Rasputin and the Empress (1932)

A prince plots to kill the mad monk Rasputin for the good of the czar, the czarina and Russia.

Directors:

Richard Boleslawski (as Richard Boleslavsky), Charles Brabin (uncredited)

Writer:

Charles MacArthur (screen play)

Stars:

John Barrymore, Ethel Barrymore, Lionel Barrymore

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ethel Barrymore	...	The Czarina - Alexandra
Lionel Barrymore	...	Grigori Yefimovitch Rasputin
Ralph Morgan	...	The Czar - Nicholai Alexander
Tad Alexander	...	The Czarevitch -Alexis Nikolaiovitch
John Barrymore	...	Prince Paul Chegodieff
Diana Wynyard	...	Princess Natasha
C. Henry Gordon	...	Grand Duke Igor
Edward Arnold	...	Doctor Remezov

Storyline

As Europe looms on the edge of war in 1913, the family and members of the court of the Russian czar Nicholas come under the sway of a mysterious mystic named Rasputin. When Rasputin miraculously appears to cure the czar's son Alyosha of his hemophilia, the monk's reputation is cemented, particularly in the mind of the princess Natasha. Natasha's fiancé (and, later, husband) Prince Paul Chegodieff, however, suspects Rasputin is a charlatan who will cause the downfall of the royal family and perhaps of Russia itself.

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Plot Keywords:

monk | manipulative personality | imperial russia | libertine | rasputin | 

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Taglines:

Beautiful girls who came to pray! Caught in the web of debauched Rasputin, whose crafty mind toppled a throne!

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Der Dämon Rußlands - Rasputin

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

121 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Dr. William Axt, MGM's musical director, brought together all the Greek and Russian orthodox church choirs in Los Angeles to sing at the celebration mass at the start of the movie.

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Goofs

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.

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Quotes

The Czarina: This is another century, Igor. What you have done has put us back 20 years in the eyes of Europe.
Grand Duke Igor: My dear, Empress. Or, would you rather be called Kaiserina
The Czar: Igor!
Prince Chegodieff: The, eh, last Empress Germany gave us, Catherine, was usually called the Great.

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Connections

Referenced in Hollywood Hist-o-Rama: John Barrymore (1962)

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Soundtracks

Russian National Anthem
(uncredited)
Composer unknown
Played during the opening credits and at the end

User Reviews

Don't Watch This for Historical Accuracy

Rasputin and the Empress shouldn't be used as a lesson of pre-Soviet Russia. Names have been changed (and that didn't prevent MGM from law suits) and a lot of the information we now know about this period of Russian history - was not known in 1932.

As other people have commented about this being the only film that Ethel, John, and Lionel Barrymore appeared together, this movie doesn't show why the Barrymores have the reputation that they have. John Barrymore's career started going downhill after the introduction of sound. Lionel Barrymore, wearing one of the phoniest fake beards, tries to capture the charisma and sense of control that Rasputin had over Czarina Alexandra and the Czarevitch. Ethel Barrymore gives an understated performance - too understated at times. When her only son seems to be close to possible death, she doesn't seem all that bothered.

C. Henry Gordon is a great Grand Duke Igor, Ralph Morgan is a convincing Czar Nicholas II, but they don't appear that frequently. Don't expect anyone to speak with a Russian accent or even attempting and accent.

Rasputin is one of the most interesting people in the world during the early 20th Century. He was also one of the most enigmatic and contradictory. A holy man who was accused of raping a nun, excessive drinking, and being power hungry. Barrymore's portrayal of Rasputin plays this up, plus making claims that he will be Russia. He seems almost like Charles Manson at times in the way he can make someone, especially the Czarevitch, behave like they are totally different people compared to the way they acted before meeting Rasputin.

It is best to watch this movie as just that - a fictional representation of various accounts of what happened in the royal court of Russia in its final days. The writers included Charles MacArthur, Ben Hecht, Robert Sherwood, Mercedes de Acosta, and Lenore Coffee - some of the best writers of the period.

It's worth a view - don't expect historical accuracy, but it is an interesting film that tries to show a much different world than what Americans would have known.