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The The Tyranny of the Mad Czar Phenomenon

In the Pantheon of cult cinema, The Tyranny of the Mad Czar to provide a definitive example of Unknown Director's stylistic genius.

The story of the Mad Czar deals with a historical subject, the accession to the throne of Russia in 1796 of Paul the First, son of Catherine (sub-named the "Great") and his subsequent meteoric career which ended in his assassination in 1801. The Mad Czar from the moment of his ascent to the throne displayed eccentricities which progressed into a malady of such pronounced type as to gain for him his nickname of the Mad Czar. This progression is shown in the various stages of its development through startlingly vivid incidents, such as plucking out by the roots the beard of an officer, the striking down in front of the regiment one of his most faithful officers, his childish sticking out his tongue in the midst of important social gatherings, his ridicule of the representatives of the church and many other incidents. It is to these incidents and many others of similar nature that the undoing of Paul was brought about. Count Pahlen Chief of Police of St. Petersburg was the arch conspirator in the Czar's overthrow. He gathered about him a cabal of officers representing the various corps in the service and disseminated among them the seed which later found fruit in the Czar's assassination in 1801. The clever manner in which the Count succeeded in inveigling Prince Alexander into the plot against his father is perfectly depicted. The love of the Countess Anna for the Mad Czar and her wonderful influence over the mad man furnishes a deep tragic and sympathetic throb for his misfortunes.