The Scarlet Empress

The Scarlet Empress

104 mins | Drama, Romance, History | May 9, 1934

During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.

The Scarlet Empress

104 mins | Drama, Romance, History | May 9, 1934

The Scarlet Empress
During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.
IMDb rating 7.5
Producers Paramount
Original title The Scarlet Empress
Directors Josef von Sternberg
Writers Manuel Komroff, Catherine II

Cast

Marlene Dietrich

as Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II

John Lodge

as Count Alexei

Sam Jaffe

as Grand Duke Peter

Louise Dresser

as Empress Elizabeth Petrovna

C. Aubrey Smith

as Prince August

Gavin Gordon

as Capt. Gregori Orloff

Olive Tell

as Princess Johanna Elizabeth

Ruthelma Stevens

as Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie'

Davison Clark

as Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky / Arch-Episcope

Erville Alderson

as Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef

Maria Riva

as Sophia as a Child

Jane Darwell

as Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited) /

Edward Van Sloan

as Herr Wagner (uncredited)

Akim Tamiroff

as Bit Part (uncredited)