Anastasia
Russian exiles in Paris plot to collect ten million pounds from the Bank of England by grooming a destitute, suicidal girl to pose as heir to the Russian throne. While Bounin is coaching her, he comes to believe that she is really Anastasia. In the end, the Empress must decide her claim.
Critics Sentiment
Anna calls herself Malenkaya and coughs when frightened before the Empress
Anna Koreff attempts to throw herself into the River Seine
The film's biggest emotional shift occurs when Anna meets the Dowager Empress, jumping from 6.6 to 8.7 during the powerful recognition scene.
Critics praised this as a welcome return vehicle for Ingrid Bergman, with most noting her Oscar-worthy transformation from vulnerable amnesiac to convincing royalty. The film builds steadily toward the emotional peak of the grandmother-granddaughter recognition scene, which reviewers universally acclaimed as masterful acting. While some found the romantic subplots less compelling and questioned the historical accuracy, the ambiguous ending and stellar performances, particularly from Bergman and Helen Hayes, earned widespread critical appreciation.
Full cast
Ingrid Bergman
Anna Koreff / Anastasia
Yul Brynner
General Sergei Pavlovich Bounine
Helen Hayes
Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna
Akim Tamiroff
Boris Adreivich Chernov
Martita Hunt
Baroness Elena von Livenbaum
Felix Aylmer
Chamberlain
Sacha Pitoëff
Piotr Ivanovich Petrovin
Ivan Desny
Prince Paul von Haraldberg
Natalie Schafer
Irina Lissemskaia / Nini
Grégoire Gromoff
Stepan
Karl Stepanek
Mikhail Vlados
Ina De La Haye
Marusia
Katherine Kath
Maxime
Peter Sallis
Grischa (uncredited)
Crew
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