Product Details

• Format: Closed-captioned, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Wgbh Boston
• VHS Release Date: March 28, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304462700
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,233 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Investigate the massacre of Tsar Nicholas and his family, and evaluate whether modern science has resolved the mystery surrounding Princess Anastasia.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revealing more than just history - but human nature, January 4, 2006

By 

MadMacs (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nova: Anastasia Dead Or Alive [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I watched this amazing Nova documentary in awe. In part because 'yes' it finally puts to rest the controversy/legend of Princess Anastasia somehow surviving her execution along with the rest of the Romanov royal family. But awe because viewers are given an insight to the fanatical belief systems of people who are so heavily invested in a myth that, even when given irrefutable proof, they *choose* their myth instead. Shades and premonitions of OJ's jury abound.

It goes beyond stunning when you compare the video interviews of the proponents at the start of the documentary stating that if the DNA proves that Anna Anderson is not Anastasia - they would relent with no more argument. They're seem like solid, logical, even-tempered citizens. Then, when the results are finally revealed, their "true" face is revealed - that of the zealot.

They REFUSE to believe the results! Like some bizzare cult they all start to recite their collected evidence like a mantra to push away the demons of reality. Scary and funny at the same time.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poses More Questions Than Answers, December 1, 1998

By 

A Listener (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nova: Anastasia Dead Or Alive [VHS] (VHS Tape)

As a Romanov enthusiast, I was very interested to see this special. It did answer the question as to whether or not Anna Anderson Manahan was Anastasia; she wasn't. The DNA evidence showed her to be Franziska Schanzkowska, the Polish factory worker she had been purported to be. This lead to the question: since she was a factory worker, how did she know all those private and very specific details about the Romanov's? This question the video couldn't answer. It just goes to show that the Anastasia mystery will probably never really be solved. All in all, this was an excellent video. It was informative and very interesting. While it was somewhat disappointing to find out that Anna Anderson wasn't Anastasia, it finally gave closure to that chapter of the Romanov mystery. The next chapter is still incomplete; in this video it shows the forensic and DNA evidence that Alexei and Anastasia weren't in the mass grave along with the rest of their family. No one knows where they are and it seems that no one ever will. A must see for Romanov enthusiasts, Russian history buffs or anyone who likes a good mystery.

8 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, January 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Nova: Anastasia Dead Or Alive [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I was thrilled with this movie. I first saw it when I was eight (I had some nightmares involving the czar and Anastasia's bones below my window), and thoroghly enjoyed it. This video proved that Anna Anderson was not who she claimed to be-the grand duchess Anastasia Romanov-but a polish factory worker. While many Anderson phonatics claim that the tissue tested was not Anna Andersons, it is just ridiculous to think that not only did the tissue not match Prince Philips (the tsarina's great nephew), but matched Karl ?, the great nephew of the Polish factory worker Anderson's picture matched exactly. I do not think that Anastasia would have grown to look like Anna Anderson; she was also very eccentric. I suppose that could be expected, coming from watching your family die, but it is just too unlikely.