This scene shows the actress Nance O'Neill who starred as the Tsarina Alexandra disguised as a peasant, staying in a hut. While the scenes look "over the top", the movie company was actually very distinguished- The screenwriter won a Pulitzer Prize in history, the director Herbert Brenon made many famous silent films, including the original Peter Pan.
He turned the set in Ft.Lee into a series of Palace interiors and a peasant Russian village. He hired many Russian immigrants- they were not in short supply in l917, when so many people fled Russia. The actor Ed Connelly who played Rasputin was also a Broadway and silent film star. The movie was produced by $250,000, by Iliodor Pictures, having begun in a deal with Lewis Selznick which Brenon ended to keep 50% of the movie. Perhaps
most astounding of all, he shot another version in l918 to include the execution of the family.
most astounding of all, he shot another version in l918 to include the execution of the family.