Editing Nicholas and Alexandra (section)

==Production==
=== Development ===
Producer Spiegel tackled ''Nicholas and Alexandra'' when he was shut out from working with director [[David Lean]] on ''[[Doctor Zhivago (film)|Doctor Zhivago]]'', which was also set against the backdrop of revolutionary Russia. Spiegel had alienated Lean when the two worked together on the film ''[[Lawrence of Arabia (film)|Lawrence of Arabia]]'', pressing the perfectionist director in order to get the movie finished on time.

Spiegel initially tried to make ''Nicholas and Alexandra'' without buying the rights to the book by [[Robert K. Massie]], claiming that the historical account was in public domain but, eventually, Spiegel purchased the rights for $150,000.<ref>Fraser-Cavassoni, p 289</ref> He hired writer James Goldman to adapt Massie's book as a screenplay. Goldman had written the popular play and film ''[[The Lion in Winter]]''.

The first director was [[George Stevens]] who left the project. Anthony Harvey became involved in December 1968 but he left by February 1969. [[Ken Russell]], [[Lindsay Anderson]], and [[John Boorman]] were all approached but turned it down. Joseph L. Mankiewicz was briefly part of the project then Charles Jarrott joined in November 1969.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Nicholas and Alexandria|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/54099-NICHOLAS-AND-ALEXANDRA?cxt=filmography|access-date=2022-02-21|website=catalog.afi.com}}</ref> After seeing [[Patton (film)|''Patton'']], Goldman recommended [[Franklin J. Schaffner]] who signed in July 1970.

Spiegel turned to former collaborators [[John Box]] for production design, and cinematographer [[Freddie Young]] (''Lawrence of Arabia'') to give the production the epic touch he felt it needed. [[Principal photography]] took place in [[Spain]] and [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]].

Spiegel had to work with stricter budget constraints from [[Columbia Studios]] than before. He had wanted [[Peter O'Toole]] as Rasputin and [[Vanessa Redgrave]] as Alexandra but was constrained. Notable actors such as [[Laurence Olivier]], [[Irene Worth]], [[Michael Redgrave]] and [[Jack Hawkins]] appeared in the film, but actor [[Rex Harrison]] turned down a supporting role as too small. Spiegel offered the role of the Empress to Grace Kelly who turned it down.<ref>{{cite book|page=289|url=https://archive.org/details/graceofmonacoint00engl/page/289/mode/1up?q=%22nicholas+and+alexandra%22+%22sam+spiegel%22+schaffner|title= Grace of Monaco : an interpretive biography|last=Englund|first= Steven|year=1984 |publisher= Doubleday | isbn=978-0-385-18812-8 }}</ref>

[[Tom Baker]], a member of the [[Royal National Theatre]], was recommended for the role of Rasputin by Laurence Olivier, then the director of the company.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a545281/tom-baker-turns-80-doctor-who-legends-best-screen-moments.html#~peB4CmbFNfyfTo | title= Tom Baker turns 80: Doctor Who legend's best screen moments | publisher=Digital Spy | first=Morgan | last=Jeffery | date=20 January 2014 | access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref>

===Filming===
Filming began in Spain in November 1970 and took twenty weeks.