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The Scarlet Empress

  • 1934
  • Passed
  • 1h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
7K
YOUR RATING
The Scarlet Empress (1934)
A German noblewoman enters into a loveless marriage with the dim-witted, unstable heir to the Russian throne, then plots to oust him from power.
Play trailer2:18
1 Video
47 Photos
DramaHistoryRomance

A German noblewoman enters into a loveless marriage with the dim-witted, unstable heir to the Russian throne, then plots to oust him from power.A German noblewoman enters into a loveless marriage with the dim-witted, unstable heir to the Russian throne, then plots to oust him from power.A German noblewoman enters into a loveless marriage with the dim-witted, unstable heir to the Russian throne, then plots to oust him from power.

  • Director
    • Josef von Sternberg
  • Writers
    • Manuel Komroff
    • Eleanor McGeary
  • Stars
    • Marlene Dietrich
    • John Lodge
    • Sam Jaffe
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    7K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Josef von Sternberg
    • Writers
      • Manuel Komroff
      • Eleanor McGeary
    • Stars
      • Marlene Dietrich
      • John Lodge
      • Sam Jaffe
    • 59User reviews
    • 49Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 2:18
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos47

    Marlene Dietrich in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich and John Lodge in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich and John Lodge in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich and John Lodge in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich and Sam Jaffe in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich, C. Aubrey Smith, Ruthelma Stevens, Olive Tell, and Marie Wells in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    Marlene Dietrich in The Scarlet Empress (1934)
    "Scarlet Empress, The" Marlene Dietrich, John Lodge 1934/Paramount

    Top cast

    Edit
    Marlene Dietrich
    Marlene Dietrich
    • Princess Sophia Frederica…
    John Lodge
    John Lodge
    • Count Alexei
    Sam Jaffe
    Sam Jaffe
    • Grand Duke Peter
    Louise Dresser
    Louise Dresser
    • Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
    C. Aubrey Smith
    C. Aubrey Smith
    • Prince August
    Gavin Gordon
    Gavin Gordon
    • Capt. Gregori Orloff
    Olive Tell
    Olive Tell
    • Princess Johanna Elizabeth
    Ruthelma Stevens
    Ruthelma Stevens
    • Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie'
    Davison Clark
    • Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky…
    Erville Alderson
    Erville Alderson
    • Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef
    Philip Sleeman
    Philip Sleeman
    • Count Lestoq
    • (as Phillip Sleeman)
    Marie Wells
    Marie Wells
    • Marie Tshoglokof
    Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
    Hans Heinrich von Twardowski
    • Ivan Shuvolov
    • (as Hans von Twardowski)
    Gerald Fielding
    • Lt. Dmitri
    Maria Riva
    Maria Riva
    • Sophia as a Child
    • (as Maria)
    Eric Alden
    Eric Alden
    • Lackey #5
    • (uncredited)
    Richard Alexander
    Richard Alexander
    • Count von Breummer
    • (uncredited)
    Nadine Beresford
    • Sophia's Aunt
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Josef von Sternberg
    • Writers
      • Manuel Komroff
      • Eleanor McGeary(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Marlene Dietrich's own daughter Maria Riva portrayed young Sophia at the beginning of the film and it was her debut in movies.
    • Goofs
      Catherine II is a woman of the 18th century, yet Dietrich depicts her with the depilated eyebrows and cupid-bow lips that were fashionable in 1934.
    • Quotes

      Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky: Something for the poor, You Majesty?

      [Catherine removes several bracelets and places them in the collection plate]

      Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky: For the poor, Captain?

      [Capt. Orloff drops a handful of diamonds in the plate]

      Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky: Excellency?

      Count Alexei: [Count Alexei tosses a bag of what sounds like coins] Quite a haul tonight, Father.

      Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky: Chancellor?

      [the chancellor gives him a single coin]

      Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky: Elizabeth?

      [Countess Elizabeth flings the food she'd been eating onto the collection plate. The archimandrite places the morsel on the table]

      Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky: Your Imperial Majesty, something for the poor?

      [Peter slaps him]

      Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky: That was for me. Now what have you got for the poor?

      Grand Duke Peter: There are no poor in Russia! Get out!

    • Connections
      Edited from The Patriot (1928)
    • Soundtracks
      Symphony No.4 in F Minor, Op.36
      Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

      Excerpts played during the opening credits and incorporated into the score often

    User reviews59

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Luminous black and white ode to Marlene...
    ......I saw this years ago, but some of the images-Marlene on a swing, the charging horsemen, the bits w/ Sam Jaffe and C Aubrey Smith, most certainly stand out. It was definitely the director's way of putting his worship of Marlene on display for all to see, Catherine might as well have been Cleopatra or Eleanor of Aquitaine for all the historical accuracy-ha ha-they use.

    This was a movie about excess as much as anything, curtains that go on forever, huge doors, loud music, etc. They just don't make them like this anymore and certainly couldn't afford to then, either.

    I don't think I ever saw Marlene anymore sensual than in this film, and I agree, her idea of playing a 'poor innocent gal'-that isn't put across well at all. Sometimes you just can't fake it, no matter how hard you try.

    *** outta ****, style over everything.
    helpful•22
    10
    • gazzo-2
    • Aug 1, 2004

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 7, 1934 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Catherine the Great
    • Filming locations
      • Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA(Studio)
    • Production company
      • Paramount Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $900,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $3,353
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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