The Scarlet Empress (1934)

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Passed
1h 44min
Drama, History
07 Sep 1934 (USA)
Movie

7.5 (7,234)

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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:

Reviews:

Photos and Videos

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.

Still of John Lodge (I) in The Scarlet Empress (1934)

Still of Marlene Dietrich (I) in The Scarlet Empress (1934)

Still of Marlene Dietrich (I), John Lodge (I) and C. Aubrey Smith in The Scarlet Empress (1934)

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48 photos | 1 video

Cast verified as complete

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	Marlene Dietrich	...	Princess Sophia Frederica / Catherine II
	John Lodge	...	Count Alexei
	Sam Jaffe	...	Grand Duke Peter
	Louise Dresser	...	Empress Elizabeth Petrovna
	C. Aubrey Smith	...	Prince August
	Gavin Gordon	...	Capt. Gregori Orloff
	Olive Tell	...	Princess Johanna Elizabeth
	Ruthelma Stevens	...	Countess Elizabeth 'Lizzie'
	Davison Clark	...	Archimandrite Simeon Todorsky / Arch-Episcope
	Erville Alderson	...	Chancelor Alexei Bestuchef
	Philip Sleeman	...	Count Lestoq (as Phillip Sleeman)
	Marie Wells	...	Marie Tshoglokof
	Hans Heinrich von Twardowski	...	Ivan Shuvolov (as Hans von Twardowski)
	Gerald Fielding	...	Lt. Dmitri
	Maria Riva	...	Sophia as a Child (as Maria)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
	Eric Alden	...	Lackey #5 (uncredited)
	Richard Alexander	...	Count von Breummer (uncredited)
	Nadine Beresford	...	Sophia's Aunt (uncredited)
	Thomas C. Blythe	...	Narcissus (uncredited)
	Hal Boyer	...	Paul - Lackey #1 (uncredited)
	James Burke	...	Guard (uncredited)
	Jane Darwell	...	Miss Cardell, Sophia's Nurse (uncredited)
	Clyde David	...	Narcissus (uncredited)
	John Davidson	...	Marquis de la Chetardie (uncredited)
	George Davis	...	Jester (uncredited)
	Anna Duncan	...	Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Elinor Fair	...	Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	May Foster	...	Elizabeth's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Julanne Johnston	...	Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Ivan Linow	...	Imperial Guardsman (uncredited)
	James A. Marcus	...	Innkeeper (uncredited)
	Petra McAllister	...	Sophia's Aunt (uncredited)
	Eunice Murdock Moore	...	Sophia's Aunt (uncredited)
	Patricia Patrick	...	Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Warner Richmond	...	Castle Guard (uncredited)
	Blanche Rose	...	Sophia's Aunt (uncredited)
	Barbara Sabichi	...	Elizabeth's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Katherine Sabichi	...	Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Sam Savitsky	...	Imperial Guardsman (uncredited)
	Dina Smirnova	...	Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Elaine St. Maur	...	Catherine's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Agnes Steele	...	Elizabeth's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Minnie Steele	...	Elizabeth's Lady-in-Waiting (uncredited)
	Belle Stoddard	...	Sophia's Aunt (uncredited)
	Akim Tamiroff	...	Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited)
	Kent Taylor	...	Paul (uncredited)
	Jameson Thomas	...	Lt. Ovitsyn (uncredited)
	Edward Van Sloan	...	Herr Wagner (uncredited)
	Bruce Warren	...	Lackey (uncredited)
	Leo White	...	Beautician Curling Catherine's Hair (uncredited)
	Harry Woods	...	Doctor #1 (uncredited)

Directed by

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Josef von Sternberg

Written by

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Manuel Komroff	...	(story- based on the diary of Catherine the Great)

Eleanor McGeary	...	(contributor to screenplay construction) (uncredited)

Produced by

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Emanuel Cohen	...	executive producer (uncredited)
Josef von Sternberg	...	producer (uncredited)

Cinematography by

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Bert Glennon

...

(photographed by)

Editing by

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Josef von Sternberg	...	(uncredited)
Sam Winston	...	(uncredited)

Casting By

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Fred A. Datig

...

(uncredited)

Art Direction by

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Hans Dreier

...

(uncredited)

Costume Design by

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Travis Banton

...

(uncredited)

Art Department

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Peter Ballbusch	...	sculptor: gargoyles and figures (uncredited)
Hans Dreier	...	set designer (uncredited)
Richard Kollorsz	...	paintings (uncredited) / set designer: icons (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Harry D. Mills

...

sound recording engineer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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Gordon Jennings

...

special photographic effects (uncredited)

Stunts

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Audrey Scott

...

riding double: Marlene Dietrich (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Josef von Sternberg	...	lighting technician (uncredited)
Richard Walling	...	still photographer (uncredited)

Casting Department

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Mel Ballerino	...	casting assistant (uncredited)
Joe Egli	...	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Eugene Joseff

...

costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

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Nat W. Finston	...	musical director (uncredited)
W. Franke Harling	...	music adaptor (uncredited) / music arranger (uncredited)
Bernhard Kaun	...	music adaptor (uncredited)
John Leipold	...	music adaptor (uncredited) / music arranger (uncredited)
Oscar Potoker	...	music adaptor (uncredited)
Milan Roder	...	music arranger (uncredited)
Josef von Sternberg	...	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Additional Crew

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Adolph Zukor

...

presenter

Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Paramount Pictures

Distributors

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Paramount Pictures (1934) (United States) (theatrical) (as Paramount Pictures Corporation)
Paramount Film Service (1934) (Canada) (theatrical)
Paramount British Pictures (1934) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
Paramount Film Service (1934) (Australia) (theatrical)
Film AB Paramount (1934) (Sweden) (theatrical)
Les Films Paramount (1934) (France) (theatrical)
MCA/Universal Pictures (1958) (United States) (tv)
MCA/Universal Home Video (1998) (United States) (VHS) (For MCA Home Video)
The Criterion Collection (2001) (United States) (DVD)
The Criterion Collection (2004) (United States) (DVD)
Indies Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Marlene Dietrich Collection)
Elephant Films (2019) (France) (video) (HD release)
Powerhouse Films (2019) (United Kingdom) (Blu-ray) (as Indicator) (limited edition 6 disc box set)
Action Gitanes (2003) (France) (theatrical)
Universal Pictures (2005) (France) (DVD)
Universal Pictures (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
Universal Pictures Finland (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
Actions Cinémas/Théâtre du Temple (2012) (France) (theatrical)

Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary	Young Princess Sophia of Germany is taken to Russia to marry the half-wit Grand Duke Peter, son of the Empress. The domineering Empress hopes to improve the royal bloodline. Sophia doesn't like her husband, but she likes Russia, and is very fond of Russian soldiers. She dutifully produces a son--of questionable fatherhood, but no one seems to mind that. After the old empress dies, Sophia engineers a coup d'etat with the aid of the military, does away with Peter, and becomes Catherine the Great. Written by John Oswalt Plot Summary
Plot Keywords	hatred army stubbornness priest toy-soldier See All (194) »
Taglines	Dietrich More Breath Taking Esquite than ever in the Royal Finery of Catherine the Greatest Lover History ever call a Queen! (original print ad- Lubbock Morning Avalanche - Lubbock, Texas - Sept.7, 1934) See more »
Genres	Drama History Romance War
Parents Guide	View content advisory »
Certification	Argentina:Atp France:Tous publics France:Tous publics Italy:T Netherlands:18 Norway:16 Spain:A (ICAA) Sweden:15 United Kingdom:12 (DVD rating) United Kingdom:A United Kingdom:PG (video rating) United States:Passed (National Board of Review) United States:TV-PG (TV Rating) United States:Approved

Additional Details

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Also Known As	Catherine the Great (United States) Scarlet Empress (Jamaica, English title) L'Impératrice rouge (France) Die große Zarin (Germany) Die scharlachrote Kaiserin (Germany) See more »
Runtime	104 min
Country	United States
Language	English
Color	Black and White
Aspect Ratio	1.37 : 1 See more »
Sound Mix	Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)
Filming Locations	Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA See more »

Box Office

Budget

$900,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia	Marlene Dietrich's own daughter Maria Riva portrayed young Sophia at the beginning of the film and it was her debut in movies. See more »
Goofs	Most of the action takes place at The Kremlin in Moscow. The historical Empress Elizabeth, Grand Duke Peter and later Catherine spent most of their reigns in St. Petersburg, which during the 18th Century was a modern, Europeanized city. See more »
Movie Connections	Edited from The Patriot (1928). See more »
Soundtracks	Symphony No.4 in F Minor, Op.36 See more »
Quotes	Grand Duke Peter: Why are those bells ringing? [He opens the bedroom door and addresses a man in the hall] Grand Duke Peter: Why are those bells ringing? Capt. Gregori Orloff: I don't know, Peter. Grand Duke Peter: How dare you address me like that! Who are you? Capt. Gregori Orloff: My name is Orloff, and I'm on duty as guard. Grand Duke Peter: I'll have your head for this insolence! You're addressing the emperor! Capt. Gregori Orloff: There is no emperor. There is only an empress. See more »

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