Touches You

One of my all time favorites.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

This routine Hammer story is definitely not one of the studio's finest - despite a barnstorming performance in the title role from Christopher Lee. The film fails to evoke much period atmosphere or, indeed, excitement, from the authentic historical story of the mad monk who insinuated himself into the Russian royal family. If you've seen Dracula - PRINCE OF DARKNESS, then some of the sets will be immediately recognisable as they were used in both films to reduce costs. Unfortunately as the entire film is set-bound, this lacks the visual beauty of the lush English countryside and woodland which Hammer exploited in their more fantasy-based films.Another disappointment is that the film plays like a historical drama with only a few explicit horror elements seemingly thrown in to make it more controversial. And the film's opening, which shows Rasputin trying to rape a peasant girl and cutting an attacker's hand off, promises so much more which is sadly not fulfilled. After this we settle into melodrama and court intrigue and things only pick up and become exciting towards the climax, where an enemy has acid thrown in his face and Rasputin dies a long, protracted death scene.I also felt that the acting was a bit sub-par this time around, apart from Lee, that is. Lee is wonderful here in his over the top role, playing the wild, rolling-eyed psychopath to the hilt, and he obviously enjoys the break from playing his usual aloof, uncommunicative roles. Physically he looks excellent to with his long greasy hair, bushy beard and bright red silk robes. It's a villainous role that Lee really gets his teeth into and makes his own. Barbara Shelley also appears in what I felt to be an acutely embarrassing performance; for most of the film she's either drunk, being hypnotised, or being humiliated.As for the supporting cast, I did enjoy Richard Pasco's turn as a snivelling sidekick who turns the tables on his oppressor in the final reel, but Francis Matthews gives a lazy performance and seems disinclined to actually act except where is necessary. The problem with the film is that it doesn't really go anywhere - too little is dwelt upon, and much of the action that takes place is trivial. I would have liked to have seen more of Rasputin and the explanations behind his healing abilities - here he's a stock, two-dimensional villain. This film could have been a lot more interesting with an epic, fully-fleshed feel to it, bringing out all the nuances in his character, but it's a simple tale of his rise and fall which never breaks any new boundaries nor tells us anything we don't know. Horror fans will enjoy the beginning and end, but the middle of this film is bound to disappoint everybody.

Is this film a biography? I would say no because it would be a lot closer to being accurate than it really is. Is this film a history film? Yes because they used a historical figure to center a mainly fictional story around. I'm sure the film is great fun as long as you do not take it as historical fact - it's just very loosely based on Grigori Yefimovich Rasputin's story.I guess I was looking for more historical accuracy within the film - it had very little accuracy - so I was not pleased with the movie. This is not to say the film is a bad film - because it's not meant to be taken seriously - just not what I was personally hoping it would be.I had to fast-forward a few times to watch a bit then fast-forward again to the ending. How the real life Rasputin died is quite different than this film.I would say watch the film if you want Rasputin as a character in a fictional story - you might enjoy it then. But if you want a bit more accuracy this is not the film for you.Search out Discovery Channel: Rasputin: The Devil in The Flesh ( 2010 ) for a good documentary on Rasputin.3/10

For a keen horror fan, I have seen precious little of the Hammer horror universe. You can imagine my delight when I was gifted the Hammer DVD Collection for Christmas which consists of 21 films from the vault of the great British institution. I felt spoiled for choice. When opening the box I was greeted by the mad eyes of Christopher Lee, gazing out from amongst a gigantic beard and El Topo-esque haircut. I felt obliged to choose this as my introduction to what will no doubt become a fixation with Hammer, and the film I will remember years into the future when I'm no doubt walking the Earth, trying to find all the tiny forgotten films Hammer produced before they became famous.For those of you who don't know, Grigori Rasputin was a real-life Russian mystic/hypnotist/con-artist who had a heavy influence on the Tsarist government of Emperor Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra, after apparently healing their son Alexei as he lay dying from haemophilia. The film is less concerned with the politics of the time, and instead focuses on Rasputin's love for drinking, women, and generally being a bit of a bastard, as he hypnotises and heals his way through society and into the bed of lady-in-waiting Sonia (Barbara Shelley).The film wastes no time introducing Rasputin's maverick attitudes to monkhood, as he heals a saloon owner's wife on her death bed so he can get served a drink, and proceeds to sing and drink the night way before hacking a man's hand off in a fight. Fleeing to Moscow after being hauled in front of the bishop for his unorthodox ways, he gains influence over a disgraced doctor and begins to plan his rise to power.The film's main strength is undoubtedly Lee's performance as the mad Russian, as he dominates every scene with his intense, piercing eyes and booming voice, with his towering frame overshadowing everyone that comes across his path. The scene in which he does a celebratory dance after beating a challenger in a drinking contest only to mistake some onlookers for laughing at him is both weird and intimidating as he demands an apology. It is a great mix of thespian presence and Gothic camp that makes the Hammer films, and more notably Christopher Lee's performances for the studio, that extra bit special.Rasputin The Mad Monk is a thoroughly enjoyable film, anchored by Lee's performance and Hammer's usual beautiful Technicolour cinematography, and is made all the better by leaving out the politics and concentrating on creating a memorable film character.www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com

Biligerent and boisterous monk, Rasputin, who loves his wine and women, becomes drunk with power when Her Majesty Russia, Tsarina(Renée Asherson) depends on his miraculous healing powers, saving her son from certain death. Barbara Shelley is the Lady in Waiting, Sonia, who helps nanny Tsarina's boy and is under Rasputin's spell, used by him until she is no longer needed..it is she who allows Rasputin to get into Her Majesty's good graces, as he hypnotically forces her to intentionally harm the boy so that he could heal him of his fever. Dr. Zargo(Richard Pasco)is a former physician forbidden to practice medicine, who is "adopted", so to speak, by Rasputin(he was outbeaten by Rasputin in a drinking contest, for which the monk took him under his wing). Zargo witnesses first-hand the horrible treatment of Sonia by Rasputin, merely servicing him as a tool to get better living conditions and favor with Tsarina. There's one tragic scene where Rasputin orders Sonia to kill herself because he wanted her out of his life; the reason being she bored him! This is the kind of Hammer take on history where Rasputin is a villain who destroys everyone that gets in his way or is a waste to him. The only one that matters to Rasputin is Rasputin. Lee is barely recognizable under a long thick beard and scraggly hair, barking commands and dominating those weaker than him in nearly all his time on screen. It's only when Rasputin sets his eyes on Sonia's beautiful friend, Vanessa(Suzan Farmer), that might lead to his downfall, thanks to an orchestrated plan between Dr. Zargo and Vanessa's brother, Ivan(Francis Matthews), hoping to poison the evil monk, ridding the country of such a powerful menace. Sonia's poor brother Peter(Dinsdale Landen), just trying to avenge his sister's forced suicide, gets it in the face with acid. The exciting conclusion has Zargo trying to kill Rasputin over and over, repeatedly failing, needing help from Ivan to ultimately stop this madman. Don Sharp, the director of such underrated films as THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU, WITCHCRAFT, & THE KISS OF THE VAMPIRE, often shoots Lee from afar, taking great advantage of his grand presence, unlike other established directors who wanted to bare more emphasis on his handsome face and intense eyes. Hammer studios take liberties on the history of Rasputin turning him into a seemingly indestructible, fierce, and always dangerous threat to anyone who dares cross him. Francis Matthews, Shelley, and Farmer all starred with Lee in Dracula--PRINCE OF DARKNESS in the same year.