Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

Director:

Richard Boleslawski

Writer:

Charles MacArthur (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 March 1933 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History

Plot Keywords:

Children | Czarina Alexandra Of Russia | Czarina | Royalty | Palace

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar.

Cast

John Barrymore	...	Prince Paul Chegodieff
Ethel Barrymore	...	Czarina Alexandra
Lionel Barrymore	...	Grigori Rasputin
Ralph Morgan	...	Czar Nicholas II
Diana Wynyard	...	Princess Natasha
Tad Alexander	...	Czarevitch Alexis 'Aloysha'
C. Henry Gordon	...	Grand Duke Igor
Edward Arnold	...	Dr. A. Remezov
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Clarence Wilson	...	(scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

Rasputin the Mad Monk (UK)

Runtime:

121 min (Turner library print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

UK:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #2412) (1 July 1936 for re-release)

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

Irving Thalberg fired writer Mercedes de Acosta when she refused to write a scene involving a meeting between 'Gregory Rasputin' and Princess Irene Yusupov, which she knew did not occur. Prince Feliks Yusupov, one of Rasputin's assassins, was a close friend of de Acosta. After her firing, the scene was added. After the film's release, Prince Yusupov sued Thalberg and MGM, as de Acosta warned he would.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Although considered to be a mystic, Rasputin was neither a monk and nor was he unmarried. He had left behind a wife and several children in his native village on the outskirts of Russia.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Biography: The Barrymores" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Waltz of the Flowers

Chiefly of interest because it's the only film that Ethel, John and Lionel Barrymore made together

This is a reasonably decent movie, well acted (particularly by Lionel, who practically chews the scenery as Rasputin) and the sets and costumes are fairly nice. But the main selling point is that this is the only time the three Barrymores -Ethel, John and Lionel did a movie together. It's a good movie but could have been much better.