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The Scarlet Empress (1934)

6.9 | May 09, 1934 (US) | Drama, History, Romance | 01:44
based on novel or book royal family biography empress royalty pre-code 18th century catherine the great
Budget: 900 000 | Revenue: N/A

The Reigning Beauty of the Screen!

During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.

Featured Crew

Director, Art Direction, Producer, Editor
Director of Photography
Costume Design
Art Direction
Executive Producer
Editor

Cast

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Marlene Dietrich
Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II
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John Lodge
Count Alexei
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Sam Jaffe
Grand Duke Peter
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Louise Dresser
Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
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C. Aubrey Smith
Prince August
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Gavin Gordon
Capt. Gregori Orloff
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Olive Tell
Princess Johanna Elizabeth
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Ruthelma Stevens
Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie'
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Davison Clark
Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky / Arch-Episcope
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Erville Alderson
Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef

Images

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Reviews

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CinemaSerf
8 | Jun 13, 2022
If anyone was to have actually filmed aspects of the life of the Princess at the time, then they could hardly have come up with anything more authentic than this fabulous Von Sternberg dramatisation of the rise, and rise of Catherine the Great. Marlene Dietrich is superb as the schemed against who becomes the scheming Grand Duchess married off to the imbecilic nephew (played by a superb Sam Jaffe) of the Empress Elizabeth (an imperious Louise Dresser). Through her series of lovers and strategic alliances, she deposes her idiot husband and accedes to the throne. The (lingering) intimacy of the filming of the star - almost bordering on adulation by the camera (and the director!?); the use of light and shadow - particularly the use of candles; and the marvellous Tchaikovsky score all more than compensate for some of the "train set" model scenery and make this a scintillating story of power. Great stuff.