wolf Martini The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the gray wolf or grey wolf, is a large canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, and gray wolves, as popularly un ...

Werner Peters Werner Peters (7 July 1918 – 30 March 1971) was a German film actor. He appeared in 102 films between 1947 and 1971. Biography Peters was born in Werlitzsch, Kreis Delitzsch, Prussian Saxony, and died of a heart attack on a promotion tou ...

Wolfgang Preiss Wolfgang Preiss (27 February 1910 – 27 November 2002) was a German theatre, film and television actor. The son of a teacher, Preiss studied philosophy, German, and drama in the early 1930s. He also took private acting classes with Hans Schlen ...

Charles Regnier Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was " ...

Helmuth Rudolph Helmuth Rudolph (1900–1971) was a German actor. Selected filmography * ''So Ended a Great Love'' (1934) * ''The Last Waltz'' (1934) * '' Blum Affair'' (1948) * '' Blocked Signals'' (1948) * ''Love '47'' (1949) * ''The Prisoner'' (1949) * ''Don' ...

* Ernst Schröder *

Siegfried Schürenberg Siegfried Schürenberg (12 January 1900 – 31 August 1993) was a German film actor. He appeared in more than 80 films between 1933 and 1974. He was born in Detmold, Germany and died in Berlin, Germany in 1993, at age 93. Although he never p ...

Paul Wagner Paul Alan Wagner (born November 14, 1967) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1992–1997), Milwaukee Brewers (1997–1998), and Cleveland Indians (1999). Amateur career Wagner at ...

Kurt Weitkamp Kurt is a male given name of Germanic or Turkish origin. ''Kurt'' or ''Curt'' originated as short forms of the Germanic Conrad, depending on geographical usage, with meanings including counselor or advisor. In Turkish, Kurt means "Wolf" and i ...

* Dieter Zeidler

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Story of Anastasia West German films 1956 films 1950s German-language films Films set in the 1920s Films about amnesia Cultural depictions of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia