The Scarlet Empress (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.
- Released
- 1934-05-09
- Genres
- Drama, History, Romance
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Status
- Released
- Directed / written by
- Josef von Sternberg
- TMDB rating
- 6.9/10 from 151 votes
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)