MovieChat Forums > Harlequin (1980) Discussion > Rasputin - Similarities and Disimiliarit...

Rasputin - Similarities and Disimiliarities

posted 18 years ago by jw_evans_wales
6 replies | jump to latest

Having recently seen this film (after a gap of 20 odd years) I was struck by the similarities to the story of Rasputin (as exemplified in Alan Rickman's portrayal of the eponymous monk in the 1996 film).

Similarities
1. A holy(ish) man with the gift of healing
2. Befriends a powerful political (altough not exactly on the same scale of power as the Tsar's)
3. Provides a healing service for the boy (as did Rasputin with the Tsarovitch)
4. Despite all the public criticism the mother allows her judgement of the interloper to be clouded by the love she has for her son as he apparently gets better because of the stranger.
5. Wolf has an affair with the mother (allegedly Rasputin had an affair with the Tsarina)
6. Wolfe and Rasputin were difficult to actually kill.

Disimilarities.
1. Rasputin asserted his powers were from God but Wolfe's are derived from magic
2. Wolfe is not so decadent as Rasputin (athough I think Wolfe has his way with housekeeper at one point)

Any others?

[–] !!!deleted!!! (10369637) 17 years ago

Many good points here. There are several similarities between Rasputin and Gregory.

A couple of errors, though.

1. Gregory is actually good, and has selfless goals in his dealings with the Rast family. Rasputin was a power hungry madman who sought to satisfy his own lust and greed.

2. Gregory did not have an affair with either Mrs. Rast or the Housekeeper...and I believe it's because he was a eunich. The scene in the dining room, Mrs. Rast grabs at his junk, and then recoils in shock. Then she calls him a "bastard" I believe, and tells him to "Get out." She then recants, and they embrace. That's why later she tells Senator Rast that the idea of Gregory having an affair with Zoe or raping the Housekeeper is ridiculous. He had no capability to have done either.

At least, that's my take. I don't know for sure.

[–] Fabrizio_Roscini 16 years ago

excellent point about the eunuch, never thought about that... thanks.

[–] Mandy_Whitsands 14 years ago

@scrmwrtr42:
Mere speculations (I personally disagree with). There is nothing in the film to corrobarate 1. + 2.

And with regards to "grabs at his junk, and then recoils in shock": I don't know where you think the private parts are located, but certainly not on the outer side of the thighs. That's where she has her hands, when Gregory puts his hand on hers to stop her. And that's why she recoils. Because of his rejection, not because of a missing penis/balls which are somewhere else ...

[–] djsnafu23 10 years ago

I agree with Mandy, but her reaction was ridiculous and fitted more to that of facing a eunuch (without compassion albeit).

...

http://soundcloud.com/dj-snafu-bankrupt-euros

Coz lifes too short to listen to Madlib

[–] Gemma_Philips 10 years ago

I agree, excellent point about why she knew it was absurd about the housekeeper and Zoe. It did not register at all when I watched my DVD last night. Reading that I just had a Kaching moment.

Thank you.

[–] Prelude-in-C-maj 10 years ago

I really don't think that was it.

I agree with the other poster who saw her hand reaching only the outer thigh, and it was the fact that Gregory stopped her going any further that made her shocked and angry. She was rejected and stopped before even getting "there," having truly believed he'd been giving her all the signs of attraction.

Later when she asks his forgiveness he asks the same and sweeps her up and carried her off. I think it's safe to assume a sexual affair began after that point.

I also don't believe the housekeeper would have made it up about what happened between him and her, also. I took it to be a very Rasputin-like situation of this man making the most of any opportunity to possess and dominate.