Anastasia (1956)

In 1928 Paris, a young woman (Ingrid Bergman) who has spent the last ten years drifting, including stays in hospitals, has no memory of who she is. A Russian emigre (Yul Brynner) seizes the opportunity to coach her in an attempt to pass her off as the Grand Duchess Anastasia, the daughter of Czar Nicholas II, and the alleged sole survivor of the assassinated dynasty. The film, directed by Anatole Litvak and based on the play by Guy Bolton (who co-wrote the screenplay) and Marcelle Maurette takes the rumors and alleged claims of one "Anna Anderson", who made claims she was Anastasia, and uses it as the basis of the film's story. After Ms. Anderson's death, the rumors were put to rest, she was not Anastasia. But the film makes for an engrossing story anyway, due in no small part to the strong performance of Bergman, which earned her a second Oscar, which almost convinces us she is Anastasia. The elegant CinemaScope lensing is by Oscar winner Jack Hildyard (BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI) and with a sterling Oscar nominated score by Alfred Newman. With Helen Hayes as the Dowager Empress, whose reconciliation scene with Bergman is the highlight of the film. The large cast includes Akim Tamiroff, Martita Hunt, Natalie Schafer, Felix Aylmer and Ivan Desny.