"The Scarlet Empress" is a period piece taking place during the mid-eighteenth century in Russia. The Empress of Russia at the time, Empress Elizabeth Petrovna (played by Louise Dresser) desired a suitable wife for her son Grand Duke Peter Theodorovich (played by Sam Jaffe). Her search netted her Princess Sophia (pronounced so-fie-a) Frederica (played by Marlene Dietrich). Sophia was a beautiful woman of Prussian royalty; precisely what Empress Elizabeth wanted.
Sophia was escorted to Russia by a royal aide named Count Alexei (John Lodge). He was a big handsome man, one like Sophia hoped her husband would be. When she asked what the Grand Duke looked like Alexei responded with, "would you like him to be handsome?"
"Isn't he?" Sophia asked.
"Would you like him to be better looking than all other men, and tall and gracious?" Alexei added.
"Yes, I think I would," Sophia demurely replied.
"Well, he is all that and more," Alexei stated.
This brief dialogue at the beginning of the movie did a few things. First, it made me laugh. The entire exchange was quite comical. Second, it showed me something from Marlene Dietrich I hadn't seen before: emotion. I was only used to the impassive I'm-to-pretty-to-have-to-try Marlene that I'd seen in "Dishonored," "Blond Venus," and "Morocco." Finally, the dialogue made me more interested in the movie.
Even though, given the exaggerated description, we expected that the Grand Duke wouldn't be quite how Alexei described, it was even more shocking to see just how ugly and spastic he looked. Sophia was equally shocked as I'm sure all the viewers were when Grand Duke Peter presented himself with his eyes open too wide, his hair disheveled, and an odd grin on his face. It was going to be a real trial for Sophia, now named Catherine Alexina, to be married to Grand Duke Peter. He was not only a chore to look at, he was also dim witted.
"The Scarlet Empress" was good because it was a good story, an outstanding production, and had fine acting.
It also succeeded where the Greta Garbo starred "Queen Christina" had not. Catherine used her title and power to protect herself and to protect Russia from a madman. She wasn't so consumed with a man's love that she let herself be derailed. Greta Garbo as Queen Christina, the queen of Sweden, desired love and as a result abdicated the throne to go after it. I had the utmost respect for Catherine and what she overcame to rise to power and do what was best for Russia. "The Scarlet Empress" as a movie and as a woman was commendable.
Free on YouTube.
Sophia was escorted to Russia by a royal aide named Count Alexei (John Lodge). He was a big handsome man, one like Sophia hoped her husband would be. When she asked what the Grand Duke looked like Alexei responded with, "would you like him to be handsome?"
"Isn't he?" Sophia asked.
"Would you like him to be better looking than all other men, and tall and gracious?" Alexei added.
"Yes, I think I would," Sophia demurely replied.
"Well, he is all that and more," Alexei stated.
This brief dialogue at the beginning of the movie did a few things. First, it made me laugh. The entire exchange was quite comical. Second, it showed me something from Marlene Dietrich I hadn't seen before: emotion. I was only used to the impassive I'm-to-pretty-to-have-to-try Marlene that I'd seen in "Dishonored," "Blond Venus," and "Morocco." Finally, the dialogue made me more interested in the movie.
Even though, given the exaggerated description, we expected that the Grand Duke wouldn't be quite how Alexei described, it was even more shocking to see just how ugly and spastic he looked. Sophia was equally shocked as I'm sure all the viewers were when Grand Duke Peter presented himself with his eyes open too wide, his hair disheveled, and an odd grin on his face. It was going to be a real trial for Sophia, now named Catherine Alexina, to be married to Grand Duke Peter. He was not only a chore to look at, he was also dim witted.
"The Scarlet Empress" was good because it was a good story, an outstanding production, and had fine acting.
It also succeeded where the Greta Garbo starred "Queen Christina" had not. Catherine used her title and power to protect herself and to protect Russia from a madman. She wasn't so consumed with a man's love that she let herself be derailed. Greta Garbo as Queen Christina, the queen of Sweden, desired love and as a result abdicated the throne to go after it. I had the utmost respect for Catherine and what she overcame to rise to power and do what was best for Russia. "The Scarlet Empress" as a movie and as a woman was commendable.
Free on YouTube.