The Scarlet Empress (1934)

Edward Van Sloan: Herr Wagner

Quotes 

• Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse : "A nice harness." What is he, a horse doctor?

  Herr Wagner : You flatter him. Our learned medico is going to perform one of his operations with an ax. He's the public hangman.

  Sophia as a Child : Hangman? What's a hangman? Can I become a hangman someday?

  Herr Wagner : Your Highness, a hangman is an executioner, the man who takes heads off skillfully. Sometimes that curious profession becomes the sport of tyrants. As a matter of fact, I was about to read to you of Peter the Great and Ivan the Terrible, and other Russian tsars and tsarinas who were hangmen.