The Scarlet Empress
1934 · Movie · 110 min. · United States
In this re-imagining of Catherine the Great’s life story, filmmaker Josef von Sternberg and star Marlene Dietrich supply some of the most eye-popping images and outrageously decadent antics in early twentieth century cinema. Dietrich is Princess Sophia from Germany, induced to marry demented Grand Duke Peter (Sam Jaffe), son of the Russian empress. Soon circumstances will transform her from naïve young girl to power-drunk ruler. Von Sternberg lets his sensibilities run riot here, goading star Dietrich to Wagnerian heights and invoking all the extravagant excesses of court life – from sumptuous revelry to depraved tortures.
Direction Josef von Sternberg
Cast Marlene Dietrich · John Lodge · Louise Dresser · C. Aubrey Smith · Sam Jaffe · Akim Tamiroff · Gavin Gordon
Soundtrack W. Franke Harling · John Leipold
Screenplay Josef von Sternberg
Cinematography Bert Glennon
Original title The Scarlet Empress
7.5
920 votes (FilmAffinity)
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