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 Feodorovna
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:

czar | monk | czarina | manipulative personality | imperial russia | 

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Taglines:

'SIN-SO THAT YE MAY REPENT!' THE SPECTACLE OF A MADMAN AT THE HELM OF A DEBAUCHED AND CRUMBLING EMPIRE! THE SCREEN'S MIGHTIEST THRILL! (Print Ad- Vancouver Sun, ((Vancouver BC)) 9 May 1933)

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actress Drew Barrymore is related to John, Ethel and Lionel Barrymore. Lionel and Ethel are her great Uncle and Aunt and John is her grandfather.

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Goofs

The Revolution is depicted in a montage including a shot of people running across an open area with the lower potion of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate in the upper-left background.

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Quotes

Natasha: You don't like him because he's so outspoken. You don't like his manners. Isn't that it?
Prince Chegodieff: No, that's not it. It, its his, smile. It's like a man-eating shark with a bible under his fin.

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Alternate Versions

Upon its premiere "Rasputin and the Empress" ran approximately 132 minutes. Due to the famous lawsuits against it, a number of scenes had to be cut for legal reasons. One critical scene that was deleted was one which implied that Rasputin had raped Diana Wynyard's character of "Princess Natascha". The removal of this scene tended to make the character of Princess Natascha somewhat incomprehensible - initially she is a supporter of Rasputin; in the latter part of the film she is very afraid of him. Unless the viewer is aware of the cuts made in the film, there does not appear to be any explanation for the change in Princess Natascha toward Rasputin.

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Connections

Referenced in Remington Steele: Vintage Steele (1983)

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Soundtracks

Waltz of the Flowers
(1892) (uncredited)
from the "Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a"
Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Played at Paul's party and danced by a ballet group

User Reviews

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.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 March 1933 (USA)

Also Known As:

Rasputin and the Empress

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