Discovery Channel - Last of the Czars (1996)

History comes to life, in the Discovery Channel's production of Last of the Czars. The viewer learns about the Tsar and Tsarina, their five children, and the holy man, Rasputin. Exploring the events leading up to the execution of the royal family in 1918, The Discovery Channel utilizes archival film footage and previously unseen photographs to illuminate the story of the doomed family. History unfolds amid the unrest of a war-ravaged Russian population as survivors from the era of the Romanovs reveal details pertaining to the family.
The Romanov family ruled Russia for 300 years; an imperial empire that crumbled in 1918 when Lenin-backed revolutionaries toppled Nicholas II in a violent upheaval. Before their world came crashing down, the Romanovs– Nicholas, Alexandra and their five children– enjoyed a life shrouded in mystery. But with the recent downfall of the Soviet Union, information has come to light ending generations of speculation. Rare, never-before-seen film footage, actual letters, czarist-era survivor interviews, photos, and other rare items give a finely-detailed look at Russia's most dramatic era.

Part 1: Nicky and Alix
Previously unseen footage, old letters, and rare photos enhance this production of the Romanov family's problems, which led to their tragic deaths and the end of monarchy in Russia. The Discovery Channel film, Last of the Czars, Pt. 1: Nicky & Alix brings the principal players to life, as the viewer learns about the Czar and Czarina, known as Nicky and Alix, their five children, and the mad monk, Rasputin. The Royal family lived a life of luxury, unaware of the general condition of the country and its growing unrest. This turmoil would lead to the execution of the entire family.

Part 2: The Shadow of Rasputin
Rasputin, the infamous Russian monk, was a profound influence on the last Czar and Czarina, and some feel that Russia was, for a time, ruled by the madman who found a way to the center of the royal court. The only son of the family suffered from the pain of hemophilia, and Rasputin was the only person able to provide comfort to the young prince. Last of the Czars, Pt. 2: The Shadow of Rasputin details the growing unease surrounding the last monarchy of Russia, and how the monk exerted his power over them all, especially the Czarina.

Part 3: Death of the Dynasty
Keeping his distance from the needs of his country, Czar Nicholas could not see the warning signs that trumpeted the toppling of the monarchy. The Discovery Channel production, Last of the Czars, Pt. 3: The Death of the Dynasty explores the events leading up to the execution of the entire royal family in 1918. Utilizing archival film and previously unseen photographs, the story of the doomed family unfolds amid the unrest of a war-ravaged Russian population. Survivors from the era of the Romanovs reveal details pertaining to the family.