The Scarlet Empress 1934
7.5 / 10
The Scarlet Empress
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.
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.
Videos & Photos
All 1 Videos & 13 Photos
cast
Full Cast & Crew
... Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II
... Count Alexei
... Grand Duke Peter
... Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
... Prince August
... Capt. Gregori Orloff
User reviews
See All 1 Reviews13 Jun 2022 by CinemaSerf
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.
Directors:
Release Date:
May 09, 1934 (United States)
Run Time:
1hr 44`
MMPA Rating:
NR
Original Language:
English
Production Countries:
United States
Status:
Released
Plot Keywords:
Related Movies To
The Scarlet Empress
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.
Cast & Crew of
The Scarlet Empress
Directors & Credit Writers
... Director
Cast
... Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II
... Count Alexei
... Grand Duke Peter
... Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
... Prince August
... Capt. Gregori Orloff
... Princess Johanna Elizabeth
... Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie'
... Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky / Arch-Episcope
... Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef
... Sophia as a Child
... Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)
... Herr Wagner (uncredited)
... Bit Part (uncredited)
MW
Marie Wells...
...
...
...
...
AS
Agnes Steele...
Produced By
... Executive Producer
... Producer
Videos & Photos of
The Scarlet Empress
Videos ( 1)
Photos ( 13 )
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